More miles per gallon

[dave the scaffolder]

Now then now then now then.

After a brush with the law over a bit of speeding, I have rethought my whole driving style.

As a result I now adhere to the limit and stay in the inside lane of the motorway and my miles per gallon has dramatically increased, combine this easy relaxed style with correct tyre pressure and I am saving a fortune on fuel costs.

Does anybody else have any money saving driving tips they would like to pass on to fellow forumites?

Does not have to be restricted to cars, can include anything.

DTS Dave XXX XXX

[Steven666]

Go fo closer venues...

...or get yer bike out... (I know someone who does it)

Or seriously don't over revv and don't hang about in low gears.

For reference, I get 40m/g in my car.

[Daisy Chain]

Originally Posted by Steven666

For reference, I get 40m/g in my car.

Is that all? You need one like mine - 60 mpg. (Oh, and you need to drive like Girl)

Daisy

(An Economical Little Flower)

[Trousers]

Originally Posted by Daisy Chain

Is that all? You need one like mine - 60 mpg. (Oh, and you need to drive like Girl)

Just to assist you here DTS

Driving like a girl involves

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

These are old charters or something I believe!

[dep]

Trousers,
I suggest you remove your pic from your profile.
Otherwise, you'll get strung up.
Too late they've all gone and had a look.

[Steven666]

Originally Posted by Daisy Chain

Is that all? You need one like mine - 60 mpg. (Oh, and you need to drive like Girl)

Daisy

(An Economical Little Flower)

Is your's a diesel though?

(I do spend a lot of time going at 80 or so, I suppose that doesn't help)

[dep]

my best overall consumption came from a non turbo small diesel (1750 Fiesta).
I have now driven 5 turbo diesels and none can match the consumption I used to get from my Sunbeam Sport (the standard factory tuned version of the Hillman Imp) where I could regularly get better than 50mpg while averaging over 50MPH on the whole journey (and no motorways/dual carriageways).
I once got 63mpg from that 1974 car (yes, almost 400 miles from a 6gallon tank and some of it on single track roads in the North West Highlands).

Modern petrol engined technology and all it's clever anti-tamper devices seems unable to match the old fashioned petrol engine with it's good drivability and consumption. That "imp" engine would rev cleanly from 500rpm to 7000rpm. I kept it for 16years.
The direct injection (often referred to as common rail) diesel does offer better consumption, but most manufacturers have used the extra torque and power that is available to turn their products into high performance saloons rather than major on saving the planet.

Small, three cylinder, direct injection, non turbo diesels offer the best chance to obtain very good fuel consumption. But we have to overcome the bad publicity the press keeps heaping on diesel and convince the manufacturers that we want non turbo vehicles.

[ben632664]

Get yourself a motorbike

I get around 50-55mpg and a years tax is £66.00, no congestion charge, no toll charge on bridges etc. Parking is always free and easy to find, it's just the weather lets you down sometimes!!

[dep]

Originally Posted by ben632664

Get yourself a motorbike ...... it's just the weather lets you down sometimes!!

but you get togged up for the prevailing weather and don't change until AFTER you have reached your destination.
No need for brollies or that newspaper over the head.

[pmjd]

Originally Posted by dep

Modern petrol engined technology and all it's clever anti-tamper devices seems unable to match the old fashioned petrol engine with it's good drivability and consumption. That "imp" engine would rev cleanly from 500rpm to 7000rpm. I kept it for 16years.

Probably because the imp engine didn't have to contend with a car that is weighed down with modern safety features like anti-roll bars, airbags, ABS etc. or have to meet stringent emission levels that modern cars have to?

[dep]

Originally Posted by pmjd

Probably because the imp engine didn't have to contend with a car that is weighed down with modern safety features like anti-roll bars, airbags, ABS etc. or have to meet stringent emission levels that modern cars have to?

indeed, no added weight for airbags/ABS/Catalytic convertor/electric windows/ECU/sensors.
Yes, only 50HP and 730kgs (empty although it was down to around 620kgs by the time I sold it) and it did me well, very well.
It doesn't take clever technology to realise that light weight has many advantages. Making it strong and safe does require good design though.

[TurboTomato]

Originally Posted by Daisy Chain

Is that all? You need one like mine - 60 mpg. (Oh, and you need to drive like Girl)

Daisy

(An Economical Little Flower)

I used to get 22mpg at best from my previous car, 15 or less if I gave it some welly

Current one averages about 28mpg. Does 8000rpm count as 'hanging onto gears'?

[dep]

Originally Posted by TurboTomato

I used to get 22mpg at best from my previous car, 15 or less if I gave it some welly

Current one averages about 28mpg. Does 8000rpm count as 'hanging onto gears'?

he was looking for tips to improve fuel consumption.
You seem to be out on a hot hatch day at some racing circuit.

[Brian Doolan]

Originally Posted by Trousers

Just to assist you here DTS

Driving like a girl involves

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

These are old charters or something I believe!

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

[TurboTomato]

Originally Posted by dep

he was looking for tips to improve fuel consumption.
You seem to be out on a hot hatch day at some racing circuit.

Joking aside I don't often hit 8000rpm, obviously. Most of my miles are from commuting and it's not a particularly good run for getting decent mpg. I can get over 30 quite easily on a motorway run.

Most tips for getting more mpg have already been covered (other than chopping your car in for something more economical) - correct tyre pressures, keeping the car in higher gears etc. One to also try is using super unleaded (Shell V-Power etc) - it may cost a certain percentage more but you may get a larger percentage reduction in fuel consumption. Worth a go at least.

Edit: I hope stuff like removing roof racks that you're not using would be obvious, even though it hasn't been stated.

[dave the scaffolder]

Well now I have a Peugeot 607 and I try to keep the revs below 2000 and I then get between 50 and 65mph most of the time.

It is a 2.2 HDI automatic.

Brilliant car big comfy and good on fuel.

DTS Dave XXX XX

[Lost Leader]

Originally Posted by TurboTomato

I used to get 22mpg at best from my previous car, 15 or less if I gave it some welly

Current one averages about 28mpg. Does 8000rpm count as 'hanging onto gears'?

God, how fast can a tomato go?

[Barry Shnikov]

Originally Posted by Steven666

Is your's a diesel though?

"your's"?

That definitely wins Spurious Apostrophe of the Month award.

[Astro]

Originally Posted by dave the scaffolder

Does anybody else have any money saving driving tips they would like to pass on to fellow forumites?


DTS Dave XXX XXX

1. coast down hills.
2. roof racks use up more petrol due to aerodynamics. Remove it between holidays.
3. Give your boot a good clear out, but leave the jack in.
3. Stop driving away with widows DTS. Extra weight.

[Steven666]

Originally Posted by Barry Shnikov

"your's"?

That definitely wins Spurious Apostrophe of the Month award.

Me an English dunna get on like.