Just wodnering what the best way of driving was in order to minimise petrol consumption and mechancial erros.

I ve seen people and I often , dont take the rev counter over 2000 revs - Ie 4th gear in 20 miles - I also coast quite a lot .

Is this advisable? I find that driving in fourth gear means no acceleartion, and also means you have to put your foot quite hard on the gas to move .

ALternatively is it best to always use the gears - to slow down and to take the rev counter to 3000..

Change up as soon as you car WITHOUT LABOURING THE ENGINE.

coasting is a bad habit - you are not full in control of the car.

I prefer to be in a suitable gear for the road speed, eg one which will provide instant acceleration/engine braking should it be required. I also don't labour the engine as you have to use more fuel to get the car going.

I'm sure I read somewhere that the diesel engine is at its most economical a shade over 2k rpm, but I don't know what the equivalent sweet spot is for a petrol.

Brakes are for slow, gears are for go

Chris

I strongly agree with the comments above about coasting.

Not stressing the engine when its cold is a big thing, that I'm always thinking of. This can include labouring it when cold, as well as thrashing the t1ts off it. I tend to slowly accelerate up to 40 from my road, using boost up to 2500rpm before changing up. But not getting to 2500 quick. I think my average 0-40 from the end of my road on the main exeter road is around 15 seconds sometimes.

If your car is a turbo (I can't see what you drive) it pays to not use boost much, or at all in the last minute or two of driving to allow the turbo to spin down / cool down. Not 100% sure on the mechanics, but it's been said before. If you do boost it (and sometimes I get childish going up my road) let it tickover for a minute or so.

Might not be so P.C, but taking the racing line through bends where it's safe to do so is a good tyre save. Not really mechanically based, but you could say it very marginally helps with brakes and bearing preservation.

The argument about using brakes or gears to slow down is a little more uncertain, with regards to preserving either. I'd go with brakes, but I do use a bit of both usually.

Ahem, not getting remapped might be a big plus for oreservation of the engine, but I'm of the opinion "could not give a toss"

Also, a modern engine will use fuel to tick-over when you're coasting. With the clutch engaged, the wheels are turning the engine and it uses no fuel at all.

Just wodnering what the best way of driving was in order to minimise petrol consumption and mechancial erros.

I ve seen people and I often ' date=' dont take the rev counter over 2000 revs - Ie 4th gear in 20 miles - I also coast quite a lot .

Is this advisable? I find that driving in fourth gear means no acceleartion, and also means you have to put your foot quite hard on the gas to move .

ALternatively is it best to always use the gears - to slow down and to take the rev counter to 3000..[/quote']

I think you've listed pretty much the worst way to drive. Never taking the revs about 2000 will...

- Labour the engine (very very bad thing to do as it will cause stress and damage)

- Cause soot to build up in the engine

- Not allow the engine to loosen up properly

Keeping the revs between 1600 and 2000 when cruising on a level road is fine, however in general it's best to keep the revs between 2000 and 3000rpm so as not to labour the engine.

Coasting is a bad idea because, like others have said, you have less control of the car. Coasting also uses more fuel than leaving the car in gear! Assuming you're going downhill, coasting requires fuel to be burnt to keep the engine running, leaving the car in gear doesn't.

To sum this up(!), in order to look after a car best, just drive it normally. Driving like a granny does nothing to minimise wear, in fact it will often cause more.

Also, a modern engine will use fuel to tick-over when you're coasting. With the clutch engaged, the wheels are turning the engine and it uses no fuel at all.

Would explain why my instant mpg reads 200 or so when in neutral, and ---- when coasting downhill in gear and no throttle.

Driving with a badly worn wheel bearing - as mentioned in your other thread - will have a detrimental effect on fuel economy too.

If this thread is related to a desire to conserve your new wheel bearing, there is not a lot that can be done to preserve them to be honest. As long as the wheels are going round, the bearing will wear.

Hi,

Thanks for the comemtns - How does not taking the car above 2000rm labour the engine - Its only above that you hear the engine working hard? Maybe I m missing something - Sorry...

All this time I thougt I was driving well ... :(

Just because you can hear the engine, it does not mean it is working hard.

Well when you change gear @ 2k revs the revs with drop to lik 1.5k or less - this is too low really for the car.

Ways to preserve your car:

Make sure tyres are correct pressure, regularly check fluids & oil. Regularly service - at the very least oil (buy the best oil you can afford).

Drop the clutch before you start (less bits for stater motor to turn over). Don't over rev the car at start or until it is warm. the idea is to get hot oil around the moving bits of the engine to minimise wear.

When engine is warm - gradually increase RPM up to say 4k rpm max (when appropriate). An engine needs to be worked - and burning deposits in the combustion chamber - and forcing the black stuff out the back.

Be progressive with the accelerator, don't just boot it.

Engage the clutch/disengage smoothly. And smooth with the gear stick. Don't rest your hand on the stick whilst driving.

don't use the h-brake without the button. Don't pull too tight (leave in gear instead).

So, gentle, progressive, smooth.

try this link: http://www.worcadvmot10.fsnet.co.uk/tips.html

D

Be progressive with the accelerator' date=' don't just boot it.

[/quote']

Oops.

Do you tap the gas when you start the car?

Do you tap the gas when you start the car?

Nope

Chris

Do you tap the gas when you start the car?

Yup - but again - not exessive. Need to do this more so in winter/petrol - as you need to start the engine after all!!!

Hi' date='

Thanks for the comemtns - How does not taking the car above 2000rm labour the engine - Its only above that you hear the engine working hard? Maybe I m missing something - Sorry...[/quote']

This is not easy to explain, but I'll give it a go! Image you are riding a bike up a hill. If you select a gear so that the pedals are turning slowly (ie. low rpm) it's much harder work than if you select a gear so that the pedals spin quickly (high rpm). It's much the same with a car engine - it's under the least amount of load when turning over more quickly and with the turbo spinning (when driving up hill you're best to keep the revs above 2500rpm).

The sound of the engine has no relationship to how hard it is working - it simply gets louder because it's turning over more quickly.

Do you tap the gas when you start the car?

Nope, you should not need to do this. It's also good practice to depress the clutch when starting the car.

Yup - but again - not exessive. Need to do this more so in winter/petrol - as you need to start the engine after all!!!

You shouldn't use any throtte when starting the car, It's clearly stated in the owners manual

Actually some cars won't start if you depress the clutch

Actually some cars won't start if you depress the clutch

Really?? I've never come across that. Sounds a bit daft? Depressing the clutch reduces load on the engine, therefore making it easier to start.

Mechanical sympathy is smoothness. If you do anything in a hurries, jerky fashion you stress the mechanicals.

Smoooooooooth