... Apart from not driving or sharing lifts, i've been told by an experienced truck driver of a large firm that they get told to save fuel by revving then engine higher in the lower gears, then skip a gear or two. His example was to rev drive 1st as normal into 2nd, then rev 2nd gear hard then put that straight into 4th or 5th depending on what speed you needed to get upto.

Any other known methods of saving fuel? Mines trying to avoid the need to brake at junctions and roundabouts so no need to accelerate by using forward observation.

No ecoteks, no fuel saving blocks that reduce fuel or 10K boost!

That might work on a lorry but in a car the amount of fuel you save will be minimal.

Here's one - don't drive the car. Think you will find the fuel saving enormous.

Dragon

Don't drive short, start stop, journeys.

Check your tyre pressure and ensure it's correct. (Safer as well!!)

Unload any crap you don't need from the car. I once carted two spare car batteries around in my boot for months!

Use the gears appropriate to the situation, drive smoothly rather than jerkily.

In fact, it's that stuff they told you when learning to drive that you forget about! :)

Joe

Wind your windows down instead of using the air-con.

Originally posted by JonJParr
Wind your windows down instead of using the air-con.

Wrong!! If you've got air con (which sadly I haven't) it is more fuel efficient than opening your windows!!

Originally posted by Sony
Wrong!! If you've got air con (which sadly I haven't) it is more fuel efficient than opening your windows!!

Is that something to do with the drag created?

Check your tyre pressures and ensure that you're not carrying excess weight, as already stated, (make the ma-in-law walk!)... Be sure that your brakes aren't binding, set your tick-over level correctly, use the correct gear, i.e. the highest suitable, without having to 'labour' the engine, don't accelerate fiercely, avoid excessive engine-braking and hence over-revving when descending a hill, use your brakes instead, they're far cheaper to replace than an engine!

In a slow-moving line of traffic, leave a large gap and try and maintain a very slow 'crawler speed' so that as you approach the car ahead the line is starting to move forward again. This is much more fuel-efficient than the usual 'stop-start' progression.

Drive as smoothly as possible, imagine that you have a passenger sitting with their eyes shut and you don't want them to know when you're accelerating and braking. Anticipate the traffic-flow as far ahead as possible, you may surprise yourself at just how smoothly and economically you can drive when you really concentrate on doing it!:)

I read somewhere that the most efficient way to travel was to accelerate to a high speed, then coast all the way down to a low speed with the engine disengaged (or turned off would be even better I suppose).
However that's hardly appropriate for normal driving.

Not travelling above about 55 - 60 makes a huge difference (indeed if you can reach 55 and then sit there for the entire journey that's about as efficient as you'll get).

Don't use the aircon or wind the windows down, just get hot if it's sunny.

Brake earlier so that you don't have to come to a complete stop.

here is a link for british drivers web site
http://www.britishdriversgroup.co.uk/

Originally posted by Cyclone
I read somewhere that the most efficient way to travel was to accelerate to a high speed, then coast all the way down to a low speed with the engine disengaged (or turned off would be even better I suppose).
However that's hardly appropriate for normal driving.

YIKES!!! If you have power brakes and/or power steering, coasting with the engine turned off is a recipe for sudden death!!

Originally posted by Pseudonym
YIKES!!! If you have power brakes and/or power steering, coasting with the engine turned off is a recipe for sudden death!!

obviously, I did say that it wasn't appropriate to actually driving. It's a technique used when you're in a drive as far as you can on this thimble full of fuel type competition.

Originally posted by Pseudonym
YIKES!!! If you have power brakes and/or power steering, coasting with the engine turned off is a recipe for sudden death!!

Perhaps but it is possible - my father often turns the engine off whilst driving to get rid of the annoying lady on the Satnav by resetting it.

Ripping back seats out of your car will make it lighter using less fuel
and if your a bus driver then don't pick anybody up at bus stops just drive past and laugh at them (like i have seen many times before)

Originally posted by Pseudonym
YIKES!!! If you have power brakes and/or power steering, coasting with the engine turned off is a recipe for sudden death!!

