driving slower to save fuel

[Roughasguts]

With the price of fuel these days how many of you guy's have slowed down on the freeways.I do a thousand k's a week and drive the F3 at around 80-90 I let her creep down to 80 when going up hill and hardly pass another vehicle,
But I save about 30 bucks a week in fuel doing this.

But just this week I have noticed I'm not the only one going slower and saving fuel. the other thing I have noticed is theres been no crashes on the freeway either.

Anyone else notice that people are driving slower lately, more relaxed and taking less chances.

[catfishkid]

I have also slowed down but it is interesting going down the bruce hway in the morning doing 90(I have limited myself to 2500rpm which equals 90,but I try not to rev past 2500rpm in any gear.)I have noticed quite a few vehicles have also slowed down but There are still plenty of crazy(rich?) idiots flying past or tailgating,I just ignore them I am in the left lane & let em go.
I have noticed a huge saving on fuel from this.


Cheers Craig

[murf]

slowing down makes a big diff when towing a boat behind a big 4WD

when we went to Fraser in May I was pushing hard to keep the old 4.2 diesel up at 100km/hr and the fuel went throught the roof at 24lt/100km, slowed back down and took it easy at 90/95 and the fuel went down to 18lt/100km

the strange thing was that towing on the beach at 60km/hr I got 16lt/100km out of her

cheers Murf

[ROBENDOG]

If it is single carriage I do the speed limit. I know how pissed I get when I am late and somebody is holding up traffic doin 10km/h less than the speed limit!!!!

But if it is dual carriage or more, and I am not holding people up, I will do 80-90km/h on the highway; particularly if towing the boat.

I have noticed massive fual savings doing this.

Ben.

[Waraba Mick]

Its not only fuel you guys will save, tyres and brakes will also last longer with a reduction in speed. mick.

[Apollo]

We use to find with our patrol (on gas) when towing a hoarse float fully laden that if we pushed hard then we would get 30L/100km, drop back to 90 and we would get 20L/100km.

[mik01]

driving an even speed not just on the highway supposedly saves fuel.
ie - taking off at the lights not too quickly and keeping a steady speed with a bigger gap in front means less braking and eventually less accelerating.

[Chimo]

Murf

Just out of interest do you have a turbo on your diesel GQ 4.2?

I bought one of those in '90 and it drove me nuts esp on long slopes as you had to keep changing down.

Cheers
Chimo

[murf]

Murf

Just out of interest do you have a turbo on your diesel GQ 4.2?

I bought one of those in '90 and it drove me nuts esp on long slopes as you had to keep changing down.

Cheers
Chimo

non turbo mate

bit of a dog yes, 0 to 60km/hr great, 60 to 80 is so so then 80 to 100 is very sad

I found just backing of on the accelerator and finding the sweet spot was the best although a bit slower

l have ordered a LPG system to go on it to try and get a little extra

also going to start making Bio diesel in a couple of weeks to get away from the $1.94/lt cost of diesel atm

cheers Murf

[Chimo]

Murf

There was a thread on gas for diesels and at one stage i was thinking of it to but decided against it after the thread and a bit of other info.

I put a schwietzer turbo on mine in '91 and its made it run almost like a petrol but without the petrol cost. Just Had a leaky VE injector pump fixed, first repair other than shockers and poly air which arent really a repair since the turbo..

Cheers
Chimo

[Poodroo]

I basically do as I do all the time and just hover on the speed limits so that I am not too much of a burden to other motorists who drive at the speed limits and especially the other drivers who insist that they are at the controls of the Starship Enterprise and trying to burn their aging motors out doing warp factor 9.:-X ::)
Being someone who also does approximately 1000+klms a week I get to see what sort of drivers frequent the motorways. Not too many have slowed down. I still get passed like I have ventured onto Conrod Straight during Bathurst. I figure these motorists must have predicted the crazy fuel prices a long time ago and tapped into their own source of fuel somehow because clearly they don't care about their fuel consumption.

