Fuel efficient driving.

jason87

Pump your tyres up to a good PSI, most peoples tyres are under the correct pressure, you would be surprised how much of a difference this makes to MPG

cyclonebri1

Limey wrote: »

None of the above instructions apply when driving my everyday runabout. I've tried and no matter what it gets a stirling 22mpg.





At least you never have to slow down as everything gets out of your way. :eek:

Your choice and unfortunately your pain, enjoy, or otherwise;);)

jase1

Driving is about being considerate to other road users, not purely a quest for best mpg regardless of others.

Never a truer word spoken.

If you are spending more than a cursory amount of time worrying about fuel consumption, that is an amount of time you're not concentrating on the road. Much of the bad driving we see is due to people attempting to eek out that last 0.1mpg in situations where economy should be a distant second to safety in the driver's mind.

I put the whole question out of my mind. Drive to the road conditions and tot up the MPG at the end of a tank. That's it. If I want to save £1000 at the end of the year I'll simply not replace the car. Job done.

myhooose

jase1 wrote: »

Never a truer word spoken.

If you are spending more than a cursory amount of time worrying about fuel consumption, that is an amount of time you're not concentrating on the road. Much of the bad driving we see is due to people attempting to eek out that last 0.1mpg in situations where economy should be a distant second to safety in the driver's mind.

I put the whole question out of my mind. Drive to the road conditions and tot up the MPG at the end of a tank. That's it. If I want to save £1000 at the end of the year I'll simply not replace the car. Job done.

I disagree, I think trying to improve fuel consumption makes you much more aware of the road and other drivers around you. It certainly make me look further ahead on the road and use my mirrors more instead of just driving on auto pilot listening to the radio. However I agree with comments about slowing down too early and not keeping up with the flow of traffic.

It's a balancing act between improving mpg and not getting in the way of other drivers.

jase1

Well I practice defensive driving, and also use gears in a manner that might be considered "uneconomical" by some -- for example travelling around town in 3rd gear (or even second in some stretches) -- I find the balance that gives, and the ability to slow down and keep in line with traffic without using the brakes, outweighs potential savings. I certainly know how to improve efficiency -- I can get 50+mpg out of a 1.6 Focus when I want to -- but choose not to in a lot of cases. It's all about reading the road, and setting priorities accordingly.

I do feel that we have some common ground here, perhaps with some differences in emphasis. Fundamentally, as long as one's mind is concentrated on the job at hand, that's usually enough.

DirectDebacle

Limey wrote: »

At least you never have to slow down as everything gets out of your way. :eek:

And the dangerous junk bolted to the front will ensure maximum damage to a pedestrian who can't get out of your way. Good way to have negated 25 years of vehicle safety research and development though. Nice one.

cyclonebri1

myhooose wrote: »

I disagree, I think trying to improve fuel consumption makes you much more aware of the road and other drivers around you. It certainly make me look further ahead on the road and use my mirrors more instead of just driving on auto pilot listening to the radio. However I agree with comments about slowing down too early and not keeping up with the flow of traffic.

It's a balancing act between improving mpg and not getting in the way of other drivers.

That's a valid point but provided I get to the speed limit or to the safe speed for the road at that time, in a reasonable manor, the others can do what they wish and no one up my backside will get me accelarte harder or brake earlier than is economical.:A

Wig

Hammyman wrote: »

It isn't. It also means you are not in control of the car.

Strange how people say something as though it is a fact without any evidence to back up their assertion.

And, I am IMO in perfect control of my car when I do this, thanks very much, never had a problem with it. All the nannies can say what they like, in response to this post, fact is, I just slip out the clutch and I'm in gear again if I ever need to be. I use the brakes If going down a steep hill to stop the car reaching a silly speed. No danger, no nannies, no problem, no discussion - in other words, you have your opinion, I have mine & I won't respond any further to any comments on the "not being in control" myth.


BTW Thanks Tom for a great post.

Kilty_2

I've been trying to drive my car efficiently but there's times I have my foot flat to the floor without realising it :rotfl: (1.0, steep hills, short pedal travel, lol)

Saying that, I never managed to get above 32MPG in my 2.0 so it can't be as bad as that ever

Inactive

Kilty wrote: »

I've been trying to drive my car efficiently but there's times I have my foot flat to the floor without realising it :rotfl: (1.0, steep hills, short pedal travel, lol)

It will get better when it is run in, it still a bit tight.

( A bit like me ).