Target Reached 70mpg!

[greenman7]

I have reached my target – my combined fuel economy has reached 70mpg (in my Citroen C3 1.4 Hdi). I did this by adding Dipetane fuel additive (bought on ebay) to my diesel. When I use this more it apparently cleans the system and becomes more effective increasing mpg.

With the average fuel economy combined mpg for all UK cars being 37.837 if this was doubled imagine the cutting down of pollution and greenhouse gasses. Surely the top priority is for manufacturers to make more fuel efficient engines and to be able to make existing engines more efficient.

[Conor]

Snake oil. This page destroys their entire argument:
http://www.dipetanedistribution.co.uk/html/haulage.html

I have, in 15 years of driving artics at top weight, ever got fuel consumption that low. Ever. Even running double deck 15ft 9in high fridge trailers which are the most heavy fuel hitting ones, it never got below 6.5MPG. I have also yet to find a haulier that uses it and with fuel being the biggest expense, surely they would if it was what it claimed?

And note the dates. 1992. Fuels have come on considerably since then as has engine design.

I expect that like most people who find such improvements that its more down to a subconcious change in your driving style.

This is what I get out of a 2L Mondeo TDCi on best quality Tesco diesel and I don't drive like a nun. On a run I've had the average over 60MPG. So to achieve 70MPG on an engine 2/4 the size and a lighter car whilst deliberately aiming for high MPG doesn't sound impossible even just filling up from Asda.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn9/computershack/DSC00028.jpg

[daveyjp]

70 from a C3 should be possible with no additives

My dad gets mid 60s from his Fiesta 1.4TDCi (same engine as C3) on motorway trips without trying and no snake oil.

Aygo diesel owners (same engine) have achieved nearly 90mpg by driving very carefully.

[anewman]

I often read about millers diesel power sport being a good diesel additive.

[anewman]

Snake oil. This page destroys their entire argument:
http://www.dipetanedistribution.co.uk/html/haulage.html

The "baseline test" section makes it look fabricated to me. Just by chance the test group happens to be 0.22mpg less at baseline, pull the other one.

[tomstickland]

How can cleaning a fuel system improve mpg anyway?
As long as the fuel is metered correctly it doesn't know whether it's flowed down clean pipes or dirty pipes.

Surely the top priority is for manufacturers to make more fuel efficient engines and to be able to make existing engines more efficient.
Engines are already very efficienct. It's the size and weight of the cars that's the problem. Compare, say, a 1994 Polo at 750Kg with the current equivalent which is probably 1,100 Kg.

[greenman7]

70 from a C3 should be possible with no additives

My dad gets mid 60s from his Fiesta 1.4TDCi (same engine as C3) on motorway trips without trying and no snake oil.



Yes I did get 70mpg once - motorway driving on a long run. But my mpg in urban and semi- urban driving has been stuck around the 65-68mpg, with the additive I have hit 70mpg. I will see if this happens consistently and report back. It is good to hear of other people returning high mpg - I suppose I always try for a bit more!

[Conor]

TBH if you've been getting 65-68MPG normally without it, it's perfectly reasonable to expect to be able to hit 70MPG with a bit more care.

The problem with these kinds of additives is it's a self fulfilling prophecy due to the placebo effect. You are convinced it'll make it better so subconciously you take actions that bring it about as you want to believe it does what it says it will.

