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Saving on fuel?
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
I think I was having a bit of wishful thinking when I thought (before I passed my driving test) I'd be able to put in a tenner a week and manage on that.
Went back to uni this week, and basically I've used a lot more petrol than expected. Prior to this week I was using about 3/4 of a tank a week, so it was costing me about £20. I filled up on sunday (£20 odd) and then I had to fill up again yesterday afternoon (just above the orange marker). Now I know it's quite a long commute, often with queues. It takes on average 45 minutes, and I have to go every day during the week.
Any good tips for conserving petrol a bit? I know accelerating a bit slower, but how do I know when I'm pressing slow enough for it to make a difference? Or am I just going to have to accept that I'll be spending approx £35 a week on petrol? Is that bad going?
Went back to uni this week, and basically I've used a lot more petrol than expected. Prior to this week I was using about 3/4 of a tank a week, so it was costing me about £20. I filled up on sunday (£20 odd) and then I had to fill up again yesterday afternoon (just above the orange marker). Now I know it's quite a long commute, often with queues. It takes on average 45 minutes, and I have to go every day during the week.
Any good tips for conserving petrol a bit? I know accelerating a bit slower, but how do I know when I'm pressing slow enough for it to make a difference? Or am I just going to have to accept that I'll be spending approx £35 a week on petrol? Is that bad going?
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When you're in a queue try and keep the car in 2nd and try and avoid having to stop completely if you can. Don't nail it every time the car in front moves.
If you're driving 100 miles a week I'd expect you to be spending £10-£15 per week, depending on what car you drive, and if you're in a lot of queues that will go up.
It's not really about pressing the accelerator more slowly, it's about trying to maintain a consistent speed, instead of lots of stop-start movement. For example in queuing traffic keeping a gap before the car in front so that you can try to keep moving rather than stopping. Then when you pull away don't burn it just so you can get to the next set of red lights before everyone else.
You could also try staying in higher gears, but in a lot of cars that will leave you with little or no control over the vehicle so is potentially dangerous. Use an appropriate gear not one you think will save petrol.
Essentially though you ain't going to save a lot of fuel doing any of that, and yes you're just going to have to accept that it's expensive.
Things like tyre pressure and not having windows open can use less fuel, also keeping the car as light as possible (so if you're hoarding loads of junk in your boot, get rid of it). As Mist said, try and keep your speed consistent and avoid sudden breaking and accelerating. One more tip- when taking corners, brake gradually as you enter the bend and accelerate half way through. Apparently that helps
From watching top gear, the golden rule is don't touch the brakes. (unless it's an emergency lol)
I have never been able to just trundle around unfortunately so I use about £35+ a week in petrol, only a 1.4 as well lol.
^^^^ I agree.
The tips other posters have given aren't really going to make any noticeable difference. They can all help, but its like pissing into the wind!
You might want to look at a more fuel efficient car (if your driving a Range Rover ) Or maybe look at having your car run off cooking oil.
Failing that, turn off the engine at traffic lights and let it roll down hills **joke**
It's a P reg (9/10 year old?) Ford KA, and I love it, so shall give some of these a go (namely the ones for queues!) and see how I get on for a couple of weeks. :thumb:
Also clean the air filter - cars like people need to breath - the easier they breath the better they work.
Also don't carry too much weight in the back if not needed - people often have thing they don't need in the back of the car weighing them down.
But overall correctly inflated tyres are the number way to improve your MPG Figures.
I recall reading in Autocar that the most economical engine speed to cruise at is 1800rpm as running too low revs can put the engine under stress, especially up hills. I tried this in my 350Z (where I often averaged under 20mpg) and it certainly made a difference. Just thinking though that my KA didn't have a rev counter, so this could screw this over... Hmmm...
Believe it or not, accelerating quickly upto your cruising speed is more economical than accelerating slowly (anybody has a trip computer on their car showing the instant and average consumptions, do some experiments and you'll see it's true). An engine, when accelerating, is most economical at 2/3rds load, and combined with the fact you'll be at cruising speed sooner (more economical again) means less fuel used. This isn't much use if you're stuck in traffic though...
You mean replace the air filter? Only specialist filters should be cleaned (and re-oiled) as they use oil to catch the dirt rather than tiny gaps in the material as with paper filters.
This is correct - a standard air filter should be replaced as it will be made of paper.
Naah most cars have a paper filter - leaves and stuff can get sucked into the front side of the filter - I've taken mine out before all you do is remove it, give it a tap and and quite a bit of dust can come off the front, plus there can be leaves and stuff around the opening that you can clear away - just a little thing to try and get more air flow into the car - probably doesn't help too much but doubts it harms it either.
don't know how much extra fuel MPG's you'd get switching to the other kind of filters.
And doubt it would do any harm.
Although I did use a vacuum cleaner on mine with the brush attachment once to suck out the dust trapped in between the fans.
Mines a T reg ka and I was disappointed with the fuel consumption. My N reg Fiesta was much better and that was nackered. Both 1.3
Attach a number to the word disappointed .. what do you get per gallon?
I dunno cos I haven't worked it out yet, I need to wait until I have enough cash to fill the tank up which will be...never
Depends on the car though doesn't it? Some will just burn it like ordinary fuel and you won't see any difference in fuel economy. But ones with computers or something will change the heat setting or something for combustion and they're better for the engine. Or something like that.
Yea sorry I wasn't trying to pedant , just I overheard a discussion once and they said buying premium unleaded is pointless for your old mini, but if you've got something quite new-ish...
I'm only basing my finding on what my on board trip computer reads out - could be lying to me ..
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7047128.stm