More miles per gallon

[TurboTomato]

Originally Posted by Astro

1. coast down hills.

I think you'll find that's illegal! Not really something I'd encourage.

[dep]

Most modern cars have a fuel cutoff on zero throttle when revs are above a preset minimum (around 1500rpm).
Coasting down hill where the engine is ticking over and using fuel is less economical than lifting OFF the throttle and letting the engine use zero fuel. Then re-apply the throttle to maintain/re-establish your chosen speed.
This OFF/ON sequence can be just a few seconds and is overall more economical than coasting and more economical than maintaining a tiny throttle opening eg. on a flat road at 30 to 40mph.

If your variation in speed is of the order of 2mph (+-1mph on your chosen cruising speed) then it does not impinge on the speed of the following traffic.

[Steven666]

Originally Posted by dep

Most modern cars have a fuel cutoff on zero throttle when revs are above a preset minimum (around 1500rpm).
Coasting down hill where the engine is ticking over and using fuel is less economical than lifting OFF the throttle and letting the engine use zero fuel. Then re-apply the throttle to maintain/re-establish your chosen speed.
This OFF/ON sequence can be just a few seconds and is overall more economical than coasting and more economical than maintaining a tiny throttle opening eg. on a flat road at 30 to 40mph.

If your variation in speed is of the order of 2mph (+-1mph on your chosen cruising speed) then it does not impinge on the speed of the following traffic.

Assuming you have turned the ignition key!

[Daisy Chain]

Originally Posted by Steven666

Is your's a diesel though?

Nope, just a cute little economical petrol car with low emissions. Road tax £35 per year.

Daisy

(A Smug Little Flower)

[Daisy Chain]

Originally Posted by Brian Doolan

Did you dig that out of an American website or do you have very, very, very long arms and legs?

*explains patiently* A woman believes she is driving even when she is the passenger.

Daisy

(A Back Seat Driver)

[Twirly]

Originally Posted by Daisy Chain

*explains patiently* A woman believes she is driving even when she is the passenger.

Daisy

(A Back Seat Driver)

And I think it's just been illustrated why we find it necessary to do so...

Funny thing is, before I learnt to drive, I was quite happy being a passenger with my aging father (apart from his annoying habit of leaving his indicators going - he's a bit deaf so can't hear the clicking noise). Now I know how to do it

[dep]

Originally Posted by Daisy Chain

*explains patiently* A woman believes she is driving even when she is the passenger.

Daisy

(A Back Seat dizzy/daisy Driver)

but we all know the lady in the car is always in control irrespective of which seat she occupies.

[Daisy Chain]

Originally Posted by Trousers

a) having the seatback upright if not a little forward
b) Pulling the seat almost as far forward as possible so that your chin can rest somewhere on the steering wheel
c) scary roads with multiple lanes must be avoided
d) the lines denoting lanes around road islands are infact only for decoration
e) Cuddly toys must fill every flat surface and pocket
f) cushions to sit on although not compulsory are a must have safety feature
g) Junctions will be approached with caution which will in fact mean they will not actually be approached at all and the car will lay back to make visibility more fun.
h) Left is the side of the car the driver sits on

You forgot an item.

i) Turns the road atlas upside down when heading South

[Trousers]

Originally Posted by Daisy Chain

You forgot an item.

i) Turns the road atlas upside down when heading South

You can get a girlie map that reads north up one way flip it over and it reads south up.

We blokes don't get all this you know.

[Astro]

Originally Posted by TurboTomato

I think you'll find that's illegal! Not really something I'd encourage.

It was a joke TT.
DTS hasn't picked up on the Welsh Widows joke either.

Having said that, I once ran out of petrol. Luckily there was a petrol station right at the bottom of the hill. I managed to coast down for a quarter of a mile and get into the petrol station right next to the pump.

Very dangerous though, do not try this when you are out.

[dep]

Originally Posted by Astro

It was a joke ...............
Having said that, I once ran out of petrol. Luckily there was a petrol station right at the bottom of the hill. I managed to coast down for a quarter of a mile and get into the petrol station right next to the pump.

Very dangerous though, do not try this when you are out.

reminds me of Candid Camera.
Took the engine out of the car and coasted it into a filling station, then it wouldn't start and the arguments about who stole the engine while she was in paying the bill.

