Well further to various discussions on the subject, I decided to try out using some Millers diesel additive with my regular fill up with Supermarket diesel in my Scenic. Normally I get low 40s mpg.
Well I was proud as punch when, just before I went to fill it again, that my trip computer was telling me that I had averaged 49mpg! Wow , this Millers is great!!
Then some friends came round and we are all just sitting blethering about this and that, the usual etc when my wife pops up with that she thinks I have been done for speeding! What makes you think that I ask! Well, she replies, for the last week and a half you have been driving so slowly and carefully, never going above 60 mph on the motorway, freewheeling every time we approach the hill back into our village, and you always take the Saxo when you are going short journeys now!
Sheepishly, I had to confess that I was trying an experiment with fuel consumption but in my heart of hearts I did not realise that my whole driving style had changed! I don't think I will make a very good control for scientific experiments!
As a postnote, I did fuel up again and had averaged 49.8mpg but whilst putting Millers in my tank I realised that I had also only put in 1 measure which was for 20 litres, my car takes 60 litres!
So to summarise, with the help of some Millers, and a total change in driving style, I have achieved an extra 100 miles out my tank!! To be honest, I think the main difference has been the lack of the short, stop / start journeys.
|
I've posted on here regarding the poor fuel consumption I get from my 1.8 Focus a couple of times now. A few weeks I decided to brim the tank, not take it above 3500RPM and cruise at 55MPH instead of my usual 60MPH+ on the back roads I spend the majority of my time driving on.
Result - 37.5MPG (Normally 29MPG. The following week I lent the car to my girlfriend - 38MPG.
Last 2 tanks i've been driving normally and its back down to 29MPG.
I now feel better in the knowledge that I could get 37.5MPG out of my car if I wanted to :)
|
I've posted on here regarding the poor fuel consumption I get from my 1.8 Focus a couple of times now. A few weeks I decided to brim the tank, not take it above 3500RPM and cruise at 55MPH instead of my usual 60MPH+ on the back roads I spend the majority of my time driving on. Result - 37.5MPG (Normally 29MPG. The following week I lent the car to my girlfriend - 38MPG. Last 2 tanks i've been driving normally and its back down to 29MPG. I now feel better in the knowledge that I could get 37.5MPG out of my car if I wanted to :)
I though SWMBO's Focus 1.8 Tddi was not doing very well at 34 mpg through the winter and 37 mpg now it's a bit warmer, until I saw your figures. She does very short journeys all the time (longest 2 miles). I guess it's doing ok.
|
|
|
|
|
Besides freewheeling being against the law.ie having no control over vehicle/dont you think that is a tad cheating on what the true consumption is.I doubt change of driving style in manner you state really gives anyone a true idea of whether it helps.good try though
|
|
No comment on freewheeling being illegal, but how do they reckon you are not in control of your vehicle?. Steering wheel still in hands, brakes fully functional if needed etc. I know being in gear restricts your vehicle MPH but does it really give you *that* much more control?
|
No comment on freewheeling being illegal,
why did I know you was going to say that
brakes fully functional if needed etc
I think others may answer that?
Sorry I think I asked if your way of testing was fair I dont think so.to my mind it in no way give a fair example of whether your additive worked or not.I dont think it is fair to those that rely on those that have tried it giving a false reading to those that wish to try it.Sorry I hope that was understood.I would expect a telling off if wrong.
|
Maybe you don't have to resort to extreme measures to get a decent improvement in fuel consumption. Cruise at the same speed but adopt a diffeent driving style.
Accelerate more gently away from rest and after slowing.
Anticipate the need to slow and lift off the loud pedal earlier, thus avoiding the need to brake (saves on brake pads too).
Keep constant pressure on the accelerator as much as possible, ie no on-off stuff. On motorways decide on a reasonable cruising speed and aim to stick to it, anticipating as early as possible the need to pass slower traffic.
Let uphill stretches erode some speed; use downhill bits to get some extra speed or to be able to lift off the gas a bit.
Oh, no point in 'freewheeling': modern engines cut off fuel on the overrun. Travelling in neutral with the engine idling uses more fuel than coasting in-gear.
I get v satisfactory consumption, and I don't hang around too much. People might hare away from me at traffic lights but otherwise nothing much passes me - except the 80-plus folk on the M-ways.
|
about freewheeling - what distinguishes your car to hyave a modern engine. a friend with a kia shuma 2 cruises gear free all the time and reckons he gains 5mpgs overall.
Why would travelling in neutral use more fuel, suely this is the bare-minimum ammount of fuel need to keep the engine running.
can you please expalin, im very interested to learn!
|
about freewheeling - what distinguishes your car to hyave a modern engine. a friend with a kia shuma 2 cruises gear free all the time and reckons he gains 5mpgs overall. Why would travelling in neutral use more fuel, suely this is the bare-minimum ammount of fuel need to keep the engine running. can you please expalin, im very interested to learn!
I don't know if it's the same with diesels, but on some petrol engined cars, the ECU cuts off the fuel injection completely on overrun. I.e. Above a certain rpm (varies from car to car) and no throttle applied there is no fuel going in. When the rpm drops below the cut-off rpm the the fuel comes back on again to prevent the engine stalling. So when you freewheel, in neutral or clutch disengaged, the engine is ticking over and using fuel. When you just take your foot off the accelerator and allow the wheels to turn the engine, above the cut-off rpm you are using no fuel. Try it on a vehicle with a trip computer which gives an instant mpg reading. I would think if the diesel fuel injection is electronically controlled, it may be set up in the same way.
|
|
I havent heard that one before.if the ecu stopped the flow of fuel.compression in itself would act as a brake slowing the car down same as stalling the engine you come to a stop or slow down faster.I could understand the ecu reducing fuel flow but not stopping it.?
|
|
|
|
mech, what I was trying to put across was the fact that I had unconsciously changed my driving habits without being aware, purely because I knew I was checking the additive out.
What I did prove is that you can get increased fuel consumption by changing your driving style. So how many of these "tests" that people say they have done using different fuels can be held as evidence as they, like me, may unconsciously have altered their driving style.
|
|
Yes I see what you mean.I added cataclean to mine some weeks ago.Bearing in mind I have not used an additive before in any shape or form.But have to admitt it has worked in that I was getting 32 to the gallon now 35.Although I did not alter my driving habits but that is hard to change in my area too much traffic.stick to speed limit you tend to hold up the traffic
|
my hyundai accent y plate certianly aint a modern engine (a fantastic mitsubishi mind!) but i get 38mpg around city and cruise as much as possible, trying to use higher gears as much as possible.
thats about 4/5 more than the handbook.
Also, using higher gears more (ie, lower revs) does it damage the engine? whats the short/long term effects?
|
|
I assume you have a petrol.it isnt a good idea to labour the engine.too much of it and problems will occur ie big ends/mains basically serious probs.diesels will cope with that but petrols you should use revs as manufacturer states or within their spec.
|
|
|
|
|
|
