Right with a few of these "how much mpg ......" etc threads knocking about and what with the astronomical fuel costs weve endured lately how about discussing what can be done to improve your current MPG

Obviously theres driving style , remaps , rolling resistant tyres etc what else can you think of that would help you ?

 

the bus?

 

closed loop?

 

Something else Ive just thought of aswell that has something to do with BMW ED and thats their use of low friction fluids , am I right in thinking if you swapped your engine oil for a lower weight , and the gearbox and diff oil for a lower friction variant this would also improve your MPG ?

 

Indeed , seems to be a god send for cossie owners with regards to fuel economy , so yeah a proper live map etc

 

buy a moped ??

or fit a cut up coke can
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/31-GAS-FUEL-DI...QQcmdZViewItem

 

Well if that would help you then why not although probably wouldnt help the majority on here ....... myself included

 

Depends what sort of car you're talking about mate! Modern I assume?

Therefore closed loop need not be mentioned, as its been fitted to pretty much ever production car since the mid 90's anyway!

 

Push it?

Switch engine off going down hills?

Use a team of Huskys?

Take it to Engine Advantages....then it wont use any petrol cos the engine will be totally fucked anyway? Ideal way to save petrol that!

 

or the new BMW adverts.
"thankyou hills for letting our low friction wheels keep on rolling and rolling and rolling"
The first time i heard that i thought they said low friction tyres and i was like... what!?!?!? BMW have finally lost it!

 

Apart form driving style and poor maintenance, incorrect tyre pressures is one of the main causes of poor fuel economy. I was amazed by the difference it made when i drove 150 miles with only 18psi in a rear tyre on my van due to a slow puncture. I must have 10 mpg on that one journey i reckon easily!!!!

By thy way, i work out my vans mpg every run so i know if theres a problem somewhere. Sad i know, but good on the pocket and i use that as a measure so i know when to service it.

 

In a Cossie, keep the cunt off boost, very slow acceleration, everyone assumes you're driving a replica, but it's waaay cheaper!

 

No bus for me either

Probably all the things already mentioned if its the likes of cossies etc.

But imo the situation will only get worst as the price of a barrel should be getting up to near $200 towards the end of the year.

 

Brick under the pedal, zetec conversion (for all your xflow/cvh folk), nagging wife in the car..etc..

Not a lot can be done to make a huge difference. Reducing friction is about all. Use 'eco' tyres, keep the car washed and shiney (works on plane wings), grease your bearings..errr... dunno what else..

 

Air-con off

Tailgate a lorry on motorway.

 

My closed loop isn't great round town, the last lot of petrol I only got 18MPG in the Cossie!

On a run it will increase to circa 30/35MPG!

Keep your tyres properly inflated and it makes a big difference!

 

"and up to 35 more HP!!! "

 

strip the fucker out and save a few kg's

 

http://www.ecodrive.org/Home.219.0.html

We were asked at work if we would like to go on a eco drive course, so i thought , why the hell not..lol.

He kept telling me off for following too close and drving the racing line ..lol

I had to be good in the end... did work better mpg..

 

Throw all the shit out of the boot, spare wheel an all

 

is this recommended for cars or in specific cossies running big bhp or mild??

 

Closed loop fueling typically only works until around 3000rpm on petrol

 

tell him by taking the racing line you don't have to wast fuel slowing down and accelerating again as you can corner faster

 

It's the fat bastards in their cosworths that need to loose the weight, not the cars!

 

what and have your windows open instead? maybe in stop/start traffic, but not whilst up to speed. the a/c becomes more efficient and uses less and less enrgy the longer it has been on especially when in recirc mode - like keeping the fridge door shut)

the biggest single factor is how you drive - change that and you can see dramatic improvements. if you do a lot of motorway miles, drive at 70mph instead of 80mph and you will probably get about 4mpg better.

some people say go into neutral down a hill, but that's also wrong. with the clutch connected, there will be no fuel injected in that situation compared to fuel injected to idle. which is more? you also do not have proper control in neutral.

reduce weight is one of the most significant. if you fill the tank, you are carrying around extra weight, but you have to offset that against the fact that you will stop more often. it depends on what journeys you do.

you also have to offset that on a petrol against the fact that more will evaporate the lower the level in the tank is

obviously tyres pressures is one, but has been discussed already. and remove roof bars etc to get the least drag (same as having the windows closed and using a/c)

 

As Nick said really!

It is suprising how much fuel is used just to keep an engine idleing

Does the aircon go into "recirc mode" by itself Nick?

 

if you have climate control and set it to the minimum temperature, then generally yes. or if you have a 'max cool' button like some cars do. but it will usually go back to fresh air if you raise the temp. which you will invariably do as minimum temp. on a properly working system is not bearable after 1 hour if dressed normally (long term comfort for british men is 19 deg. C, and british women is 21 deg. C - hence the need for dual or 4 zone climate systems)

it is not recommended to leave it in recirc all the time, as in theory you will no longer be taking in any fresh air and your oxygen will run out but in practice that is not the case as there will either be an automatic cycling of the recirc function or there will be a percentage of fresh air bleed.

if not using a/c though, do not use recirc except to avoid the ingress of smoke/smells, otherwise your interior windows will fog.

 

With many modern air con designs now, if your cruising on the motorway and turn off your air con and put the windows down you will actualy use more fuel than having windows closed and air con on.


With the cossie I dont really mind the increase in costs, its a toy and toys aint cheap at the end of the day. The commuter Puma is a killer tho...hate having to spend lots of money to get to work to earn money...just seems totaly wrong


EDIT: I should really read the whole thread before posting...foreignrs fellow beat me to it

 

hydrogen fuel cell would be good....

 

Driving style is biggest, closed loop doesn't help for miles from a cold start, so only helps on longer runs.
Keep well back from car in front, no need to brake then.
Often you can stop accelerating long before you usually do.
As soon as see red light back off, may piss off people behind, but no point hurrying to a stop.
From instant economy I found in last car would drop to 10mpg at the slightest acceleration from standstill and up to speed, so a quick boot up to speed using reasonable revs was much better than spending 10 times as long at twice the mpg.

Also, would like to find out about peak torque vs wind resistance/engine speed etc, as my M3 does 4mpg more according to obc at 80 odd than at 50 odd.

 

Drive like a girl.

 

Bumping into other cars improves your mpg?

 

call the AA and get towed home

workrd in my cossie !

 

windows up all electrics not required off and rev limiter sat in the passengers seat helps.