Increasing your mpg and saving fuel

Sledge_2

My top tip for doing this is to get a small block of wood, and attach it under the throttle pedal of your car, thereby physically preventing you ever 'flooring it' .

I know some of you are now going to argue the old arguement of accelerating out of danger, but as a driver with much experience and many different licenses, I hold the view that accelerating out of danger, is just accelerating into the next danger. So don't bother the arguement!

My car has been clocked at 126mph (on a reasonably calibrated device), and many other cars these days also have high top ends and short 0-60s, so the idea of limiting your throttle doesn't make much difference apart from forcing you to actually drive better.

Paul_Herring

My safety concern would be if this block came off/got dislodged, and somehow ended up under the brake pedal. :rolleyes:

sb44

You are probably being serious but it sounds like one of the tips out of a Viz magazine!

:rolleyes:

thescouselander

What if you are going up a steep hill with a full load and you need to floor it to get up the slope?

geordie_joe

Well, if there isn't already a law against deliberately interfering with the free operation of car pedals there should be one!

Paul_Herring

thescouselander wrote: »

What if you are going up a steep hill with a full load and you need to floor it to get up the slope?

I believe that's what you should be using the gear box for (i.e. shift down a gear or two.)

greenbee

How about using a bit of self-control instead?

thescouselander

Paul_Herring wrote: »

I believe that's what you should be using the gear box for (i.e. shift down a gear or two.)

While I was in Italy recently I hired a car that barely managed to get up some hills in 1st gear - sometimes its not possible to change down.


Admit it, this is a daft idea. If you are going to limit the performance of your car in this way surely it would be better to just get one with a smaller engine in the first place.

Anyway, sometimes (like when going up a hill) its more efficient to run the engine with a wide open throttle as a partially open throttle introduces pumping losses.

[Deleted User]

i guess if oyu have a powerful car and are not towing anything then this would work. But imagine on smaller cars laden with children and bikes this would be a bit of a problem !

tomstickland

I think a much better method would be to simply not press the pedal down so far when travelling at a constant speed.
When there is a need to accelerate then near maximum throttle is the most efficient way of doing it.
Acceleration is necessary work.
Bigger savings can be made by improving the deceleration part of the process. ie: starting to slow much earlier.

I hold the view that accelerating out of danger, is just accelerating into the next danger. So don't bother the arguement!

How about a T junction that connects 3 very wide and straight roads. You are passing the junction when it becomes apparent that a car pulling up to it might not stop before the stop line. The road ahead is clear. In this situation you would be accelerating out of danger and there is clearly no next danger.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

As I understand it, car owners should not even add those sporty pedal covers nevermind putting any block under the accelerator. Certainly, your car would fail it's test, unless you removed the block beforehand. In any event, it's probably illegal to modify a vehicle in this way. I'd rather use more fuel than risk your suggestion.