loads of threads have been written on this, and here's my input....

I usually use BP ultimate... its my local garage, and I like to treat my car... but I was forced last week to fill up with two consequtive tanks of "normal" diesel (first esso, then texaco), and I noticed my fuel economy (on the same runs, the same routes) dropping... so i then managed to get the next two anks of BP ultimate as usual, and as the tank was nearing the end today, i did a typical run and comaired the fuel economy.... the run was the same... same speeds, same driving style ect ect...

on the "nomal" tanks, I was getting 49-50 mpg on this run (done about 4 times a day) really struggled to get any more than 50..... (even when trying to be economical)

well today.....

woot! 58.4 mpg..........

my 'unscientific' experiment, but in my opinion, it does pay for itself (this was done over 4 tanks of fuel testing ( I do about 1,000 miles a week) so is reasonable accurate....

other thoughts? no increase in power, and my car doesn't really smoke anyway, so can't really say......

When I had a company van I always filled it with BP ultimate diesel

The vans seemed to like it and the engines sounded cleaner and quite refined at my chosen cruising speed. Dont think I bettered 50mpg though.

I noticed last night for some strange reason i got 49.2 mpg giving it some compared to the usual 44/45 taking it easy. i was confused :(

I noticed last night for some strange reason i got 49.2 mpg giving it some compared to the usual 44/45 taking it easy. i was confused :(

wierdly enough, during that fuel run, I'd given it full throttle off a roundabout in 1st, second, and third (up to 60) to get a renault out of my boot, and then spent a long time withmy foot off the throttle letting it slow towards the slower moving traffic in front of me, and it didn't seem to hurt the mpg....

I think there's something in the theory: accelrate hard (thus using the engine at its optimum, and most efficient) then back off and feather the throttle to maintain speed...

thought that method only worked with normally asperated petrols though...

I think there's something in the theory: accelrate hard (thus using the engine at its optimum, and most efficient) then back off and feather the throttle to maintain speed...

thought that method only worked with normally asperated petrols though...

Works on all internal combustion engines as far as I know. There is an optimum amount of throttle and revs that gives good thermal efficiency (an engine running at very small throttle opening uses most of its fuel to heat the air going through the engine) and low friction losses (higher revs = more friction losses). I always found around 60-70% throttle keeping the engine in the lower mid band was best for fuel economy. Seems to work OK for the Fabia.

That Fiat looks good on fuel. Do you know if the trip is accurate. On some Fabias, the computer tells porkies and the car does far less than the display would have you believe.

Chris

Chris

Works on all internal combustion engines as far as I know. There is an optimum amount of throttle and revs that gives good thermal efficiency (an engine running at very small throttle opening uses most of its fuel to heat the air going through the engine) and low friction losses (higher revs = more friction losses). I always found around 60-70% throttle keeping the engine in the lower mid band was best for fuel economy. Seems to work OK for the Fabia.

That Fiat looks good on fuel. Do you know if the trip is accurate. On some Fabias, the computer tells porkies and the car does far less than the display would have you believe.

Chris

Chris

yes, I've calculated using the reciepts and the trip is accurate, but that was me driving "normal roof sign on mode"... on a general teaching day (pupils driving) I tend to get 47-48 mpg, mixed town, manouvers, slower driving ect... I used to get the same in the vRS for a working day (you?) the way its saved me money as a driving school car over the vRS is insurance (and purchess cost) vRS group 9 £490 insurance £12k to buy, fiat group 6 £295 insurance £11k to buy.... fuel seems to be the same day to day, but on a run with me driving the fiat always seems to give better......

yes, I've calculated using the reciepts and the trip is accurate, but that was me driving "normal roof sign on mode"... on a general teaching day (pupils driving) I tend to get 47-48 mpg, mixed town, manouvers, slower driving ect... I used to get the same in the vRS for a working day (you?) the way its saved me money as a driving school car over the vRS is insurance (and purchess cost) vRS group 9 £490 insurance £12k to buy, fiat group 6 £295 insurance £11k to buy.... fuel seems to be the same day to day, but on a run with me driving the fiat always seems to give better......

Averaging around 45mpg across the year, but probably more urban roads and heavy traffic on and in between lessons for me.

As the new Fabia vRS is now not going to surface before 2010, I am seriously interested in the Fiat. Just got to get past that Fix It Again Tomorrow thing. What warranty did you get with yours? The Bravo has a really good warranty deal at the moment.

Chris

Averaging around 45mpg across the year, but probably more urban roads and heavy traffic on and in between lessons for me.

As the new Fabia vRS is now not going to surface before 2010, I am seriously interested in the Fiat. Just got to get past that Fix It Again Tomorrow thing. What warranty did you get with yours? The Bravo has a really good warranty deal at the moment.

Chris

yes, the new bravo is 5 years unlimited mileage... (and the 150bhp m/jet can be reamapped to 200 bhp! :eek: ) bigger turbo than the 130 m/jet......

I got the standard 3 years (two years unlimited miles) same as skoda....

however, the fiat has proved the most reliable of the last three cars I've had, passed 40k without needing a new gearbox, unlike the fabia vRS, C2GT, VTR, I had before it..... all of which needed new gearboxes at 40k.......

so far on the fiat (and it doesn't feel as well built as the skoda..., but is working well at the moment!)

1) 4k, new drop links on suspension, modified part fitted, no probs since

2) 5k new door handle, drivers side... known fault.....

3) 36k service (18k service intervals by the way) new seat runners (seat was moving around)

thats it so far for problems...... lets hope it stays that way!

and just to note: I haven't touched the brakes yet... already had had new front and rear pads on the skoda at 33 k...........

edit: and Chris, if you find yourself anywhere near the lakes, give me a shout , and you can have a drive

yes, the new bravo is 5 years unlimited mileage... (and the 150bhp m/jet can be reamapped to 200 bhp! :eek: ) bigger turbo than the 130 m/jet......

I got the standard 3 years (two years unlimited miles) same as skoda....

however, the fiat has proved the most reliable of the last three cars I've had, passed 40k without needing a new gearbox, unlike the fabia vRS, C2GT, VTR, I had before it..... all of which needed new gearboxes at 40k.......

so far on the fiat (and it doesn't feel as well built as the skoda..., but is working well at the moment!)

1) 4k, new drop links on suspension, modified part fitted, no probs since

2) 5k new door handle, drivers side... known fault.....

3) 36k service (18k service intervals by the way) new seat runners (seat was moving around)

thats it so far for problems...... lets hope it stays that way!

and just to note: I haven't touched the brakes yet... already had had new front and rear pads on the skoda at 33 k...........

edit: and Chris, if you find yourself anywhere near the lakes, give me a shout , and you can have a drive

May well be up that way for a long weekend as soon as I get this bloody consulting project finished.

Chris