Any recommendations on how to get good MPG? I’ve got a Diesel engine and I can usually get anywhere between 40s to 50s MPG. I try to use cruise control and stick to the speed limit. However, how much difference does things like sticking the heating on make?

Thanks in advance!

it depends on the route really, If you can sit at a nice steady speed it'll do wonders for MPG.

Less electrics including heating = less power from the engine needed = better MPG

Use good quality fuel, Shell, BP, Esso.

Electrics hardly make a difference. Trying not to break is the main thing. Anticipate slowing down

Minimise use of the air con if you have it, plus most of the above.

brake

Take the bikes off the roof.

dougcollins wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 7:37 pm

Take the bikes off the roof.

Alternatively leave the car at home and use the bikes

Steady speed if you can manage it. I drove on the M4 a couple of years ago and there were roadworks for a large part of the journey with a 60mph limit. I reset my MPG display, set cruise control and managed 70mpg for the M4 stretch.

I wouldn’t let it bother you mate

Constant throttle rather than constant speed

pedal to the metal

Stick to 55-65 mph on motorways, where possible.

Foulthrow wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 6:09 pm

Any recommendations on how to get good MPG? I’ve got a Diesel engine and I can usually get anywhere between 40s to 50s MPG. I try to use cruise control and stick to the speed limit. However, how much difference does things like sticking the heating on make?

Thanks in advance!

What car do you drive?

I have a 1.5 diesel Qashqai and my wife has a 1.6 Honda Civic Sport Diesel and can easily get more than 10 mpg more than me on the same journeys.
On the motorway the Honda will keep speed for longer when the foot has been lifted off the gas, therefore using less fuel. Easily getting 70 plus MPG

Sit five to ten yards behind an articulated lorry, the vortex will pull you along and your fuel consumption will plummet. Take out personal insurance though so the wife/husband and kids will be well provided for.

DCWat wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 9:14 pm

Stick to 55-65 mph on motorways, where possible.

If you're doing this, try to stay in the left lane and don't be one of those middle lane clowns...

Also, at the lower speed you'll regularly force lorries out into the middle lane to overtake you.

Only drive in the summer.
Only drive on motorways at 50mph.

Sorted!

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 11:53 pm

If you're doing this, try to stay in the left lane and don't be one of those middle lane clowns...

Also, at the lower speed you'll regularly force lorries out into the middle lane to overtake you.

Agreed. Going at the same speed as the wagons is a very restful, easy motorway trip. Going a bit slower than the wagons, isn't.

Foulthrow wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 6:09 pm

Any recommendations on how to get good MPG? I’ve got a Diesel engine and I can usually get anywhere between 40s to 50s MPG. I try to use cruise control and stick to the speed limit. However, how much difference does things like sticking the heating on make?

Thanks in advance!

Don't accelerate and break like a c**t is always a good start

DCWat wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 9:14 pm

Stick to 55-65 mph on motorways, where possible.

Don't do this.

Burnley1989 wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 7:56 pm

I wouldn’t let it bother you mate

Given the increase in price of diesel, I’m afraid it is. It’s costing me an extra tenner a week to get to and from work at the minute.

GodIsADeeJay81 wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 11:53 pm

If you're doing this, try to stay in the left lane and don't be one of those middle lane clowns...

Also, at the lower speed you'll regularly force lorries out into the middle lane to overtake you.

Bloody hell, I’m with you on this. The amount of people you see on the M6 doing this. Seems more dangerous to me than someone rattling along at 90mph.

Foulthrow wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 05, 2021 8:29 am

Bloody hell, I’m with you on this. The amount of people you see on the M6 doing this. Seems more dangerous to me than someone rattling along at 90mph.

Yep, have to agree. Middle lane hogging is as bad as driving at 55-65 on the motorway. It’s quite simple, drive at 70 and stick to left unless overtaking.

box_of_frogs wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 05, 2021 8:49 am

Yep, have to agree. Middle lane hogging is as bad as driving at 55-65 on the motorway. It’s quite simple, drive at 70 and stick to left unless overtaking.

I agree that middle lane hogging is bad driving, but why the need to drive at 70 rather than 60? If you drive at 70, you have to keep hopping in and out of the middle lane to pass the wagons. If you drive at wagon-speed 60 mph, you hardly ever have to overtake anything and nothing heavy overtakes you. You aren't holding anyone up.

Make sure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressures.

Make sure you are anticipating the road ahead to reduce breaking.

Consider your routes - for me to go to Leeds for example- doing the motorway is quickest time wise. However it’s more miles and efficiency is lower. Taking the a/b roads there may cost me 10-15 mins more but it’s half the distance.

Make sure your not carrying unnecessary weight in the car.

