How to improve MPG?

LandyAndy

Dippychick wrote: »

Are some cars just rubbish for MPG? I have a Saab 900 which is only doing 20mpg everywhere... well twenty minutes on motorway gets me 21.9 but no higher!

What can I do to improve this.. or am I doomed to pay so much in petrol? It's an auto.

Have you actually checked the mpg or are you relying on the output from a trip computer.

Try a brim to brim measure and work it out accurately. You might be surprised.

I your 20 mile commute is stop start then 20 mpg could be right and the only way to improve it significantly may be by going diesel.

The_Banker_5

If you cant afford to put the petrol in then you cant afford the car.

Simple really.;)

Meepster

The_Banker wrote: »

If you cant afford to put the petrol in then you cant afford the car.

Simple really.;)

No-one mentioned they couldn't afford to put the petrol in, just that they wanted to save money...

The_Banker_5

mwilletts wrote: »

No-one mentioned they couldn't afford to put the petrol in, just that they wanted to save money...

Drive a posh car and eat jam and bread or drive a crap car and eat steak eh!;):p

Mips

LandyAndy wrote: »

Have you actually checked the mpg or are you relying on the output from a trip computer.

Try a brim to brim measure and work it out accurately. You might be surprised.

I your 20 mile commute is stop start then 20 mpg could be right and the only way to improve it significantly may be by going diesel.

How do I do that? Yes I am going off a trip... and I put £50 in the other day which took me up to 3/4 full tank but am now down to a quarter again in only 97 miles.


Thanks Landy Andy and Curious George - I am always on the brakes... although I do plan ahead quite well.... and yes I am guilty of starting the engine and sitting on the mobile phone, or doing make up in the mirror... or generally messing around.. but I thought turning it on and off all the time was bad for it?!

Mips

The_Banker wrote: »

Drive a posh car and eat jam and bread or drive a crap car and eat steak eh!;):p

Hardly a posh car :rolleyes:

thescouselander

The first thing you should do is make sure your tyres are correctly inflated - recheck them regularly. Its frightening how many people drive round with under-inflated tyres - not only does it use more fuel it significantly increases your braking distance.

Also it might be worth getting your car checked to make sure your brakes aren't binding. Its easy to do yourself.

You should be getting a lot more than 21 mpg on the motorway, even with an auto. I get 36 mpg on a run out of my car and that has a 3 litre engine!

MX5huggy

Dippychick wrote: »

How do I do that? Yes I am going off a trip... and I put £50 in the other day which took me up to 3/4 full tank but am now down to a quarter again in only 97 miles.

You fill the car with petrol, maybe till the pump has clicked 3 times is a good indication it is full. Reset the trip as you leave the petrol station. Then you drive around untill you are nearly empty (just your typical trips). Then re fill the car till the 3 clicks then do some maths on the number of liters of petrol you have filled up with and the number of miles you have done.

Mips

Well my wheels have no dust caps on and I am having to blow another tyre up tomorrow... but I just put the air in until its full.. I asked the man in the petrol station how the air works but he said he doesn't drive.

I wonder if a garage will help me out for half an hour ... :cool:

I want to be more economic with it, but I have seen a little Polo I want which is 1.4, 4 doors, on a 52 plate and has low mileage.. I would probably have to spend a grand which I would have back soon enough.

Are they good on petrol?

thescouselander

Dippychick wrote: »

Well my wheels have no dust caps on and I am having to blow another tyre up tomorrow... but I just put the air in until its full.. I asked the man in the petrol station how the air works but he said he doesn't drive.

I wonder if a garage will help me out for half an hour ... :cool:

I want to be more economic with it, but I have seen a little Polo I want which is 1.4, 4 doors, on a 52 plate and has low mileage.. I would probably have to spend a grand which I would have back soon enough.

Are they good on petrol?

Dont under any circumstances "keep putting air in till its full" - it could explode and may be quite dangerous. Do you know someone else who can show you what to do?

Have a look at this - its american but it will give you the right idea:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzhzjJrtUPU&feature=PlayList&p=EA52DA2CBECE1BCE&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=31