[banger9365]

i agree with conor and i have not seem any artic that i have driven below 6/7 mpg with 44tonnes on(average mpg).
and if you can get 65+ with a car it do's not take much to reach 70+mpg just by driving a little more carefull

[greenman7]

The problem with these kinds of additives is it's a self fulfilling prophecy due to the placebo effect. You are convinced it'll make it better so subconciously you take actions that bring it about as you want to believe it does what it says it will.
This is the first car I have had suffering from the placebo effect!?! In a typical (work)day driving yesterday I covered 70 miles in 8 hours stopping off 14 times at shops, car parks and several different client's houses. If I drive more carefully or hang around I will never complete my day! In the 10months since I have bought this car I have monitored the mpg using the brim to brim method and this is the first time I have reached 70mpg local driving.If I am using the placebo effect I want more of it and maybe I will get the same mpg as some Aygo owners - 90mpg

[kaya]

im amazed at how many people believe that the manufacturers MPG indicators are a good unbiased represenation of fuel economy, has anybody contacted a manufacturer yet to find out how accurate those gimmicks really are? My friend has a corvette Z06 (505 hp, 193mph v8), on occasion the economy meter reads "average 76mpg"
is there anybody here who believes that is possible as well?

[JohnX]

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7852/tripcompphoto1qn1rb2gj8op2.th.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tripcompphoto1qn1rb2gj8op2.jpg)

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/8610/tripcompphoto2cz2fm2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


In 2006 I posted this image on a motoring forum showing an average mileage of 60mpg over 1031 miles ! in my trusty Passat !
There are some important differences though, this ones no slouch with a blistering 130bhp, far more powerful than most other diesel engines!
Note though that this mileage is mostly on long trips on country roads with an average speed of 50-60mph!

Plus this is no small matchbox-Its a big solidly built car which I feel more safe driving in!

Secret to achieving this-Cruise control!

[Keith]

70mpg :shocked: Some of us dream of above 20mpg :rotfl::j

[tomstickland]

im amazed at how many people believe that the manufacturers MPG indicators are a good unbiased represenation of fuel economy, has anybody contacted a manufacturer yet to find out how accurate those gimmicks really are? My friend has a corvette Z06 (505 hp, 193mph v8), on occasion the economy meter reads "average 76mpg"
is there anybody here who believes that is possible as well?
They're not gimmicks. They're just an estimate of the fuel economy.
The brim-brim method gives more reliable results. Any vehicle can achieve an instananeous reading of 76mpg. Driving down a hill with zero throttle should provide infinite mpg.

[hewhoisnotintheknow]

i drive the 2.0 hdi 90bhp

on a drive between southampton and dover i got 74.4 average mpg

most weeks i get 68.5 mpg average whilst driving around for work, i am a very gentle driver though.

[scbk]

If you want higher mpg & lower running costs head for 2 wheels

[Conor]

http://img59.imageshack.us/img59/7852/tripcompphoto1qn1rb2gj8op2.th.jpg (http://img59.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tripcompphoto1qn1rb2gj8op2.jpg)

http://img73.imageshack.us/img73/8610/tripcompphoto2cz2fm2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)


In 2006 I posted this image on a motoring forum showing an average mileage of 60mpg over 1031 miles ! in my trusty Passat !

What I get hooning about in my Mondeo. Mixture of city and SC A road driving.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn9/computershack/DSC00028.jpg

[Belnahua]

I'm still pleased with my 70MPG on a 1986 Citroen BX 1.7D (no turbo), on a run on the motoways at 70MPH. It had no additives, and was verified by using the full to full method. This was when it was 11 years old and with 120K on the clock!

[FlameCloud]

Whilst not as high as some others, I drove to Birmingham on saturday morning. I was so please with the results I even took a photo of it! (normally average 25-27 mpg!)

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y211/clegg1234/05072008443.jpg

[AdrianHi]

I often read about millers diesel power sport being a good diesel additive.

