[Mark07]

For those of us still reliant upon petrol and diesel, maximising your MPG is something which you've likely thought about.

What's your advice for saving fuel?

Maybe you've reduced the weight in the car, taking it easy on the accelerator, or maybe you're using the car less?

Let the community know your tips.

[Mark07]

I've been known to lift and coast occasionally.

[Drivingforfun]

Economy comes last for me in the order of safety > fun > performance/speed > economy but that's not to say I don't care about it, you can care about all four

If I come up behind a vehicle with no overtaking opportunity while driving for fun, I leave plenty of room and use the brakes less, slower drivers often brake at random - some may say unnecessary - times and if you follow them closely behind you'd have to mimic this... I find if you leave plenty of room you rarely need to brake at all

Something that did occur to me a few years ago is that it's worth working out the distances travelled and whether travelling a shorter but less economical route actually uses less fuel... I used to regularly do a motorway journey around a city ring road and was once taken a significantly shorter route through the city. My mpg was obviously less but I'd travelled 25% less distance and my economy wasn't 25% worse so it was actually more economical. Obviously that doesn't take into account the extra wear-and-tear of more braking and accelerating and gear changing etc!

[Rolebama]

Generally, I keep the revs between 1500 and 3000rpm. That works for me, and I average 40mpg. I should also add that I avoid driving in rush hours and I also, where feasible, try to avoid traffic lights and roundabouts.

[olduser]

I think economy is just good driving.

If you are planning, there is very little need to brake just lift off early.

Mentally, put half a dozen fresh eggs on the passenger seat, now drive to keep them there.

Keep engine revs down, on most road cars max torque is around 2000 - 2500 RPM.
With today's computer managed engines most cars are comfortable at low RPM even in high gears, OK they won't accelerate quickly but when you need to, change down, that's what that stick thing is for.

Providing the road is clear, you can corner without slowing as much (no brakes) less fuel used to get back up to speed. (just keep throttle neutral not accelerating or slowing)

Waiting to overtake, when it is clear, change down, as soon as it's done back into high gear.

Brakes are for stopping, gears are not for slowing, worn brakes are cheap, worn gearboxes are expensive.

Open widows increase fuel consumption by about 15%, air con about 10 -12% all today's cars heating system can give you through ventilation (there are automatic vents at the back somewhere)
Roof racks cost have drag, about 15 - 20%.

So, plan, drive smoothly, stay off the brakes, remember a cars wind resistance (drag) is the cube of it's speed but don't compromise safety (free wheeling compromises safety, the car is out of control)

[Rolebama]

There is a petrol station just up the road, it is the most expensive in the area - always. It is on a main commuter route, so gets very busy every morning and every evening rush hour. I just find it amazing how long people will wait, with engines running, to get to the pumps.

[Beelzebub]

Originally Posted by olduser

.

So, plan, drive smoothly, stay off the brakes, remember a cars wind resistance (drag) is the cube of it's speed but don't compromise safety (free wheeling compromises safety, the car is out of control)

Air resistance is proportional to the SQUQRE of speed, not yhe cube.

[Drivingforfun]

I was quite amazed recently at how much difference driving style makes, I knew it obviously made a difference but I didn't expect almost 50% more miles per gallon

My car averages about 35mpg during day-to-day driving on mostly country roads, but I recently drove up to Norfolk (very flat county, maybe that helps) and a family member's sat nav broke so they had to follow me ... they were a few miles behind so to let them catch up I did most of the single carriageway at 50mph and a lot of the dual carriageway at 55mph in the "lorry lane" and I hit exactly 50.0 mpg

[olduser]

@Beelzebub

I claim it was a grey moment, honest.
Yes my mistake you are correct it is the Square of speed, sorry folks!

[NMNeil]

Originally Posted by Rolebama

There is a petrol station just up the road, it is the most expensive in the area - always. It is on a main commuter route, so gets very busy every morning and every evening rush hour. I just find it amazing how long people will wait, with engines running, to get to the pumps.

Although illegal you'd be amazed at the number of empty cars parked at the supermarket in the middle of summer that have the engine running to keep the A/C working.

[Mark07]

Originally Posted by NMNeil

Although illegal you'd be amazed at the number of empty cars parked at the supermarket in the middle of summer that have the engine running to keep the A/C working.

That sounds like the New Mexican equivalent of when Brits leave cars running on a winter's morning to defrost them.

[olduser]

I had a Nisan Leaf a while ago, and you could arrange the heater (heat pump) to run while the car was charging, to de frost it.
I'm not sure why because it had a electrically heated windscreen and back window, and the heat pump produced heat almost instantaneously oh heated seats and steering wheel.
I didn't use the heated seat though, it felt as though I had pee'd the seat!