More miles per gallon

[dep]

Originally Posted by Astro

Oooh be careful Honey.

If you hit ice or some other driver/pedestrian acts like a fool and you have to break hard, you will be out of control.

where did this come from?

All he's said is lift your foot off the accelerator/throttle to save fuel.
How does that affect your car control when most people do that before applying the brakes. And you retain the option to apply more throttle if circumstances demand.
Autos and left foot brakers being the exceptions.

[Astro]

Originally Posted by Gadget

I performed a little experiment to see how coasting(foot on clutch) vs deceleration(foot off gas)

Originally Posted by dep

where did this come from?

All he's said is lift your foot off the accelerator/throttle to save fuel.
How does that affect your car control when most people do that before applying the brakes. And you retain the option to apply more throttle if circumstances demand.

Oh I see, it wasn't real coasting as he left the engine on. Sorry, didn't read it properly.

Autos and left foot brakers being the exceptions.

I remember driving around a housing estate once in an automatic and didn't need to put my foot on the gas at all, it just went by itself at 5 MPH. (I was learning) Fuel would still have been used though.

[dep]

Originally Posted by dep

.......lift your foot off the accelerator/throttle ......... most people do that before applying the brakes. And you retain the option to apply more throttle if circumstances demand.
Autos and left foot brakers being the exceptions.

Originally Posted by Astro

......I remember driving around a housing estate once in an automatic and didn't need to put my foot on the gas at all, it just went by itself at 5 MPH.

I'm referring to the practice of lifting off the throttle to apply the brakes.
Some drivers will use their left foot to apply the brakes and these drivers have the option of using the throttle in combination with the brakes to alter the performance of the car. Those are the two exceptions I mean.

[dave the scaffolder]

Ok sport fans I have managed 700 miles on a 80 litres tank of diesel.

For the next tank full of fuel I am going to try and better that, now bear in mind that this is in a Peugeot 607 automatic 2.2 HDI , a big car so I am well pleased so far.

DTS Dave XXX XXX

[Gadget]

Another tip: don't sit on the clutch - use the hand-break and take your foot off the accelerator.
(I used to never use the hand-break and just balance the car on the clutch, but it's not very good for it and it wastes fuel)

Re: "coasting" and turning the engine off - I wouldn't turn the engine off unless I was stationary: It's power assisted steering for one thing - without power this actually makes it harder to steer than not having power assisted steering. For another, it's power assisted breaking with ABS: no power = no/little breaks Sorry - travelling with no steering, no power, no breaks... it's not something I would recommend.

[Trousers]

Originally Posted by dep

I'm referring to the practice of lifting off the throttle to apply the brakes.
Some drivers will use their left foot to apply the brakes and these drivers have the option of using the throttle in combination with the brakes to alter the performance of the car. Those are the two exceptions I mean.

So far today that has to be the most ludicrous thing I have heard.
To brake with the left foot, whether manual or automatic transmission is just idiotic.

In a manual you have lost the ability to disengage the engine quickly and to regain that ability would require releasing the brake, when one assumes the brake would be most needed.

In an auto the two pedals will just compete.

Maybe a stunt driver would possibly require the ability to something like this to achieve some response not normally needed in a normal driving environment.

I know that I have less control in my left leg than the right - it performs different tasks with differing pressures to the right. To attempt to brake safely, erm actually by default left foot braking cannot be safe, to brake smoothly with the left foot is going to be difficult and take more thought and control than that required to do the same job with the correct foot.
As we only have a limited amount to concentration to share about the car and the tasks required to move it safely I will stick with my right foot as it knows what it is doing leaving me more concentration to watch traffic, steer, etc.

Just thinking there could be an idiot around me on the motorway toying with the idea of using the left foot to brake gives me the creeps. There are enough idiots trying to drive normally and failing to add this sort of dubious behaviour.

[TurboTomato]

Left foot braking is not something that's usually done on the road, it's a racing/rallying/trackday practice. It's used to balance the car when cornering. Not every racing driver does it, it's a matter of personal preference.

I wouldn't encourage doing it on the road (I don't think dep was), as you'll probably send yourself through the windscreen. However, if practiced correctly (and in a safe place, obviously) you can learn to just brush the brake pedal with your left foot to show your brake lights to someone that's tailgating you.

[dep]

Trousers, go back to post61.
There I say lift off the throttle.
I further point out there are two exceptions to what comes after lifting off the throttle.
I did not advocate you or anyone else start using the left foot braking technique nor that I practice it.
However from the response of Astro it looked like Astro was unaware of these exceptional possibilities and so I explained.

You're assertion that it is the "most ludicrous thing" / "is just idiotic" / "the two pedals will just compete" / "by default left foot braking cannot be safe" / "the left foot to brake gives me the creeps" / "this sort of dubious behaviour" shows that you are unaware of the technique and you rightly drive as best as you see fit.

But, do not call something you know nothing about as idiotic nor call the people, who may be more skilled than yourself in controlling a car in difficult circumstances, idiots.

