A way to use less petrol?

paddykop

Hi Folks,

The following matters spring to mind:

I recently emigrated to Canada, before I left the UK, I had a flat tyre or two in my time. I have used the aerosol reinflator foamy stuff before and it does work. The problem I encountered was that, when I tried to get the tyre repaired (by approx six different companies), they all said the same thing. They were not allowed, by law (or regulation) to repair a tyre which has used the foam as it chemically alters the rubber on the inside surface of the tyre.
It is great in a dire emergency but would always result in a new tyre being purchased.

Space saver tyres are good for short term but, if you have ever seen one on a vehicle, the vehicle definately leans towards the smaller space saver tyre and I cannot help but wonder what damage they would do to the suspension and steering etc if used longer than recommended. Do they affect the steering if placed on a front wheel?


Back to fuel economy:
Here in Canada, there are a couple of websites, where people report the cheapest fuel in the area. I live in Vancouver, British Columbia, and regularly use a site at https://www.gastips.com While I know that it is a long way from the UK to Canada and the actual website itself may be little or no use in the UK, the concept is great and I suspect that some of you computer whizzes out there could create a site and pay for it via those annoying banner ads.

Regards,
Paddy

Hallsie

a) As someone mentioned before. The only difference the weight of the car makes to petrol/diesel consumption is when accelerating/going uphill. A car that weighs 2000Kg will do exactly the same MPG as a car that weighs 1000Kg when travelling at the same speed on a level surface.

b) It makes no difference when making an emergency stop what gear you are in if non at all. For instance, it matters not a jot if you have a car with 4 Wheel drive when braking. The only things that matter are the downforce on the wheels in contact, the coefficient of friction between these wheels and the road surface and the amount of braking torque applied to the discs

If you lock all four wheels up you will stop in the same distance whether you have your clutch pressed in or not. Although you will stall the engine and then you will waste petrol/diesel starting it.

c) My car uses more Diesel in the winter because it is cold than in the middle of summer with the climate control keeping the temperature to 20deg. It's all to do with the air temperature entering the engine. Warmer engines are just more fuel efficient.

I can't beleive people are worried about leaving the spare tyre out of the car when driving!!! Do these same people worry about the amount of dirt on the car floor or the tissues in the side pocket? I for one would love to see someone with a puncture who took their spare out to save money on petrol. In fact, I would pay to see it.

d) to confirm something someone else said previously. The engine is working at its most efficient when operating at the rev range at which it produces the most torque. I for one would not like to purchase a car from the chap who suggested driving around at 30mph in 5/6th gear. I would imagine your big end bearings knock like anything. Perhaps a complete strip down and rebuild sir? How much? Far more than you saved on petrol methinks......

Back later.

SNIFUR

Get a bike! walk, run or catch a bus.

Benefits?
Less Pollution
Get Fitter
Reduce the number of cars on the road
Reduce traffic congestion
Ecologically friendly
Not having to worry about half filling the tank or not (maybe a lit bit less pressure in the tyres will make it easier to pedal)
Save not only on petrol costs but also Insurance, Road Tax, MOT and servicing not to mention depreciation.
These are just a few of the top of my head but no doubt there are contless more advantages

Chill out

westernpromise

SNIFUR wrote:

Get a bike! walk, run or catch a bus.

Reduce traffic congestion

According to Transport for London's figures, more bus journeys and fewer car journeys into London over the last 12 years or so has coincided with a fall in average traffic speed. Insofar as traffic speed is a measure of congestion, increasing the number of buses seems to make congestion worse, not better.

Take the bus by all means but don't do it to ease congestion.

Savvy_Sue

westernpromise wrote:

If you want to reduce the weight carried, lose weight and drive naked.

Might cause a few accidents, mightn't it?

PandoraWild

SNIFUR wrote:

Get a bike! walk, run or catch a bus.

Benefits?
Less Pollution
Get Fitter
Reduce the number of cars on the road
Reduce traffic congestion
Ecologically friendly
Not having to worry about half filling the tank or not (maybe a lit bit less pressure in the tyres will make it easier to pedal)
Save not only on petrol costs but also Insurance, Road Tax, MOT and servicing not to mention depreciation.
These are just a few of the top of my head but no doubt there are contless more advantages

Chill out

Yeah top idea. I'd love to do that but unfortunately the only train that would get me to work in time for my 8.30 start takes over three hours (&3 changes) and leaves at 11.30 the night before..... :eek:

gord_3

russbif wrote:

I agree with everything apart from item 2.

The quickest way to wreck your engine on a cold morning, or any other for that matter, is to leave the engine ticking over on choke for ages until it warms up, the extra rich fuel mixture injected or sucked into the cylinders will wash any oil off the cylinder bores and cause rapid wear.

You should start up, and then drive off, as simple as that, it warms your engine up to temperature far quicker, with less risk of damage to the bores.

Russ

I agree. I tried it with my diesel car having read that it takes an engine 3 times longer to warm up when cold.I drove my car to work from cold,driving off straight away.I got 51 mpg according to the very accurate trip computer.The next day I tried it letting the car warm up 1st(took 15 mins) I only got 42 mpg.Identical trip and speeds

robonz

use biodiesel if your engine is diesel if you want to help the environment too. search these forums for more info on biodiesel.

DiggingOut

How can someone suggest driving naked and also object to warming up the car first on cold mornings?

westernpromise

DiggingOut wrote:

How can someone suggest driving naked and also object to warming up the car first on cold mornings?

It's all about saving weight. If you drive to work, you should visit the toilet before you set off and not eat breakfast till you get there. Both of these will reduce the weight of the vehicle :-)

If you have spare limbs you aren't using, you could have those amputated too. Same rationale.