It is also against the law to propel a car with the engine disengaged, unless it is being towed.

Originally posted by Craig7777
Ripping back seats out of your car will make it lighter using less fuel
That's just silly. You'd be better getting an old scooter or "commuter" motorcycle with a small engine if you don't need passengers or to carry anything heavy. Then you will be up way over 100 mpg.

Originally posted by JonJParr
Perhaps but it is possible - my father often turns the engine off whilst driving to get rid of the annoying lady on the Satnav by resetting it.
Watch out for a backfire, he might destroy his exhaust system.

Sorry i was only joking i didn't think anybody would take it seriously

Originally posted by JonJParr
Perhaps but it is possible - my father often turns the engine off whilst driving to get rid of the annoying lady on the Satnav by resetting it.
Sure it's possible, but nonetheless, turning the engine off briefly whilst driving is most inadvisable, especially if it's key-ignition and you happen to turn the key too far one day and engage the steering-lock!

Coasting with the engine turned off is a different kettle of fish, unless you drive a car with hydraulic-only brakes and non-powered steering, you will rapidly lose the full capability of both.

Sit in a stationary car with power-steering and try and turn the wheel without the engine running... it needs a LOT of strength! Similarly, let the car roll forward and apply the brakes a few times, see how long before they have virtually no effect!

I learned both of the above the hard way when trying to bump-start mine down a steep hill. Fortunately, putting the car in gear so that the engine was turning over, even if not firing, restored steering and braking fully... Much to my relief!!

Incidentally, SAAB produced a car at one time that automatically disengaged the engine when the power wasn't needed and re-engaged it when you used the accelerator... I once drove one for a couple of days and found that free-wheeling down hills with the engine just ticking over was terrifying!

BTW... Yes Cyclone, I do realise that you said " However that's hardly appropriate for normal driving." And if you notice, I took care to include that disclaimer when I quoted you! :)

my hydraulic brakes last for ages after the engine is off, but when the assistance stops it really stops.
Steering is still 'manageable' without assistance, but only if you're doing <5 mph.

Steering locks don't engage until the key is actually removed (as i realised one day when taking the key out as I coasted to a stop outside my parents and nearly hitting the lamp post).

Citroen also did a car that turned the engine off when idlying and restarted rapidly when you touched the accelerator, didn't seem to do too well though or we'd be seeing it in all cars now.

Originally posted by Cyclone
...Steering locks don't engage until the key is actually removed (as i realised one day when taking the key out as I coasted to a stop outside my parents and nearly hitting the lamp post)
Unfortunately some well-worn ones can and do! As I too realised one day! :D

Originally posted by muddycoffee
That's just silly. You'd be better getting an old scooter or "commuter" motorcycle with a small engine if you don't need passengers or to carry anything heavy. Then you will be up way over 100 mpg.
If you drive into town for work in a car, then a scooter could probably pay for itself quite quickly.

A few people are speaking about being terrified by the lack of engine braking when driving down hills with the engine disengaged. This is how Automatic transmission cars work. There is no engine braking, and they tend to have better brakes. You get used to it quite quickly.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
A few people are speaking about being terrified by the lack of engine braking when driving down hills with the engine disengaged. This is how Automatic transmission cars work. There is no engine braking, and they tend to have better brakes. You get used to it quite quickly.
Isn't there some sort of 'fluid-flywheel' connection to the engine when going downhill though?

My experience of fully automatic transmission cars is very limited, I've only ever driven three but I don't recollect a freewheeling effect when going down a hill... I DO remember the 'creep' effect when stationary and idling though! I MUCH prefer a manual gearbox, I like to choose my own gears rather than have them selected for me!

Originally posted by muddycoffee
A few people are speaking about being terrified by the lack of engine braking when driving down hills with the engine disengaged. This is how Automatic transmission cars work. There is no engine braking, and they tend to have better brakes. You get used to it quite quickly.

you should choose whether to use the engine to brake you or not, that way you have more tools in your kit.
ie, sometimes do it in neutral just to get used to it.

