Fuel Economy Reporting Thread

jeferey

AdrianHi wrote: »

I'm comparing with my BMW 320d 6 speed manual. On the flat at an indicated 47/48mph you can just about accelerate, but it's really not happy below indicated 52mph = 1400/1500rpm. 40mph in 6th is something you only do downhill if at all.
On the flip side you can drive all day at an indicated 85mph and still return 48mpg+ as the revs are so low. Indicated 70mph is about 1900rpm.

We're not really comparing like with like here, my car is a wide and heavy 6 seater - the same engine in the Honda Accord has a quoted 52mpg and in the Civic 55mpg (compared to my 44.9). It just shows you what a difference the car's weight and size makes to economy. Your gearing looks totally different to mine - I use 6th all the time (even round town at 30 - 35) and it accelerates easily from 40mph. Swings and roundabouts!

sunbeam73racer

OK Here's some number crunching:
FORD FOCUS 1.6 DIESEL v FORD FOCUS 1.6 PETROL
COMBINED PETROL MPG = 42.8 v COMBINED DIESEL MPG 58.9
Lets say we do 10000 Miles / Year.
Current fuel price at Tesco near me: Petrol; £1.10 / Litre = £5.00 / gallon. Diesel; £1.21 / Litre = £5.63 / gallon.
For 10000 miles the Petrol will consume 234 Gallons costing £1168
For 10000 miles the Diesel will consume 170 Gallons costing £957

The diesel focus therefore costs £211 less in fuel over the year.

Considering that new & secondhand values are more expensive for the diesel, is it worth it?

N1ckR

What about servicing (don't just price minor services costs, take a yearly average including a major service), tax and insurance costs for a year ?

Another question: which is better for the environment, burning 170 gallons of diesel or 234 gallons of petrol ?

Cheers, Nick.

ailuro2

Don't know if this tip has been mentioned yet, but I bought a tin of tyreweld in Asda yesterday for £2,:j I am going to take the spare wheel/tyre out of the boot and carry the tin instead, to increase fuel efficiency, most of our journeys are less than 10 miles, so we could hobble home and change the tyre, or even better, get in to work to get it replaced for free (work for a tyre manufacturer:D)

It's a 15" tyre and rim so a decent weight saving.

ailuro2

AdrianHi wrote: »

Yes, look up the latestMichelin Energy tyres just out this Spring. I first learned of them on MSE, was sceptical, but after reading reviews and independant tests they seem to be as good if not better than the best of the rest of the "touring" tyre bunch for grip in the wet and dry. You won't notice a huge saving on fuel, perhaps £80-£160 across the whole life of the tyre - every little helps.

The saving is around 5% and sometimes more. Remember to keep your tyres pumped to their optimum pressure, eg adding a couple of pounds when the car is fully loaded for long journeys. It extends tyre life too, so more savings, not just on safety and fuel economy.

They may also be made in this country, which helps supports our manufacturing base (think I mentioned in my last post I work for a tyre manufacturer;))

AdrianHi

ailuro2 wrote: »

The saving is around 5% and sometimes more. Remember to keep your tyres pumped to their optimum pressure, eg adding a couple of pounds when the car is fully loaded for long journeys. It extends tyre life too, so more savings, not just on safety and fuel economy.

They may also be made in this country, which helps supports our manufacturing base (think I mentioned in my last post I work for a tyre manufacturer;))

Agree completely.
I'm right on the ball with looking after my tyres and keeping the pressures spot on. I use a roof box from time to time and you really need the fully loaded pressures for that. I do sometimes go mid-way to fully loaded pressures for a long trip and a modest load.
Few people realise how fast tyres can loose pressure, not so much on the way into summer, but heading into winter you can easily loose 5% pressure in a month. The tread region of the tyre is porous (it has to be) and air bleeds out slowly. I always check and correct them last week of the month so I don't forget, which means they are due to be checked again about now.

AdrianHi

ailuro2 wrote: »

Don't know if this tip has been mentioned yet, but I bought a tin of tyreweld in Asda yesterday for £2,:j I am going to take the spare wheel/tyre out of the boot and carry the tin instead, to increase fuel efficiency, most of our journeys are less than 10 miles, so we could hobble home and change the tyre, or even better, get in to work to get it replaced for free (work for a tyre manufacturer:D)

It's a 15" tyre and rim so a decent weight saving.

I'm going to have to disapprove of this move.
My car has run flat tyres, no spare wheel and no where to store one. I've lived with this for nearly 3 years, had to start using standard tyres at one point due to lack of supply of run-flats and used Ultraseal pre-treatment for full time puncture protection. In that time I ran over a peice of flint outside a building site and cut a 2 inch long hole in the tyre, which is beyond Ultraseal to seal, though it did keep me mobile for another day before giving up. Fortunately I discovered the flat tyre at lunch time and was able to call out a mobile tyre fitting service to get a new tyre.
There is no substitue for a spare wheel, even run-flats have a limit 50 mile range. If you want to cut weight, get yourself a space saver which at least keeps you moving. The spray can gels are crap, you'll be lucky to get it into the tyre in the first place and doubly lucky if it seals the puncture. If you really are determined to go this route I'd suggest a Continental Conti Comfort Kit http://www.conti-online.com/generator/www/uk/en/continental/automobile/general/news/CCK_en.html (price about £80
or Woolworth sells a version of their Airman product which is compressor and tyre gel kit, similar to the Conti product at less than half the price at £30.

Bottom line is eliminating the spare wheel is a false economy, and that goes for vehicle manufacturers who are increasingly doing it too.

jeferey

Another fascinating fuel saving article - this time on "Hyper-Milers"
Worth a read - http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2007/01/king_of_the_hypermilers.html

AdrianHi

Thanks for posting this, a fascinating read.
Wayne does of course need
1. A life time ban from driving
2. Therapy, he is clearly insane and obsessed

jeferey

AdrianHi wrote: »

Thanks for posting this, a fascinating read.
Wayne does of course need
1. A life time ban from driving
2. Therapy, he is clearly insane and obsessed

Agreed, it would be dangerous to use all the techniques discussed on normal roads but we can learn from them and use what we can!
Anyway, I've found another interesting site, based in the UK. My next door neighbour told me about this one: http://www.hypermilers.co.uk