[RedFox]

Originally Posted by Astro

3. Give your boot a good clear out, but leave the jack in.

In my experience the tyres are usually bolted on too tight for them to be removed by hand, so you may as well leave the jack and spanner at home too...

[Astro]

Originally Posted by RedFox

In my experience the tyres are usually bolted on too tight for them to be removed by hand, so you may as well leave the jack and spanner at home too...

That is so true because a machine puts them on.

But what you can do is get a piece of hollow scaffolding pipe (DTS should have some bits) - about 2 feet long. Put the handle of the jack inside it and press down on the pipe. This gives extra purchase.

May sure you oil the wheel nuts first in case it breaks them. Or spray that stuff on - WD-40.

The piping can also come in handy if you are attacked on a lonely road.

[dep]

Originally Posted by Astro

That is so true because a machine puts them on.

No!
An incompetent fitter with poor training or a couldn't care less attitude puts them on. One cannot blame the machine.

[Astro]

Originally Posted by Astro

But what you can do is get a piece of hollow scaffolding pipe (DTS should have some bits) - about 2 feet long. Put the handle of the jack inside it and press down on the pipe. This gives extra purchase.

Mistake here - got mixed up as all the bits are in the same pouch.
I meant put the wheel brace on the nut, then put one of the 4 ends in the pipe. [The jack will be under the axle]. 3 feet is a good length - you can press down with your knee on it.

Originally Posted by dep

No!
An incompetent fitter with poor training or a couldn't care less attitude puts them on. One cannot blame the machine.

Really? Also don't they seize up if they've been on for years?

[Gadget]

I'm not sure that "coasting" is illegal... dangerous, but not illegal (If you crash while 'coasting', the engine will probably still be running - if you're actually in-gear it will most likley stall)

Another tip for economical driving is to anticipate corners and use the gears/gravity to slow down (use the breaks as little as poss).

My car tells me I'm at 53.1mpg, averge speed of 32pmh and it's a ford focus TDI - my colegues with the same work car struggle to get it to 40mpg, so driving like an old lady does have some advantages
{I spend 1/2 hour on country roads and 1/2 hour in town stuck in traffic every commute; sitting at lights and in traffic jams really eats the MPG - as does "boy-racer" acceleration off the lights}

[Brian Doolan]

Originally Posted by Gadget

...............anticipate corners and use the gears/gravity to slow down (use the breaks as little as poss).

I use the breaks when I'm listening to music while dancing.

Brakes Gadge, brakes

[DavidY]

Originally Posted by Gadget

I'm not sure that "coasting" is illegal... dangerous, but not illegal

The current online highway code says

122
Coasting. This term describes a vehicle travelling in neutral or with the clutch pressed down. It can reduce driver control because

• engine braking is eliminated
• vehicle speed downhill will increase quickly
• increased use of the footbrake can reduce its effectiveness
• steering response will be affected, particularly on bends and corners
• it may be more difficult to select the appropriate gear when needed

But my old paper version includes the sentence "Do not coast, whatever the driving conditions" in that section. This seems to have been taken out. Even in the paper version, the sentence wasn't written as a "You MUST Not" which is normally what they do when there's an actual law about it.

[dep]

Originally Posted by DavidY

The current online highway code says.
Coasting. This term describes a vehicle travelling in neutral or with the clutch pressed down. It can reduce driver control because

• engine braking is eliminated
• vehicle speed downhill will increase quickly
• increased use of the footbrake can reduce its effectiveness
• steering response will be affected, particularly on bends and corners
• it may be more difficult to select the appropriate gear when needed

I usually agree with and try to follow the Highway Code.
But, I dispute many of the reasons behind the advice and conclusions reached in that extract on coasting.
I'll go further:-some of it is downright lies.
It also conveniently forgot to mention that some vehicles are fitted with freewheeling hubs/gearbox that achieve the same effect but without the need to select neutral nor to declutch.
In fact an automatic gearbox with a fluid flywheel has virtually the same lack of engine braking when lifting off the throttle.
Does it say anywhere that auto boxes or freewheeling devices are illegal? Of course not!!!!

[DavidY]

Originally Posted by dep

Does it say anywhere that auto boxes or freewheeling devices are illegal? Of course not!!!!

But it doesn't say that coasting by declutching or selecting neutral is illegal, either...