Originally posted by Cyclone
you should choose whether to use the engine to brake you or not, that way you have more tools in your kit.
ie, sometimes do it in neutral just to get used to it.
You're starting to worry me, Cyclone! :D

Going downhill in neutral is not a good idea, even using top gear when going downhill utilises a degree of engine-braking when you don't touch the accelerator. Freewheeling in neutral places no limitation on your speed apart from your brakes, making them work much harder than they would otherwise. A car freewheeling downhill picks up speed remarkably rapidly!

Having experienced complete and total brake failure, the second-string method of slowing down by double-declutching and selecting progressively lower gears, then finally applying the handbrake, is not an option that I'm willing to dispense with!

I'll add that acceleration, whilst it can get you into trouble, can also, on occasion, get you out of it, whilst you are in neutral, not only do you have less efficient stopping-power, you also have no capability of sudden acceleration whatsoever!

A great way of saving fuel is not to drive at more than 70mph on the motorway. 80+ kills fuel efficiency. (I never drive over 70 :D)

Drive right up the backside of a lorry, that'll save litres. Though I don't recommend this from a safety point of view.

Buy a very light aerodynamically efficient car.

The best way of all is not to drive.

Originally posted by Pseudonym
Going downhill in neutral is not a good idea, even using top gear when going downhill utilises a degree of engine-braking when you don't touch the accelerator. Freewheeling in neutral places no limitation on your speed apart from your brakes, making them work much harder than they would otherwise. A car freewheeling downhill picks up speed remarkably rapidly!


A friend of mine said recently that they don't use their engine to slow down as its more expensive to replace a clutch than your brake pads....

Not convinced!

Originally posted by Pseudonym
You're starting to worry me, Cyclone! :D

Going downhill in neutral is not a good idea, even using top gear when going downhill utilises a degree of engine-braking when you don't touch the accelerator. Freewheeling in neutral places no limitation on your speed apart from your brakes, making them work much harder than they would otherwise. A car freewheeling downhill picks up speed remarkably rapidly!

Having experienced complete and total brake failure, the second-string method of slowing down by double-declutching and selecting progressively lower gears, then finally applying the handbrake, is not an option that I'm willing to dispense with!

I'll add that acceleration, whilst it can get you into trouble, can also, on occasion, get you out of it, whilst you are in neutral, not only do you have less efficient stopping-power, you also have no capability of sudden acceleration whatsoever!

But at least if you've tried it under controlled circumstances you have a chance of being able to control it when it's forced upon you.
You'll also find that at higher speed the friction of movement is sufficient to stop you accelerating downhill. Indeed on the motorway when seeing a long hill ahead (and the traffic being light) I sometimes knock it out of gear and coast for a mile or two down the hill, generally gradually loosing speed.

Engine braking doesn't really put any wear on the clutch, unless you start changing gear to slow you down.

Originally posted by TimmyR
A great way of saving fuel is not to drive at more than 70mph on the motorway. 80+ kills fuel efficiency. (I never drive over 70 :D)


Bit of a sweeping statement that Timmy.
It depends on what kind of car you are driving and what power and gearing it has. A modern large car designed for motorway miles will happily sit at 70 - 90 all day and is probably quite efficient at those speeds..

Whereas a shopping car like a mini/nova would be working at the extremes of it's speed range and would probably be way down it's mpg.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
Bit of a sweeping statement that Timmy.
It depends on what kind of car you are driving and what power and gearing it has. A modern large car designed for motorway miles will happily sit at 70 - 90 all day and is probably quite efficient at those speeds..

Whereas a shopping car like a mini/nova would be working at the extremes of it's speed range and would probably be way down it's mpg.

pretty much every car is most efficient at around 55. Above that the frictional force from the air increases significantly, and generally when cruising the lowest possible engine revs to maintain that speed will use the least fuel.
(You need to make it into top gear of course as lower gears use just as much fuel but don't take you as far).

