Does anybody have any simple tips to save spending money on fuel. I know this is a hot topic with todays budget review and oil prices as they are. :wonder:

Does anybody have any simple tips to save spending money on fuel. I know this is a hot topic with todays budget review and oil prices as they are. :wonder:

Could always look up hypermiling tips... Some are good, others are ridiculous and downright dangerous., like coasting and drafting lorrys...

Simple things like keeping tyres properly inflated make a difference, avoiding overfilling (above half a tank unless necessary) etc also make a diff.

Not running with aircon where possible - as well as it affecting performance it also has an effect on fuel economy.

Ignore what Clarkson said on top gear - filling up when its cold early in a morning is a myth. Pumps are calibrated systems - fuel is certainly not more dense when filling up on a morning - at least not to the extent of it making noticeable mpg gains.

And obviously, keeping your car in decent condition will improve mpg in itself.

^^^^^^ also keeping the car clear of crap too. I emptied on of mine of all the rubbish and acculated general stuff, was about 3 kilos. Not a lot, but still worthless crap being carted around. Also not screaming away from the lights, accelerate gently and change up as early as practical. Switch off if sitting still for any length of time, don't rev until the traffic lights are on amber. Use mother nature too: coast downhill (again where practical). Don't start the car until you are ready to go, keep the revs around 2000-2500 (in the 1.6). Leave 10 minutes earlier and driver more economical (50 mph etc)

Coasting isnt that economical. Engine braking uses less fuel, plus re starting uses loads too..Stop start technology is a big conjob, plus if you end up slow moving traffic, you could easily end up with a flat battery.

hypermiling has always been a bit dodgy in my opinion, some of the stuff people suggest is daft and dangerous as had already been said. however there are always a few driving techniques you can do to reduce the amount of accelerating and braking... think of it like this, if you are accelerating you are using fuel, if you are braking you are wasting the energy you used to accelerate. so try and anticipate junctions and bends better so you don't need to brake or slow down, just come off the power earlier let it run down to the required speed in advance.

i've never been convinced by the whole rev range thing for economy, if the engine is doing less revs it's working harder but there must be a magical sweet spot somewhere which i'm yet to discover

We have a stupid thing on our buses called drive green which uses a traffic light system..If we accelerate, brake or steer too harshly, we get an amber or red light, depending on the severety...If it is working properly..

My Felly has a green band on the rev counter too, between 2500 & 3500 rpm..Hmmm

oh is that what it's for?? i always use that as a "if it's in the green you need to push it harder" and a "if it's in the red your going to blow it up soon" markers

isn't that traffic light accelerometer thing more to do with passenger comfort than economy?

Its both to be honest. If the bus is sat idling for any period, it goes to amber...It's all linked via GPS too, so our 'scores' are reported. If the score is too high, its a day in the driving school...

I live 21 mile from my work. I have 2 basic routes to get there: I either go on the main roads into norwich and round the ring road and out again on main roads. I find this boring and it takes 10mins longer than: going the back lanes way, much more fun! I thought this would be far less economical due to all the accelerating and braking needed. There is no noticable difference, still 375miles per tank, either way (is this about normal? Its a diesel)

I live 21 mile from my work. I have 2 basic routes to get there: I either go on the main roads into norwich and round the ring road and out again on main roads. I find this boring and it takes 10mins longer than: going the back lanes way, much more fun! I thought this would be far less economical due to all the accelerating and braking needed. There is no noticable difference, still 375miles per tank, either way (is this about normal? Its a diesel)

Interesting. I love back lanes, gravel roads, B roads I have a 250 miles drive to my weekend cottage and can choose between M roads (70 mph) and small roads were you exceed 50 mph at your peril. With my previous car, a 1.2 Nissan Micra there was a marked difference: on small roads I got at least 55 mpg (in spite of the braking/accelarating/driving on lower gears), on M roads it dwindled down towards 45. With my Felly (1.6) the difference is much smaller - as you say, hardly noticeable.

Coasting in neutral in a petrol Felicia will probably use more fuel - with a closed throttle there's no fuel going in above about 1500rpm.

Hard acceleration is what really kills economy in my experience, and as Tom says, better planning is the way forward.

Coasting in neutral in a petrol Felicia will probably use more fuel - with a closed throttle there's no fuel going in above about 1500rpm.

I'd almost agree with this, but: even in 5th the car will slow down due to the 'engine brakeing' effect and on a long coast (I live on the North Downs in Kent so you can coast downhill for a mile or so in places) you'd have to pick up the pace again with the throttle.

I'm not disagreeing with what you've said, but I think it's down to circumstances, so there's no blanket rule.

Off the back of what Tom said: if you can antipate the traffic at the lights, you can time it just right so you don't stop....you can hit the back of the queue just after it starts to move off. A bigger buffer zone in front of you may make you unpopular with the bloke in the beamer behind, but it'll keep the economy up, plus sitting behind someone else usually means you have no control on when you need to brake. If you watch Beamer, Merc and (usually) White Van Man, their brake lights are almost constantly on.

Off the back of what Tom said: if you can antipate the traffic at the lights, you can time it just right so you don't stop....you can hit the back of the queue just after it starts to move off. A bigger buffer zone in front of you may make you unpopular with the bloke in the beamer behind, but it'll keep the economy up, plus sitting behind someone else usually means you have no control on when you need to brake. If you watch Beamer, Merc and (usually) White Van Man, their brake lights are almost constantly on.

yes totaly agree with that beemers and mercs the worst,and i think maybe volvo as well.....never a skoda though.....as tom says watch the road ahead hold a constant throttle setting and try to keep off the brake.....i feel a competition coming on.................who can get the best mpg

You forgot to mention Audi drivers....

.....i feel a competition coming on.................who can get the best mpg

that's exactly the idea i came up with the other day... build a one-off 1000cc lightweight special to do mpg challenges

I like the idea of a 1000cc felly, i got 360 miles to my 1.3 but its running cold as it needs a new temp sensor. will see if it improves any with this repair.

We have a stupid thing on our buses called drive green which uses a traffic light system..If we accelerate, brake or steer too harshly, we get an amber or red light, depending on the severety...If it is working properly..

My Felly has a green band on the rev counter too, between 2500 & 3500 rpm..Hmmm

Another bus driver, that makes two of us now.

ok ....i`ll be the first.....10 mile round trip to work and back.all town driving and lucky to get into 4th on the way home.....36.9 mpg....i was happy with that....but i still want more .......1.3 mpi pick up.

....still 375miles per tank, either way (is this about normal? Its a diesel)

I'm getting that out of my 1.6 petrol.......

I'm getting that out of my 1.6 petrol.......

yeah me too, i'm getting 40mpg from mine, and mine is a bit different to most peoples 1.6 engine