I've been using this stuff for about the last 15 months and 17,000 miles.
Same weather conditions, same trip, same driving habits, same diesel pump and the same garage I measure (brim to brim calculation, I know my OBC is inaccurate) a 5% to 7% improvement in MPG using it. It takes 2 to 3 tank fuls to get up to the 5-7% level. If I stop using the additive it drops back down again over 2 tanks. I've started and stopped using it 3 times to test this effect and now I'm totally convinced it makes a difference and don't fill up without it any more. Anyone's standard diesel will do as the fuel.
Along with cleaning additives and lubricants additives like this improve the Cetane number (a measure of how well the fuel burns) by 4 points. In standard diesel which must be at minimum 51 to meet EN590 this boost it to at least 55 (higher is of no further benefit). Since the actual Cetane number of fuels does vary during the year and by refinery and even fuel batch "standard" diesel can often have a higher than 51 Cetane rating anyway which along with all the other variables affecting fuel consumption can make measuring the improvement difficult. On a 45mpg car 5% improvement is an extra 2.25mpg.
On a 7.8mpg articulated lorry your looking at an improvement up to 8.19mpg. Moreover as you travel from one part of Europe to another you picking up fuel in different places from different refineries and the driving conditions must be varying more than a motorist on their daily commute. No surprise that it would be so much harder to measure an improvement and attribute it to a fuel additive.

[Belnahua]

This is a good read on additives....

http://www.carbibles.com/additives.html

[AdrianHi]

This is a good read on additives....

http://www.carbibles.com/additives.html

Looks like a good site in general and has some interesting information discrediting oil additives, which from my amateur knowledge of engine oils I'd agree with.
Let's not allow this to mislead anyone into thinking the at least some fuel additives are not affective. Premium fuels like BP Ultimate Diesel diesel have different additives from standard diesel which makes them a "better" fuel. Worth noting that all diesel fuel from the refineries needs other additives to meet EN590.

[Pew Pew Pew Lasers!]

this ones no slouch with a blistering 130bhp, far more powerful than most other diesel engines!

A blistering 130bhp eh? Wow, I'm impressed. Oh wait, no I'm not.

[alanrowell]

If you want higher mpg & lower running costs head for 2 wheels
Filling up every 150 miles, replacing tyres every 6000 miles...

[meester]

im amazed at how many people believe that the manufacturers MPG indicators are a good unbiased represenation of fuel economy, has anybody contacted a manufacturer yet to find out how accurate those gimmicks really are? My friend has a corvette Z06 (505 hp, 193mph v8), on occasion the economy meter reads "average 76mpg"
is there anybody here who believes that is possible as well?

Your fuel economy meter will typicall show 'instananeous' and 'average'. Average is from last reset, 'instaneous' is right now.

I had sustained (for a minute) >100mpg in my 2.2 tonne 2.5-litre turbocharged Volvo, e.g., going downhill on the M25 Eastbound there's a nice spot near the M23.

Also simply easing down to a stop, I get >100mpg by using the residual forward momentum from the car.

My usual mpg was about 23mpg I now get 28mpg+ by driving extremely carefully. The 30.7mpg quote combined figure is just a joke.

Anyway, increasing from 60mpg to 70mpg is not a big increase, it's far less significant than 23mpg to 28mpg in terms of percentage improvement.

Mpg figures are misleading, litres per 100km are better.

[goldspanners]

A blistering 130bhp eh? Wow, I'm impressed. Oh wait, no I'm not.

my vans 130 bhp!
blisters all over me. :D

[FlameCloud]

My 35.6 mpg was achieved in a 245bhp Leon- so it can be done! It even bettered it today, 36.8mpg! Its almost as if it knows that petrols getting expensive. This was with V-Power mind.

[in2deep]

Fuel additives really do increase your MPG....honestly they do........usually by 250ml...the same as the fluid in the blummin bottle.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Conor]

A blistering 130bhp eh? Wow, I'm impressed. Oh wait, no I'm not.

BHP isn't everything. Look at the torque figures - they're the more relevent ones.

[Conor]

On a 7.8mpg articulated lorry your looking at an improvement up to 8.19mpg.

Its snake oil. It always has been snake oil, it always will be. As I said, if that was the kind of improvement you'd get, every haulier would be using it. Eddie Stobart would have massive tanks of the stuff at their depots.

[Pew Pew Pew Lasers!]

BHP isn't everything. Look at the torque figures - they're the more relevent ones.

