Skip to content

The effect of weight on MPG

Dempsek
in Skoda Fabia Mk2 (2007-2014)

Featured Replies

My Greenline spends most of it's time being driven with four people in and often with the boot full with cases and a dog.

Now I know I cannot expect listed MPG, but how foes the extra weight affect my MPG.

Taking a look at this website from the USA http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drivehabits.shtml for every 100lb carried could effect MPG by 2% and for smaller cars the effect is even more.

Hum Americans drive big cars and I do not, so taking the 2% effect my car's MPG figure would take a massive hit.

Could this be the reason we have no engine cover and now no spare wheel?.. ;)

My Greenline spends most of it's time being driven with four people in and often with the boot full with cases and a dog.

Now I know I cannot expect listed MPG, but how foes the extra weight affect my MPG.

Taking a look at this website from the USA http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drivehabits.shtml for every 100lb carried could effect MPG by 2% and for smaller cars the effect is even more.

Hum Americans drive big cars and I do not, so taking the 2% effect my car's MPG figure would take a massive hit.

Yep, your mpg will take a big hit... maybe you should start charging all the passengers per mile ;)

American Gallons are Smaller than UK gallons, so this will make the % diff less than 2% for UK gallons. Saying that, one of the first things you should do when concerned about MPG, is take all extra weight out of the boot. Passengers will need to be put on a diet...

This attitude us brits have to American cars being unecconomical used to really annoy an american friend of mine as the MPG was always quoted on different sized gallons.

-----edit------

when we worked out the mpg with the same sized gallons, it still shown American cars as less ecconomical... (As we all know anyway)

Edited by Brin

If you are really wanting the max out of your car you could go anf fit super light weight racing wheels and take out the seats you dont use.

Bit extreme if you ask me but meh.

I'd just bin the spare wheel and keep a can of that gunk stuff and an air-compressor. Should be enough to get you home to swap to the spare.

If you are really wanting the max out of your car you could go anf fit super light weight racing wheels and take out the seats you dont use.

Bit extreme if you ask me but meh.

I'd just bin the spare wheel and keep a can of that gunk stuff and an air-compressor. Should be enough to get you home to swap to the spare.

But which is lighter, the Gunk and an Air Compressor or Spare Wheel.....only one way to find out .......... :rofl:

It also depends how far you want to go with the weight saving. Why not only half fill the fuel tank this will save weight, but means you stop twice as much to fill up. You could introduce all sorts of hypermiling techniques to your driving http://www.hypermiler.co.uk/hypermiling/hypermiling-techniques but there comes a point where you just want to use the car :)

It also depends how far you want to go with the weight saving. Why not only half fill the fuel tank this will save weight, but means you stop twice as much to fill up. You could introduce all sorts of hypermiling techniques to your driving http://www.hypermile...ling-techniques but there comes a point where you just want to use the car :)

going to remove my spare asap :thumbup:

  • Author

Yep, your mpg will take a big hit... maybe you should start charging all the passengers per mile ;)

Thanks for the replies.

I posted more to highlight the effect of carrying extra weight in a car.

As for my GL2 MPG it's doing fine and with just me in the car I am getting around 60mpg for town driving.

Though Brin I did take your idea of charging the passengers based on their weight. When I weighed the wife and gave her the bill and told her she needed to lose weight she gave me a kick in the :doh: :'(

But which is lighter, the Gunk and an Air Compressor or Spare Wheel.....only one way to find out .......... :rofl:

....Fiiiiiiiiiiiiight!!!......

...Gunk and an Air Compressor...
....Fiiiiiiiiiiiiight!!!......
the gunk and compressor win by a long-long way only good for minor punctures though

I can't imagine how bad the brakes would be!!!

the gunk and compressor win by a long-long way only good for minor punctures though

I've seen some HEAVY compressors!! ;)

I can't imagine how bad the brakes would be!!!

???

Thanks for the replies.

I posted more to highlight the effect of carrying extra weight in a car.

As for my GL2 MPG it's doing fine and with just me in the car I am getting around 60mpg for town driving.

Though Brin I did take your idea of charging the passengers based on their weight. When I weighed the wife and gave her the bill and told her she needed to lose weight she gave me a kick in the :doh: :'(

The truly dedicated would raise a mast and sail, fly a spinnaker for the downwind leg..... :giggle:

Oh and fill your spare with helium...... :D

I did take your idea of charging the passengers based on their weight. When I weighed the wife and gave her the bill and told her she needed to lose weight she gave me a kick in the :doh: :'(

Haha I'll be careful not to try that one! Better step up my diet too...

Quite frankly pva glue and a compressor is not my idea of having a spare tyre. Any hole over about 3-5mm in any direction will no longer hold air.

Just bare this in mind when your storing that spare wheel in the shed. Can you realy afford to wait around for hours in the cold waiting on being towed to a garage? Been there and done it wasn't fun.

  • Author

Haha I'll be careful not to try that one! Better step up my diet too...

Yes be very careful, since starting this thread my mpg has taken a big hit due to having to cary a couple of acres around with me :p

On the serious side I could have bought the 1.6cr and been a very err :S about the mpg or fuel in my oil from constant regens.

Nope I bought the 1.2CR Greenline and am very happy with it, just do not ask me to compare MPG as it is usually full with the family and gubbings and is unlikely to get near book mpg.

Yes be very careful, since starting this thread my mpg has taken a big hit due to having to cary a couple of acres around with me :p

On the serious side I could have bought the 1.6cr and been a very err :S about the mpg or fuel in my oil I bought the 1.2CR Greenline and am very happy with it, just do not ask me to compare MPG as it is usually full with the family and gubbings and is unlikely to get near book mpg. HI I bought the cr 1.6 tdi 105 ELegance , fuel economy awesome 60mpg easy peasy and quick in third it's pulls like stink poo of a shovel,Iam totally gobsmacked when members say that there cr.1.6 does not get good fulley ,I would imagine your 1.2 cr would struggle fully loaded with economy?that's why IPlummed for the stronger engine,saying that though Ihave the 1.4tdi as well and Igenerally use this for work commute and Idont hang about and this is awesome also ,Iknow that one of the members drove to Spain Ithink in the greenline and posted fantastic fuel economy,so enjoy Icertanly am happy days

Edited by seboni121

Create an account or sign in to comment
Go to topic listing

Recently Browsing 0

  • No registered users viewing this page.

Important Information

Welcome to BRISKODA. Please note the following important links Terms of Use. We have a comprehensive Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.

Account

Navigation

Configure browser push notifications
Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.