David Morton
Lifetime Supporter
It's Sunday morning and I've been up since 0400. I have had a bit of time to think (dangerous I hear you say ?) but my task this morning was to back out, manouevre, and face in the right direction a Volvo s80 twin turbo T6 with a very cold engine. During these manouevres the remaining fuel distance to go dropped from 295 to 285. Now, it's not my car and the owner says that cruise control is de rigeur but when I looked at the fuel average it said 22.7 mpg. When I have driven that car in the past I have achieved 33 mpg and I used to leave the display on that page so the other driver could see it.
To no avail.
Its like talking to a deaf and dumb mute some times.
So - the heading of this thread is Fuel Economy and I ask each of you to think how to save fuel on both short and long journeys. If I kick off with these three:
1. Point the car in the right direction for the next journey while the
engine is still warm and don't switch the engine on to warm and demist
and then find other things to do such as drying your hair and having
tea and toast while the engine is still running. It would also save getting
someone out of bed on a Sunday morning at 0400hrs who can do it .
(I'm going to get a T shirt printed "When you can't - I can")
2. Don't make a special trip of four miles with a cold engine to refuel the
car when you will be passing the same petrol station on your way to or
coming back from your next journey. Even if the car is pointing in the
right direction you are probably using about two litres of fuel to go and
refuel on a cold engine.
3. Occasionally take a look at the Instantaneous MPG page and see what
happens when you overtake at 80 mph. I bet you cannot achieve
better than 12 mpg on a 2.8 twin turbo engine. So why bother
overtaking. You all arrive at the same time though granted you are one
car ahead at the red traffic lights at the other end.
Right guys - over to you - see how many fuel saving ideas you can come up with. The cost of 95 leaded is now £6 per gallon. When I started driving in 1964 it was 4 shillings and nine old pence. That is 23.75 new pence. That is an increase of 2526% .
Yes - we know its a conspiracy by the Bushes and the Windsors and the Saudi Royal family but thats what we seem to have to live with.
I'll stop rambling and ranting and await your considered thoughts .........
No doubt no one here will be speaking to me for the next week or so if this ever gets out. I might just print it off and leave it lying around to give me a bit of peace and quiet.
To no avail.
Its like talking to a deaf and dumb mute some times.
So - the heading of this thread is Fuel Economy and I ask each of you to think how to save fuel on both short and long journeys. If I kick off with these three:
1. Point the car in the right direction for the next journey while the
engine is still warm and don't switch the engine on to warm and demist
and then find other things to do such as drying your hair and having
tea and toast while the engine is still running. It would also save getting
someone out of bed on a Sunday morning at 0400hrs who can do it .
(I'm going to get a T shirt printed "When you can't - I can")
2. Don't make a special trip of four miles with a cold engine to refuel the
car when you will be passing the same petrol station on your way to or
coming back from your next journey. Even if the car is pointing in the
right direction you are probably using about two litres of fuel to go and
refuel on a cold engine.
3. Occasionally take a look at the Instantaneous MPG page and see what
happens when you overtake at 80 mph. I bet you cannot achieve
better than 12 mpg on a 2.8 twin turbo engine. So why bother
overtaking. You all arrive at the same time though granted you are one
car ahead at the red traffic lights at the other end.
Right guys - over to you - see how many fuel saving ideas you can come up with. The cost of 95 leaded is now £6 per gallon. When I started driving in 1964 it was 4 shillings and nine old pence. That is 23.75 new pence. That is an increase of 2526% .
Yes - we know its a conspiracy by the Bushes and the Windsors and the Saudi Royal family but thats what we seem to have to live with.
I'll stop rambling and ranting and await your considered thoughts .........
No doubt no one here will be speaking to me for the next week or so if this ever gets out. I might just print it off and leave it lying around to give me a bit of peace and quiet.
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