Some good tips above.
You are right to use cruise control but set it 5mph less than the speed limit for normal driving.
Correct tyre pressure is essential.
Reading the road ahead to reduce brake and acceleration.
BTW your average seems poor for a diesel. I have my average fuel consumption on screen permanently. If my normal average drops I check tyres first. Most modern cars will tell you when pressure has dropped

Change car to a diesel with great mpg.Can do a return trip to Burnley of 370 miles for 6 gallons

DCWat wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 9:14 pm

Stick to 55-65 mph on motorways, where possible.

People like you cause accidents!

dsr wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 05, 2021 3:07 pm

I agree that middle lane hogging is bad driving, but why the need to drive at 70 rather than 60? If you drive at 70, you have to keep hopping in and out of the middle lane to pass the wagons. If you drive at wagon-speed 60 mph, you hardly ever have to overtake anything and nothing heavy overtakes you. You aren't holding anyone up.

Echoed elsewhere by others . I’ve seen several accidents where cars have been rear ended because they weren’t driving at the posted speed limit.

I thought 70mph was the legal maximum speed limit, not the speed you must drive at

I haven’t read all the advice given but if you don’t do many miles then only fill up to a half tank when filling up so your not driving around with the weight of the extra half tank of petrol/diesel.

Keep those types pumped up to their recommended tyre pressures for obvious reasons.

Don’t be so damn lazy get off your back side and walk

Barry_Chuckle wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 05, 2021 9:15 pm

I thought 70mph was the legal maximum speed limit, not the speed you must drive at

It is the maximum, but if you're driving a car on the motorway slow enough to be overtaken by a lorry, then you're a danger to others, especially if you're doing it in the middle or outside lanes.

box_of_frogs wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 05, 2021 9:07 pm

Echoed elsewhere by others . I’ve seen several accidents where cars have been rear ended because they weren’t driving at the posted speed limit.

At a 10mph differential? According to the Highway Code figures, it would take 25 yards including thinking time for a car to slow from 70 mph to 60 mph. Surely there can't be many drivers who don't see a car in front of them until they are just 25 yards behind?

Are you saying that wagons and buses are regularly rear ended because they drive at 60 mph? Or are the 70 mph car drivers overtaking the wagons and buses before pulling into the inside lane to rear end the cars? Neither seems likely, frankly.

Realistically the speed limit is somewhere between 75-80, because that’s where you’ll get done for speeding. So saying to drive at 70 is not a bad suggestion at all for safety.

In terms of fuel economy, yes slower is better due to less air resistance. However, will you notice any difference in expenditure? Not unless you drive a lot.

chipbutty wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 11:31 pm

What car do you drive?

I have a 1.5 diesel Qashqai and my wife has a 1.6 Honda Civic Sport Diesel and can easily get more than 10 mpg more than me on the same journeys.
On the motorway the Honda will keep speed for longer when the foot has been lifted off the gas, therefore using less fuel. Easily getting 70 plus MPG

Your 1.5 litre engine will be working a lot harder to move the weight of your Qashqai as the weight will be almost identical to that of the 2.0 litre version. Your wife's car has easily enough power to move itself. Plus her car has considerably less wind drag than your SUV.

gawthorpe_view wrote: ↑

Sat Dec 04, 2021 7:13 pm

Minimise use of the air con if you have it, plus most of the above.

I tried that but only a good idea if you have no sweat glands.

I get about 34 mpg (10000km average) despite this with adaptive cruise control ( or 8.3 L /100km as it's measured here )

dsr wrote: ↑

Sun Dec 05, 2021 11:52 pm

At a 10mph differential? According to the Highway Code figures, it would take 25 yards including thinking time for a car to slow from 70 mph to 60 mph. Surely there can't be many drivers who don't see a car in front of them until they are just 25 yards behind?

Are you saying that wagons and buses are regularly rear ended because they drive at 60 mph? Or are the 70 mph car drivers overtaking the wagons and buses before pulling into the inside lane to rear end the cars? Neither seems likely, frankly.

Hence why people rear end lorries all the time despite everyone knowing they’re only going 58mph. Now compound that into cars that should be 70, but aren’t. Hey presto, it’s dangerous. As others have said, it’s more dangerous to drive beneath 70 when in a car, versus at 70.

Tyres at correct pressure / inflation make a big difference.
Tracking also.
I had a (very slow) deflating front left (front whell drive) I'd top up every month as the tread was good I waited to replace.
I eventually changed the front pair and noticed the tank lasted longer / had more left at the end of the week.

I drive less now so never fill the tank, just enough for the week or so.
Why fill the tank and carry all that weight about? 1 liter = 1 Kg.

Windows and sunroof closed helps too. No roof box etc.