fuel economy

scrougepensioner

I have read a number of entries on the Forum re mileage from cars, there is really only one way to get max from every gallon. Car tuned and serviced, lighten (chuck all rubbish from boot) inflate tyres to highest recommended pressures. this last one is a vital factor on my old girl.
I can get a regular 32/33 on runs in traffic which can go up to 35/36 when on a journey. Tried once or twice a long hop at max of 55/60 mph and managed 38mpg. This is from a 12 year old 2 litre Honda Accord automatic. Even when pushing on when late on occasion still get 35. So sensible acceleration, easy to get away from little engined Fiestas etc. and steady cruising on M ways is the answer. SP:beer:

Notmyrealname

scrougepensioner wrote: »

I have read a number of entries on the Forum re mileage from cars, there is really only one way to get max from every gallon. Car tuned and serviced, lighten (chuck all rubbish from boot) inflate tyres to highest recommended pressures.

Disagree that it is the only way. Driving style plays as much if not more a part than all the aforementioned.

I used to do a 450 mile night run to London along with another lorry driver. Both same wagons, load, destination, journey time. He used to belt up to lights, accelerate up to the redline etc. He'd beat me by about 2-3 minutes. He'd use 20% more fuel than I did.

cyclonebri1

scrougepensioner wrote: »

I have read a number of entries on the Forum re mileage from cars, there is really only one way to get max from every gallon. Car tuned and serviced, lighten (chuck all rubbish from boot) inflate tyres to highest recommended pressures. this last one is a vital factor on my old girl.
I can get a regular 32/33 on runs in traffic which can go up to 35/36 when on a journey. Tried once or twice a long hop at max of 55/60 mph and managed 38mpg. This is from a 12 year old 2 litre Honda Accord automatic. Even when pushing on when late on occasion still get 35. So sensible acceleration, easy to get away from little engined Fiestas etc. and steady cruising on M ways is the answer. SP:beer:

No, not that simple, and if you can only get a 2mph difference on a run to urban your sums are wrong.

Add to that the fact that you cannot tune a modern engine excluding remapping and your argument is just a little flat.

Don't quite understand why you would want to get away from little engined fiestas either, they too can do over the ton.????

Dave_C_2

This is the expert view.

Dave

lee678

not too sure on this one = inflate tyres to highest recommended pressures

Ultrasonic

scrougepensioner wrote: »

...and steady cruising on M ways is the answer.

Slower cruising speed is more of an answer. Steady speed on flat roads, but not necessarily where hills are concerned.

Ultrasonic

lee678 wrote: »

not too sure on this one = inflate tyres to highest recommended pressures

Well it will increase fuel economy, but has the downsides of reduced grip (reduced contact patch on road) and much harsher ride (which might increase risk of damage to suspension). I'm not about to do it for these reasons.

I've read conflicting reports on whether it will increase or decrease tyre wear. The traditional argument is that it will lead to the centre of the tyre wearing prematurely, but what I've read from people trying it with decent modern tyres they find they don't see this and actually get reduced tyre wear.

cyclonebri1

Ultrasonic wrote: »

Slower cruising speed is more of an answer. Steady speed on flat roads, but not necessarily where hills are concerned.

That works for me and as you hint, do your accelerating going downhill and let the throttle feather towards the top of the hill, traffic flow permitting of course.

Wig

I'd say the one way to get increased mpg is to start coasting wherever you can.

my car used to be driven by my mum - gentle driving as you can imagine - always had 43mpg on the average....

Now I got it and I coast down most hills towards roundabouts and traffic lights etc, what I usually see every day 95% of the time, is the cars in front will accelerate away from me down hill, I will accelerate to 40mph and then dip the clutch, those behind me have to match my speed or overtake (I don't mind which - they rarely overtake/undertake though) We all know there is a roundabout or traffic lights ahead. As I approach the roundabout there will be a queue of cars who all accelerated, and by the time I get there I am 10 metres behind the last car and join the roundabout behind him.

I have not lost any time but I have saved a lot of fuel. My average is always 53mpg

What's that? about 25% increase in mpg.


People must feel like idiots behind me if they get impatient and then they see that going slow actually cost them no time at all (and I'm obvioulsy not sure what they are actually thinking) but if they do get impatient........... 95% of the time I just arrive at the same time the last car is entering the roundabout or just as the the lights change to green and I follow on from the last car in the queue.

Clutch bearings will not be affected before it is time to change the clutch, always change bearings when changing a clutch, OR if you prefer, use neutral, it's just the same. I can't bear to listen those who say "not in control of your car"...........that's testicles.

Trebor16

But what car do you have, is it a modern car with fuel injection and an engine management system that would cut the fuel supply when the throttle is lifted?

daveyjp

Why bother coasting? On a modern fuel injected car Simply lifting off the gas stops fuel flow and useage is then nil. When coasting gas is required to maintain tickover.