OK so fuel prices are higher and nothing you can do about it. What you can control is the way you drive. You can greatly reduce your fuel consumption just by driving differently ( and I dont mean driving like a grandad either).
Here are some tips (in no particular order, apologies if some are obvious):
1. Make sure your car tyres are inflated to max tyre pressures. Also get a regular tune-up.
2. Take all unnecessary crap out of the car if you can to reduce weight.
3. Drive smoothly. Avoid jerky use of throttle or brakes. Throttle use is obvious, but brake overuse is just taking away all the momentum your petrol made seconds previously.
4. Try to keep moving. If you see a Red light coming up, slow down a bit to try and catch the green without stopping. It takes much more energy for a car to take off from a standstill. Try to avoid stopping where possible.
5. Try to change up gears early without the engine working too hard. Try to drive in the bottom of the cars torque curve.
6. In a manual car, limit slipping the clutch as much as possible.
7. Try to anticipate what traffic is doing. Choose a free flowing lane if possible. Constant lane swapping usually wastes energy though.
8. Turn off air con if possible, close windows too (where practical).
9. If you are on a downhill stretch, consider gradually speeding up ( if possible and within reason). Its basically using gravity to your advantage.
10. Drive with the shoe off your right foot (seriously!). Your foot is so much more sensitive without a shoe, therefore you can reduce the amount of throttle you use. Cruise control also works well, the cars computer should know the minimal amount of throttle to use to keep things going.
11. In an auto, consider changing into neutral when stopped at lights. ( I dont do this one myself as the one time I forget I'm in neutral, the car will probably rev to 7000rpm before I realise, then put it into gear).
12. If you can predict you will be stationary for over 30 seconds, turn off the engine.
13. Drive like there is a massive nail sticking out of the throttle.
14. Take off Roof racks if you dont need them.
There are probably more tips I dont know/ or have forgot, however if you post them I will edit them into the OP.
I love driving, and love opening the throttle on a winding road, but most of my driving is in the city, so theres no reason to not use the above tips.
A recent road test with a turbo petrol 1.6 L car, the official fuel consumption ( city) is 9.8l/100km (approx 24mpg), however the road testers achieved 6.59l/100 km (approx 35 mpg, mainly city driving) using some of the above tips. This is a reduction of between 20-25% on the official figures.source
That would wipe out most of the recent increases in fuel prices, and these tips can be used on any car.
Here are some tips (in no particular order, apologies if some are obvious):
1. Make sure your car tyres are inflated to max tyre pressures. Also get a regular tune-up.
2. Take all unnecessary crap out of the car if you can to reduce weight.
3. Drive smoothly. Avoid jerky use of throttle or brakes. Throttle use is obvious, but brake overuse is just taking away all the momentum your petrol made seconds previously.
4. Try to keep moving. If you see a Red light coming up, slow down a bit to try and catch the green without stopping. It takes much more energy for a car to take off from a standstill. Try to avoid stopping where possible.
5. Try to change up gears early without the engine working too hard. Try to drive in the bottom of the cars torque curve.
6. In a manual car, limit slipping the clutch as much as possible.
7. Try to anticipate what traffic is doing. Choose a free flowing lane if possible. Constant lane swapping usually wastes energy though.
8. Turn off air con if possible, close windows too (where practical).
9. If you are on a downhill stretch, consider gradually speeding up ( if possible and within reason). Its basically using gravity to your advantage.
10. Drive with the shoe off your right foot (seriously!). Your foot is so much more sensitive without a shoe, therefore you can reduce the amount of throttle you use. Cruise control also works well, the cars computer should know the minimal amount of throttle to use to keep things going.
11. In an auto, consider changing into neutral when stopped at lights. ( I dont do this one myself as the one time I forget I'm in neutral, the car will probably rev to 7000rpm before I realise, then put it into gear).
12. If you can predict you will be stationary for over 30 seconds, turn off the engine.
13. Drive like there is a massive nail sticking out of the throttle.
14. Take off Roof racks if you dont need them.
There are probably more tips I dont know/ or have forgot, however if you post them I will edit them into the OP.
I love driving, and love opening the throttle on a winding road, but most of my driving is in the city, so theres no reason to not use the above tips.
A recent road test with a turbo petrol 1.6 L car, the official fuel consumption ( city) is 9.8l/100km (approx 24mpg), however the road testers achieved 6.59l/100 km (approx 35 mpg, mainly city driving) using some of the above tips. This is a reduction of between 20-25% on the official figures.source
That would wipe out most of the recent increases in fuel prices, and these tips can be used on any car.
Last edited by Burwhale the Avenger (2008-07-04 23:33:11)