Cheap petrol & diesel – official MSE guide discussion

Jenni_D

Bigwheels1111 said:

Unless things change drastically I’m keeping my diesel car.
Its 6 in September and will only have 18.5k on the clock.
The car is paid for and reliable, a service and mot once a year and that’s it.
To get an EV, I would need £30k minimum and a very long charging cable as on third floor.
Plus 12m waiting list if I was lucky.
I will make a decision weather to change or not in 2029 just before the world goes mad.

What's your driving profile for those 18.5k miles? If it has a DPF then I'm surprised that it hasn't keeled over by now. (Unless you do irregular, long journeys rather than regular, short journeys).

ontheroad1970

gropinginthedark said:

Ebe_Scrooge said:

Another consideration, which not all drivers realise, is that any electrical equipment will affect fuel economy.  

I can't find it now but the Tesla web site had a "range estimator" where you could tweak things like ambient temperature (batteries less efficient in the cold and cabin heating may be needed or when it's hot, air-con), wheel size, headlights on,  raining (wipers on) etc and see how every change affected the total range.  It could make a very significant difference, the worst case I could get was a range reduction from around 250 to 200miles. The same parameters apply to a petrol/diesel vehicle but less obvious without the range anxiety electric-only vehicles bring.

Another economy issue is speed. In the 1973 fuel crisis the national speed limit was reduce from 70 to 50 mph which, I believe, saves about 20% of the fuel that would be used at 70mph. I tried this myself recently and increased my mpg from around 60 to 75 (I drive a large hybrid)

I don't believe this is correct.  Before 1973 the unregulated sign now used as National Speed Limit meant there was no speed limit and in England and Wales (Scotland has passed legislation to have a fixed speed limit  of 70mph on motorways and dual carriageways) the National Speed Limit legislation is actually temporary and has to be regularly renewed.  

BobbinAlong

The latest Morrisons 5p off offer is total rubbish in our area (West Wilts/Somerset) - the price has gone UP 5p to negate the offer and is 14p more per litre than the local BP garage and 24p more than Tesco where I fiiled up yesterday for 152.9p/litre.
Always check petrolprices.com and don't fall for Morrisons con offer.

Bigwheels1111

Jenni_D said:

Bigwheels1111 said:

Unless things change drastically I’m keeping my diesel car.
Its 6 in September and will only have 18.5k on the clock.
The car is paid for and reliable, a service and mot once a year and that’s it.
To get an EV, I would need £30k minimum and a very long charging cable as on third floor.
Plus 12m waiting list if I was lucky.
I will make a decision weather to change or not in 2029 just before the world goes mad.

What's your driving profile for those 18.5k miles? If it has a DPF then I'm surprised that it hasn't keeled over by now. (Unless you do irregular, long journeys rather than regular, short journeys).

Lots of short journeys, I was doing 12-15k a year when I purchased the car.
I then became a carer and now it’s hospital runs and shopping trips.
I’ve had it regenerate a couple of times, the smell gives it away.
To be honest I think I’ve been lucky. 

KPcoupleofNuts

Not following the discussion on electric vs fossil, rather a comment on the 31 October newsletter Item 8 Steps on  "Driving more Efficiently"
I mostly agree with the Step 2 set, but one part of Item 8 - Coasting in neutral can be cheaper BUT it's DANGEROUS

Absolutely it's dangerous. No question. So just DON'T. 
The issue of neutral gear using less fuel is a misunderstanding of how the system works.
It wouldn't be cheaper anyway because:
For almost all modern vehicles with internal combustion engines (ICE), be they diesel or petrol (or any other fossil combustible fuel or gas for that matter - probably), the engine management unit (EMU, ECU - call it what you will), de-fuels when the throttle is lifted.  Leaving in neutral does not in most systems invoke tis de-fuelling command because you need all the engine power at idle on traffic to run certain other loads.  It's why the engine sometimes auto-starts when in traffic to top up the battery, boost the air-con or some other load.
When in gear and coasting (the de-fuelling mentioned above), it means there is NO fuel injected in this condition.  The engine runs lean or just on the inducted air, provides a degree of engine braking to slow the vehicle and allows any exhaust regeneration systems (which recycle the exhaust gases to burn them off more completely - Euro5/6) to work well, keep the exhaust temperature up which helps maintain the the catalytic conversion (SCR or AdBlue that keeps emissions down on diesel systems), maintains efficiency and an overall better performance AND lower consumption for your pocket.
So for all the above it isn't efficient to coast in neutral, Is dangerous because you have less control as mentioned in the original article. 
So, stay in gear, change down to take advantage of the braking effect.  It also benefits electric vehicle/hybrids by regenerative charging of the battery or topping up air compressors.  Anything for management of energy storage.
  
One final warning! DO NOT EVER coast with the engine OFF.  Power steering is gone, power brake servo is lost, reduced electrical performance (lights, wipers, demisting etc.). The steering will also possibly lock if you turned the key too far leading to complete disaster!!

sheslookinhot

We have a BP garage, west of Glasgow, offering petrol at 149.9p, whilst 3 nearby BP filling stations  are 155-157p. All other filling stations are 155p+

How much is petrol in your area ?

LightFlare

Petrol 137.9 - Diesel 147.9 - Premium unleaded 149.9 at Costco today

worlestone

Petrol is 145.9p/litre at Texaco in Ilminster, Somerset, 153.9p/litre in Bridport, Dorset where we live and 151.9p at Tesco Yeovil