Given the choice between the two, I'd settle for BHP every time. Torque is for people who enjoy driving on motorways. Power is for people who enjoy driving.

[AdrianHi]

Its snake oil. It always has been snake oil, it always will be. As I said, if that was the kind of improvement you'd get, every haulier would be using it. Eddie Stobart would have massive tanks of the stuff at their depots.
http://www.tnn.co.uk/Technology/plonearticle.2005-11-22.8480460436
http://www.tnn.co.uk/Technology/plonearticle.2007-01-09.1024955243/view
and in any case many diesel car owners have measured the difference.
There are a few who don't seem to measure a difference though, a Saab 2.2Tid owner is one I can think of.

[Mr Angryman]

Of course I understand that we're all trying to save money but I hope to God that I don't get stuck behind any of you. Driving in this country is always frustrating but even more so now people are more interested in looking at the m.p.g. readout rather than keeping a healthy average speed.

[greenman7]

Of course I understand that we're all trying to save money but I hope to God that I don't get stuck behind any of you. Driving in this country is always frustrating but even more so now people are more interested in looking at the m.p.g. readout rather than keeping a healthy average speed.

I do not like being stuck behind another vehicle - just the same as anybody else. In this area I get stuck behind tractors, lost drivers and people who do not seem to know how to drive. In an urban area I am driving in the highest gear possible - so I am pretty close to the speed limits. I do not have an mpg readout. I know the roads very well here: Where there are short cuts, where road works happen to be and where to park freely. I also know the dimensions of my car for parking and meeting cars down single track roads. I rarely need to stop - I am always looking ahead and seeing any problems and acting accordingly, possibly taking a new route.
Driving with complete awareness keeps me moving briskly at all times and keeps fuel consumption low, it is possible.

[AdrianHi]

Driving with complete awareness keeps me moving briskly at all times and keeps fuel consumption low, it is possible.
I agree. If I look at the MPG meter at all it's on a straight clear stretch and I'm generally travelling right up to the speed limit or as fast as conditions allow.

[Mr Angryman]

Good. Great to hear it. Just checking!

[MrsE]

70mpg :shocked: Some of us dream of above 20mpg :rotfl::j

I get 29 mpg:eek:

[greenman7]

Latest update on fuel usage:

24/06/08 -70.53mpg
5/07/08 - 67.71 mpg
19/07/08 - 70.87 mpg
30/07/08 - 79.9 mpg

Seems to be going well at the moment, 79.9mpg was after motorway cruising - it would be good if this could happen all the time!? I think I could almost do the Jeremy Clarkson challenge (London to Edinburgh and back on one tankful of diesel) the only difference is my tank takes 47litres fuel.

[greenman7]

24/06/08 70.53mpg

5/07/08 67.71mpg
19/07/08 70.87mpg
30/07/08 79.9mpg

3/08/08 65.61mpg


12/08/08 67.84mpg
30/08/08 72.13mpg
17/09/08 76.9mpg
21/09/08 70.68mpg
9/10/08 70.43mpg


These are my figures, they are also very variable. My totals are 331.5litres diesel and 5,183 miles – average 71.08 mpg. Having difficulty increasing economy with lots of short journeys - but would say I am happy so far with my mpg in just under 4 months.

[goldspanners]

24/06/08 70.53mpg

5/07/08 67.71mpg
19/07/08 70.87mpg
30/07/08 79.9mpg

3/08/08 65.61mpg

12/08/08 67.84mpg
30/08/08 72.13mpg
17/09/08 76.9mpg
21/09/08 70.68mpg
9/10/08 70.43mpg


These are my figures, they are also very variable. My totals are 331.5litres diesel and 5,183 miles – average 71.08 mpg. Having difficulty increasing economy with lots of short journeys - but would say I am happy so far with my mpg in just under 4 months.

we will have the bunting and balloons up soon and celebrate! :T