[dave the scaffolder]

Boys boys boys chill out.

What I suggest is that you both drive like me.

Having a nice cup of tea and relax whilst cruising along at 55mph on the inside lane.
Oh by the way it drives Trouble mad, just another bonus really.

Personally I think all motorways should be at a 55mph limit this would de-stress half of the country.

DTS Dave XXX XX

[Astro]

Originally Posted by Gadget

Re: "coasting" and turning the engine off - I wouldn't turn the engine off unless I was stationary: It's power assisted steering for one thing - without power this actually makes it harder to steer than not having power assisted steering. For another, it's power assisted breaking with ABS: no power = no/little breaks Sorry - travelling with no steering, no power, no breaks... it's not something I would recommend.

The one time I risked it because I had no fuel, was 22 years ago in a Triumph 2000. (manual)

Originally Posted by dep

However from the response of Astro it looked like Astro was unaware of these exceptional possibilities and so I explained.

Well I must admit, I'm all at sea here. In fact I don't know why I'm posting as I haven't even got one of those poisonous cars anymore.

The last one I had was a boy racer Ford Escort.

[philsmove]

I found this on my Balloon Forum
but it might be a load of bunkum

> Tips on Filling your Vehicles...
>
> This is a Message received from a friend:
> I don't know what you guys are paying for petrol but my line
of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so here are some
tricks to get more of your money's worth for every litre. Here at
the Marian Hill Pipeline, where I work in Durban, we deliver about 4
million litres in a 24-hour period thru the pipeline. One day is
diesel; the next day is jet fuel, and petrol, LRP and Unleaded - I
hope through differing pipelines as otherwise there will be alot of
cross contamination particularly for jet fuel. We have 34-storage
tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 litres.
>
>
> ONLY BUY OR FILL UP YOUR CAR OR BIKE IN THE EARLY MORNING
WHEN THE GROUND TEMPERATURE IS STILL COLD. Remember that all service
stations have their storage tanks buried below ground. The colder the
ground, the denser the fuel, when it gets warmer petrol expands, so
buying in the afternoon or in the evening.... your litre is not
exactly a litre - when is a litre a litre in the petroleum business
but at a temperature of 15 deg C. In the petroleum business, the
specific gravity - no longer used and is redundant terminology - now
it is Density at 15 deg C (kg/ltr) and the temperature of the petrol,
diesel and jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products play an
important role. A 1degree (C) rise in temperature is a big deal for
this business roughly 0.1% by volume. But the service stations do not
have temperature compensation at the pumps - correct but if you do
this then you risk getting a lot of water (condensated dew and other
water vapours) in your petrol. This is not a good idea as the ethanol
additive in petrol is water miscible and can get washed out of
solution from the petrol. The resultant is a mixture of ethanol and
water at the bottom of your petrol tank that is very corrosive.
> WHEN YOU'RE FILLING UP, DO NOT SQUEEZE THE TRIGGER OF THE
NOZZLE TO A FAST MODE. If you look, you will see that the trigger
has three (3) stages: low, middle, and high. In slow mode, you should
be pumping on low speed, thereby minimizing the vapours that are
created, while you are pumping. All hoses at the pump have a vapour
return. If you are pumping on the fast rate, some of the liquid that
goes to your tank becomes vapour. Those vapours are being sucked up
and back into the underground storage tank so you're getting less
worth for your money. This is possibly correct but much depends upon
how the flow meter in the pump has been calibrated. If it is
calibrated at low flow conditions then it is correct but I would
guess that it would be normally calibrated at delivery flow or max
flow conditions. The calibration of the meter is more important.
The amount of vapour transposed to liquid phase for petrol - other
fuels such as diesel do not have this problem - is so small that it
would take years to recover 100 millilitres by this technique for a
single car.
> ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT TIPS IS TO FILL UP WHEN YOUR TANK
IS HALF FULL. The reason for this is, the more fuel you have in your
tank, the less air occupying its empty space. Petrol evaporates
faster than you can imagine. Petroleum storage tanks have an internal
floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the petrol
and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service
stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature
compensated, so that every litre is actually the exact amount at
standard temperature (15 deg C). Floating roofs on storage tanks have
P/V valves also. The vapour volume in the tank under the roof is
very small but vapour is evolved primarily due to the temperature of
the liquid phase and nothing to do with the size of the vapour phase
(laws of saturated vapour). The control mechanism is the pressure
control on the P/V valve combined with the saturated vapour pressure
of the liquid phase at the existing temperature.
> ANOTHER REMINDER, IF THERE IS A FUEL TRUCK PUMPING INTO THE
STORAGE TANKS, WHEN YOU STOP TO BUY, DO NOT FILL UP - most likely the
petrol/diesel is being stirred up as the fuel is being delivered, and
you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the
bottom.
> Hope, this will help you get the maximum value for your
money. correct
> DO SHARE THESE TIPS WITH OTHERS! LET'S SHARE INFORMATION AND
BENEFIT ALL.