Does anyone have a car that can't be put in top gear until you've passed 55?

Originally posted by muddycoffee
Bit of a sweeping statement that Timmy.
It depends on what kind of car you are driving and what power and gearing it has. A modern large car designed for motorway miles will happily sit at 70 - 90 all day and is probably quite efficient at those speeds..

Whereas a shopping car like a mini/nova would be working at the extremes of it's speed range and would probably be way down it's mpg.

As cyclone has already said I'm pretty sure all cars go down in efficiency above about 55-60 mph. As an engineer and cyclist I have always been aware of the huge effects of aerodynamics. The difference in aerodynamic drag on a car at 70 compared to a car at 80 i.e. a 15% increase in speed, is large, a lot larger than 15%. The car therefore has to use more fuel.

Originally posted by Cyclone
But at least if you've tried it under controlled circumstances you have a chance of being able to control it when it's forced upon you.
You'll also find that at higher speed the friction of movement is sufficient to stop you accelerating downhill. Indeed on the motorway when seeing a long hill ahead (and the traffic being light) I sometimes knock it out of gear and coast for a mile or two down the hill, generally gradually loosing speed.

Engine braking doesn't really put any wear on the clutch, unless you start changing gear to slow you down.
I'm puzzled (tho some say 'puddled'), why would you ever be forced to go downhill in neutral? Under what circumstances?

You regularly coast on motorways in neutral? As I said previously, you're worrying me!

And another thing, how long have you lived in Sheffield, Cyclone? To southerners, motorways have hills, to us, motorways have only ever had gentle slopes!:D

But I won't argue with your last point, you'll be glad to hear! :) Engine-braking won't cause clutch wear...

Maybe if your clutch or gearbox failed, whilst you were on a hill.

I didn't say regularly. I said ocassionally, and i also said specifically when the motorway is quiet. I'm unlikely to have to accelerate out of the way of anything when already doing 80 on a quiet motorway.

I'm from sheffield, so 27 years.

Originally posted by muddycoffee
A modern large car designed for motorway miles will happily sit at 70 - 90 all day and is probably quite efficient at those speeds..
We generally get just over 300miles out of a tank of fuel (1.8 Zafira) we know this coz the fuel guage works exponentially, so we use the trip counter to back it up having run out of petrol very suddenly twice :roll:

When Brude broke his back, we had to travel about really carefully so as not to jar his injury. As the car was only going anywhere with him in it, it was driven at as constant a speed as possible for about 3 or 4 tanks worth.

We discovered that we were getting around 400 miles out of a tank by this method.

This included commuting up and down the A1 to Northamptonshire every week at the reduced speed of 60mph (without incriminating myself by stating actual speed reduction ;) ), and ignoring Sheffield's local speed rules of 'limit + 50%' :suspect:

Of course, the 'injured dog on board' sign in the back was essential to avoid the usual road rage one can expect for this behaviour :(

Originally posted by Cyclone
Maybe if your clutch or gearbox failed, whilst you were on a hill.

I didn't say regularly. I said ocassionally, and i also said specifically when the motorway is quiet. I'm unlikely to have to accelerate out of the way of anything when already doing 80 on a quiet motorway.

I'm from sheffield, so 27 years.

LOL! Maybe you should remove a tyre and practice driving after a blow-out? (Sorry, being way too sarcastic here, but it did strike me as similar in a way!) :)

As for doing 80 in neutral, as I said before, your braking efficiency is lessened. Have you never had to brake suddenly for an obstruction or animal on the motorway? I have and on one occasion had to brake and swerve to avoid a pedestrian that misjudged my speed when running across the carriageways... I'm not sure who got the biggest fright, him or me!

And... If you've lived here 27 years, then you should know that motorways don't have hills, not to us at least! :D

BUT... We seem to have hijacked the thread a little and drifted away from talking only about the original subject of ways to save fuel, so i'll apologise to the OP and shut up now... before someone tells me to! :)