Improving fuel economy of bigger and smaller vehicles

[atomant48]

My Sierra sapphire did 4mpg but that was 520bhp at the rear wheels….

That sounds like a hell of a lot of fun. My teslas only got half that at the rear wheels. But about the same at the front :-)

But it’s far too “safe” in its delivery to be proper fun!

 

[ajlelectronics]

With older autos you can be looking at 10mpg difference.

That is something of an exaggeration. 3L Essex engine in a Scimitar is little different, perhaps 2-3 MPG, although the OD manual would tame the revs a bit a motorway speed enough to see a decent difference. The A4LD would again be pretty close when the torque converter is locked.

 

[stuvy]

That sounds like a hell of a lot of fun. My teslas only got half that at the rear wheels. But about the same at the front :-)

But it’s far too “safe” in its delivery to be proper fun!

I won’t start the golf buggy debate…

Mine also sounded better

 

[stuvy]

Manuals give better fuel economy than autos if you drive them properly.
Modern autos are better than the older types but you can still save a few mpg compared to even the best autos.
With identical Audis and Insignias etc - same engine same model etc I found about 4mpg better in a manual. I do drive quite hard though.
With older autos you can be looking at 10mpg difference. Mate had a Nissan Navarra pickup. He was getting 20mpg out of the auto and 30 mpg out of the manual version.
Same with the older Discovery.

The navaras are so juicy, I had one a few years back for a few days to find a fault with it and it cost more than my old Range Rover in diesel plus the turning circle was like an oil tanker

 

[Justme]

Not long ago someone mentioned engine braking in a truck, and how they’d burned out the clutch in a single trip. The idea is not to use the clutch as a brake, but to match engine speed to the gear, before gently releasing the clutch.

A truck should use the exhaust / retarder virtually all the time instead of engine braking to hold speed on hills.

 

[Justme]

Petrol, the bike is.

My Mondeo is diseasel. I get 50mpg from each.

Was mainly thinking about how much engine braking you get.

Petrols get plenty newer diesels far less.

 

[Justme]

Manuals give better fuel economy than autos if you drive them properly.
Modern autos are better than the older types but you can still save a few mpg compared to even the best autos.
With identical Audis and Insignias etc - same engine same model etc I found about 4mpg better in a manual. I do drive quite hard though.
With older autos you can be looking at 10mpg difference. Mate had a Nissan Navarra pickup. He was getting 20mpg out of the auto and 30 mpg out of the manual version.
Same with the older Discovery.

Is that with the newer 8+ speed autos?

I heard they are very good compared to the older ones.

 

[stuvy]

Is that with the newer 8+ speed autos?

I heard they are very good compared to the older ones.

I was lucky enough to have owned a c63 with the 7speed and you could slow down and brake like a manual from the paddleshift it was brilliant

I do slow my discovery down with the box

 

[fizzy]

Is that with the newer 8+ speed autos?

I heard they are very good compared to the older ones.

Yes it is.
They are a lot closer now. 4mpg doesn't sound a lot but it soon adds up if you do big mileages.
I suppose type of route also makes a difference.
Mine tends to be a mix of motorway / dual carriageway and twisty country roads. Perhaps constant city driving would favour an auto more?

 

[fizzy]

The navaras are so juicy, I had one a few years back for a few days to find a fault with it and it cost more than my old Range Rover in diesel plus the turning circle was like an oil tanker

And they snap in half!

 

[redlig]

Sorry I shortened the reply.

Yes just gently lifting off in a controlled over run way will minimise wear.

Lots change down at a high speed & virtually dump clutch so that the engine redlines & speed drops dramatically.

Using heavy engine retardation.

Using the correct gear for the speed to bracket the usable speed is totally fine.

I used to get a full season out of a pair of Dunlop Triangulars on my Norton and that included the Irish roads and the Manx Grand Prix! Now they last a race or two laps on the Island.

I was just going to say exactly that. A complete season on one set. if they started to look as if the scrutineer would fail them I would buy a second hand pair from the club Ace for a pound each. Triangulars were real fun in the wet if you were a bit hesitant.

 

[stuvy]

And they snap in half!

Yep welded a few up

 

[redlig]

Sorry I shortened the reply.

Yes just gently lifting off in a controlled over run way will minimise wear.

Lots change down at a high speed & virtually dump clutch so that the engine redlines & speed drops dramatically.

Using heavy engine retardation.

Using the correct gear for the speed to bracket the usable speed is totally fine.

Note to self: Don't buy a vehicle from wales!!

 

[Olderisbetter]

My 3.0 toyota granvia is heavy but i get over 30mpg if i drive easy, i use plenty of sunflower or veggie oil in the mix and it goes great, i have thought about bigger wheels to give me more mpg but not got round to it yet.

 

[Edward Teach]

I don't think that you can be married Edward, it doesn't work like that.

I reckon your fishing

 

[GRW]

I use all the different tricks to ease along without burning more fuel than necessary that have come up here (except the pulsing horror thing on m-ways). Pick the best method for the section of road you're on.
I can easily better the cruise control on my work Isuzu 2.5D twin-turbo driving myself (use it mainly through average speed camera sections).
The big Pickup can show an average 41mpg driven like a stingy nun, and if can "make progress" without too many dithering hopeless eejits messing up your flow- can keep up healthy mile-eating momentum and be very good on juice for a big girl.
Rag it like a hot hatch, or beast it towing a hefty load chasing a tight deadline... & watch it drink though!

My BMW R1150R Rockster did a best of 54.5mpg on a 625 mile run from on the French border with Switzerland back to Wales, when filled up in Maidenhead and rode to my then GF's place not far from Bridgend non-stop, averaging 80-85mph and passing anything and everything going slower without altering pace.

 

[DAPPH]

I can only dream about such mileages. I struggle to get more than 4-5K from my rear tyre and they are piggin' expensive, with only three tyres rated appropriately. As a result, I tend to practice smooth riding besides the safety aspect.

when you mentioned pigging & three tyres , I thought surely not , not AJ

Note to self: Don't buy a vehicle from wales!!

Or a Welshman or woman . One owner , genuine 8,000 miles FSH on a 15 plate .. The you discover it's had four clutches and seven sets of brakes & two new front wings .

 

[Morrisman]

Was mainly thinking about how much engine braking you get.

Petrols get plenty newer diesels far less.

It’s a 2012 Mundano 1600 turbo and doesn’t really get a great deal of engine braking. It’s almost the opposite of the BMW bike.

 

[Justme]

Note to self: Don't buy a vehicle from wales!!

Locally they are well over priced.

Currently looking for a motor for the OH local prices £2000-3500
Big English city prices £1200-1800 for same spec / miles.

 

[Justme]

My 3.0 toyota granvia is heavy but i get over 30mpg if i drive easy, i use plenty of sunflower or veggie oil in the mix and it goes great, i have thought about bigger wheels to give me more mpg but not got round to it yet.

Bigger wheels could actually make MPG worse due to the higher gearing making the engine struggle.

I had this on an Astra J ecoflex I had.
Fitted wheels with a 3% larger rolling circ.
Measured MPG dropped about 10%.
On the car I had I think it was already geared very highly & the slightly bigger tyres took it over the top.