[Gav]

Originally Posted by philsmove

I found this on my Balloon Forum
but it might be a load of bunkum

Not the word I'd use, but yes, complete bunkum.

[Barry Shnikov]

Originally Posted by philsmove

I found this on my Balloon Forum
but it might be a load of bunkum

Petrol pumps are calibrated and then checked routinely by Trading Standards. I doubt very much that they require the calibration to be accurate to one part in 1000 (0.1%) so variations in temperature you are liable to encounter in British petrol stations are unlikely to be of more significance than the accuracy of the pumps involved. In Texas, on the other hand, the difference between morning and mid-day temperatures might be a great deal more significant.

I would have thought more practical advice might be 'hold the hose up and let the petrol drip out of the nozzle for 5 seconds before putting it back on the hook'.

[dave the scaffolder]

When I traveled to Ayre for the weekender with Trouble and Ruby Red I achieved 867 miles on a 70 litre tank of fuel.

I thought the tank was 80 litres but turns out to be 70 litres instead.

I am always getting 700 to 800 miles from a single tank of diesel, next long run I will try to get 900 miles from 70 litres.

I am getting about 56 miles per gallon at a constant 55 mph.


I LOVE IT.

DTS XXX XXX

[Filthy Monkey]

That is impressive! I'm celebrating because I get 12-15mpg out of my current car. My last couple struggled to get above 6 around town!

[dave the scaffolder]

Originally Posted by Filthy Monkey

That is impressive! I'm celebrating because I get 12-15mpg out of my current car. My last couple struggled to get above 6 around town!

Oh my word I would not be able to sleep at night with that sort of mileage.

I used to have a 4x4 pick up the mileage was terrible so i got rid of it very soon.

DTS XXX XXX

[Steven666]

Originally Posted by dave the scaffolder

When I traveled to Ayre for the weekender with Trouble and Ruby Red I achieved 867 miles on a 70 litre tank of fuel.

I thought the tank was 80 litres but turns out to be 70 litres instead.

I am always getting 700 to 800 miles from a single tank of diesel, next long run I will try to get 900 miles from 70 litres.

I am getting about 56 miles per gallon at a constant 55 mph.


I LOVE IT.

DTS XXX XXX

The most efficient speed is 56mph apparantly.

[Martin]

Originally Posted by StokeBloke

4. Don't use the aircon. That aircon compressor sucks loads of energy from the engine.

Oh my, the thought of not using air con
I know it takes up energy, in fact, if going up a steep incline and wanting to maintain speed, I would switch it off for a few mins, untill I am at the top - which gives me noticably more engine power.

But to not use it at all - I would end up dripping with sweat by the time I get to my destination!

Originally Posted by StokeBloke

5. Don't use your cruise control.

On a long journey, with an open road, using cruise control can save you a speeding ticket and a lot of stress from constantly checking the speedo.

Originally Posted by dave the scaffolder

When I traveled to Ayre for the weekender with Trouble and Ruby Red I achieved 867 miles on a 70 litre tank of fuel.

...next long run I will try to get 900 miles from 70 litres.

I am getting about 56 miles per gallon at a constant 55 mph.

900 miles, at 55 mph, compared to 900 miles at 70 mph... you would take approx 4 extra hours to reach your destination ... * 3 if you have 2 passengers, you have just used up an extra 12 hours approx in man/woman travel time...

How much is saving 12 hours sitting in a car worth?


As to the price of fuel, an interesting comparision is given here...
Global Petrol Prices

If you look at $ per gallon 2008, it ranges from 50c to $10.95 - dependant on where you live...

I can't help feeling some are getting ripped off.

In Australia approx 50% of the petrol price is gov tax.
In the UK approx 58% of the petrol price is gov tax.

[SteveK]

Originally Posted by Martin

900 miles, at 55 mph, compared to 900 miles at 70 mph... you would take approx 4 extra hours to reach your destination ... * 3 if you have 2 passengers, you have just used up an extra 12 hours approx in man/woman travel time...

How much is saving 12 hours sitting in a car worth?

I'm with DTS on this point - much better to sit with a cup of tea, save yourself some paper money, and arrive much less stressed. If you drive slower, you don't get so tired as you don't have to concentrate as hard, and hence need to stop less, and so the extra time isn't as bad as you think. It also makes it easier to chat and gossip with your passengers.

(Although driving a 3.3l V6 Nissan Pathfinder 4x4 isn't that conducive to cheap motoring).

[frodo]

Originally Posted by Steven666

The most efficient speed is 56mph apparantly.

Apparently, but it isn't true.

According to a "What Car" test of 5 cars, the slower you go in top gear, the better your fuel consumption.

A couple of the cars did have the same fuel consumption at 30 / 40, I guess due to the gear thing but otherwise faster = less mpg.

For example a Toyoto Agyo gets:-

30 mpg at 90 mph.
60 mpg at 55 mph
> 85 mpg at 30 mph.

Knowing this could be important, if you're running out fuel, some distance from a service station.
Running at 40 instead of 55 was worth between 8 and 14 mpg depending on the car.