How To Save Fuel - Economy Driving Techniques

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by shieldy2k7

Angie, I have the 1.8l I shift, I have not had chance to take it on a long run, but around the doors i can get 32 at the least, and 38-40 driving really light. and on a 10-20mile stretch of road it can do upto about 45-50 (if i reset the trip) Thats driving at 65mph in 6th (using the manual mode).

I have noticed if i take it above 5-6k rpm it does seem to drink the petrol.

You said about the V power lasting longer, I have been using the Morrisons petrol, and my local one is closed for work being done, so i went to Shell and got the "normal" stuff Would this be better for the engine or does it not make a difference where i buy it from?

but i am not complaining, i was getting 16-17miles per gallon out of my last car lol.

I-Shift will use slightly more petrol than a full blown manual, but I find using good quality petrol which keeps my engine clean and checking oil at least once a week and tyre pressure helps mantain a good mpg.

I refuse to use supermarket fuel in my car but my parents do and thats their choice but according to Honda it take Super unleaded and thats what I feed it, I did notice a difference in the V-Power when I first used it in the car but the tank was almost empty and the more I have used it the better the mpg has become but thats because its now just pur V-Power it runs on (which is a pain trying to find a shell garage when i'm so far from home) I know that my car drinks fuel and oil over 5200 rpm when my vtec kicks in but to be in that in 5th and 6th you have to be over the national speed limit.

Its debateable if the 'normal' fuel from Shell is cleaner than the supermarkets.....but then after that stuff with Tesco and Morrisions last year with the fuel that knackered folks cars down south you just have to wonder whats in it really

[shieldy2k7]

I new the semi-auto's used more fuel than a manual, but a semi-auto is alot better than a full automatic,

As for the VTEC in 5th and 6th I have been in that "zone" while in those gears for about 1min or less, then i got scared and returned to a safe 65mph, I had done the Pass Plus, but this was in a manual (when i could still do it), and the instructor was telling me how to drive more effective / fuel effiencient, but at 17mpg driviing light, and if i was very careful i could get 21mpg at a push,

I may take it on a long run over august, as its bad just doing short runs all the time, just shy of 3000 mile now,

[smb09_1999]

Whilst I've adapted my driving style to save fuel (I've took some lead off my foot), its still good on a very rare occassion to switch the traction control off and boot it from the traffic lights. Still puts a smile on my face.

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by shieldy2k7

I new the semi-auto's used more fuel than a manual, but a semi-auto is alot better than a full automatic,

As for the VTEC in 5th and 6th I have been in that "zone" while in those gears for about 1min or less, then i got scared and returned to a safe 65mph, I had done the Pass Plus, but this was in a manual (when i could still do it), and the instructor was telling me how to drive more effective / fuel effiencient, but at 17mpg driviing light, and if i was very careful i could get 21mpg at a push,

I may take it on a long run over august, as its bad just doing short runs all the time, just shy of 3000 mile now,

Your 'V-tec' zone is different from mines in the Type R which i'm sure you've read in a few threads and if I was to stay constantly in it then I would probably get about 18 mpg (if I was lucky).

Yes, short miles are worse for the car. Mines doens't move too often but when it does it usually does about 200 miles (at least). You've also done less miles than me and the more miles the better the mpg and the engine gets.

[shieldy2k7]

I think with this tank full i will drive calm and not floor it, but it is hard when you need to get out at roundabouts or junctions, Why does the type R not come in a semi-auto and on motability... lol

[Unknownsoldier]

It's possible to get 500mpt from a 1.8 if driven carefully, the key I've found is not using the 'v-tecing it' style (if you get what I mean) and anticipating traffic, I have to use a roundabout to get in and out of my house and yet, my fuel economy isn't horrendous (it's the traffic that takes it toll).....

Tom

[shieldy2k7]

Originally Posted by Unknownsoldier

It's possible to get 500mpt from a 1.8 if driven carefully, the key I've found is not using the 'v-tecing it' style (if you get what I mean) and anticipating traffic, I have to use a roundabout to get in and out of my house and yet, my fuel economy isn't horrendous (it's the traffic that takes it toll).....

Tom

One mini aroundabout and a sliproad onto a dual carriage way to get anywhere for me, i enver run the tank right down any way just under 1/4 tank and i top her up again either to half a tank or full depending on how i feel lol

[Unknownsoldier]

Motorway----- get up to 75 on your speedo and watch the green lights..... then bring down your speed until all of them are lit, then use your CC to sit at that speed and keep an eye on the green dots, as the fluctuate fluctuate your speed I.e. if your going down a long slope slow a bit and allow the slope to carry you, up a hill, drp a gear and use gentle acceleration to get you to the top, but easily, I find accelerating gently to 75 as I see the hill in the distance, then allowing you speed to reduce gently as you climb save a bit of fuel as you are using your cars momentum to carry you uphill.

Tom

[shieldy2k7]

If i had CC i would, being a motability car, the deposit on the EX was too high, and i had to get a 5 door, so the type S / S gt (three door) where out of the question, so i got the 1.8l Sport, Really could do with the CC, but its too late now, i have the car and stuck with it for 3 year

but its a top car lol happy either way, even if it does give me a bit of trouble with my back driving it lol,

[Unknownsoldier]

Oh well, sorry, but it can be done with just your foot, but I'm just lazy

Tom

[shieldy2k7]

yeah, it can be done with the foot, :P i like tring to keep the 6 "eco" lights no for as long as i can, but it gets hard keeping a steady speed, without dropping to low and going to quick, i guess its just getting used to it, Is the "accellerator and the way it works any different to other types of car,

[Unknownsoldier]

Well I've known virtualy no other style of accelerator for the last 4 years, my 2 previous cars (BMW's) have the same style of pedal (i prefer it to the other style), and it does take some getting used to, but smoothness and gentleness are the keys to keeping your fuel going, if you floor it even for a second it alters the way it works, and so smoothness and gear selection become important let the car roll under it's own volition to roundabouts et.c being prepared to keep going and not stopping and waiting, get ready to go prepare to slow....or something like that. I find it hard not to floor mine however it can be done (i'm on this tank getting 41mpg and around 450 miles from the tank, but I did a fair bit of stop start driving in Croydon and lost a few mpg that way).

Take your time and it will get better.

Tom

[angie4m]

Shieldy, do you drive with the Aircon or air on? I don't so this (although I do give the air con a wee bit of uses for about 10 mins) but this also helps says fuel.

[shieldy2k7]

Angie, I either have a window open or the aircon on full at "LO" setting or medium when it gets a bitnoisy, cant really drive when its really hot in the car, But so car all my driving has been around the doors ect, to unversity and back home, shops and back ect, but i have another 3 year left in it plenty of time to enjoy it

[angie4m]

Originally Posted by shieldy2k7

Angie, I either have a window open or the aircon on full at "LO" setting or medium when it gets a bitnoisy, cant really drive when its really hot in the car, But so car all my driving has been around the doors ect, to unversity and back home, shops and back ect, but i have another 3 year left in it plenty of time to enjoy it

Driving with the window down over about 30 mph is also bad but I know what you mean with regards to not being able to drive in a hot car

[alanwalne]

If I leave the a/c on auto and 21C I can get 63-65 mpg out of a CTDi if I do 70 - 75 on the speedo, as long as I anticipate slowing traffic and keep the revs below 2300 at all times. It winds up people behind you on the motorway, but hey ho.

Turning off the a/c and doing 60 - 65 can produce 73 mpg, but that is not going to happen very often.

I suppose spooling the turbo on the CTDi is the same as the VTEC zone in the 1.8, good fun but costly

[shieldy2k7]

Originally Posted by alanwalne

If I leave the a/c on auto and 21C I can get 63-65 mpg out of a CTDi if I do 70 - 75 on the speedo, as long as I anticipate slowing traffic and keep the revs below 2300 at all times. It winds up people behind you on the motorway, but hey ho.

Turning off the a/c and doing 60 - 65 can produce 73 mpg, but that is not going to happen very often.

I suppose spooling the turbo on the CTDi is the same as the VTEC zone in the 1.8, good fun but costly

Also the using the "creep" function on the i-shift, gets to people too, as and leaving a safe gap - people gets annoyed when there is a big gap in front and you just doing 7-10mph rather than flooring it to close the gap

[alanwalne]

Originally Posted by shieldy2k7

Also the using the "creep" function on the i-shift, gets to people too, as and leaving a safe gap - people gets annoyed when there is a big gap in front and you just doing 7-10mph rather than flooring it to close the gap

I do the same, pulling forward on no thottle, letting the torque at idle pull you along. Just not accelerating into gaps has improved my economy by 20% even if I cruise at the same speed.

[shieldy2k7]

I used to do that in my old car, its the one think i love about diesels, (above a 1.5l), is the high torque at idle, no need for throttle. Rather than most petrols needing a big of revs to pull away.

But the days of a manual are gone now