Poodroo

[tigermullet]

Though rarely having to drive into the city, this week required two journeys along the freeway in very light traffic. All the vehicles could have been travelling at well over 100 but everybody seemed to be limiting themselves to about 95. It turned what is usually a nerve wracking ordeal into something very pleasant and relaxed.

I'm looking forward to a run down to Jacobs Well in 8 days time to see if it too has improved but from the sound of Poodroo's report I won't be that lucky.

We'll have to slow up soon. There should be a slight decrease in the price of oil for a short while but it seems likely that it will then go to $160 and above by year end. Not nice because that will put us very close to $2 per litre for ULP.

Having one car converted to LPG saw the (subsidised) cost returned in savings in under 6 months. I think it's time to get the other one done if the subsidy scheme still exists.

[loophole]

Though rarely having to drive into the city, this week required two journeys along the freeway in very light traffic. All the vehicles could have been travelling at well over 100 but everybody seemed to be limiting themselves to about 95. It turned what is usually a nerve wracking ordeal into something very pleasant and relaxed.

I'm looking forward to a run down to Jacobs Well in 8 days time to see if it too has improved but from the sound of Poodroo's report I won't be that lucky.

We'll have to slow up soon. There should be a slight decrease in the price of oil for a short while but it seems likely that it will then go to $160 and above by year end. Not nice because that will put us very close to $2 per litre for ULP.

Having one car converted to LPG saw the (subsidised) cost returned in savings in under 6 months. I think it's time to get the other one done if the subsidy scheme still exists.

actually the other day someone was telling me this didnt exist anymore, our family has 2 cars on LPG, and i remeber when we first brought the cruiser LPG was at 39c a L only that was 5 years ago::)

[tigermullet]

Thanks Loophole, you prompted me to do a little checking via google. I also was of the opinion that it was axed in the budget but it seems that it was not.

In fact, an additional 19 million was added for the year ending June 2008 because of the increase in demand.

From what I can gather, the money is in place for another year and various bodies are actively lobbying to ensure that the scheme runs until the promised 2014.

A phone call on Monday will reveal whether my limited searching found the correct answer. I hope so.

In case anyone is interested I will confirm on Monday by posting the result.

Even with the increased cost of LPG it still beats ULP by a mile.

Meanwhile, I will be certain to observe speed limits.

[tigermullet]

It's okay. The LPG rebate scheme is still going and unchanged from what it was.

Cost of conversion seems to have increased by roughly $450. The first conversion cost me $2450 but the next, for a similar car (same type of engine) is now $2900.

The confusion over the rebate started with a hint from Labor that they would drop the scheme but successful lobbying has kept it going for, at least, this coming financial year.

Problem is now one of waiting for suitable gas cylinders - some where between 6 to 12 weeks.

[FNQCairns]

I have turned the fuel down in the 4wd so I accelerate slower can travel the same speed but use less fuel everywhere, it makes a difference of 1L/100km around town, more on a trip. need to remember to turn it back up on those infrequent times I tow of late.

It's funny but when in the 4wd every ones a ratbag, when driving the fleet car with fuel paid for they are almost all road hogs!:)

cheers fnq

[Roughasguts]

Hi FNQ, mate how can you turn down the fuel ? thats a new one on me.

I re -installed a 4 barrell Carter thermoquad on me 351 V8 just before a 500 mile trip to Adelaide (I was 17) and blew the motor cause the secondarys weren't getting enough fuel, leaned out, and blew # 7 piston, the crank case compression spat oil all over the alternator from the dip stick and up the wind screen and limped in to Adelaide. with a stuffed alternator as well.

(yeah Okay I was doing about 240 K's passing a bus when it happened and probably 3 mpg at the time)

And I got a new Motor under warranty less than 3K miles done on it since I bought the car so got to laugh.
Any how Thats how the motor come out standard Har har, wish I was 17 again no bastard got in me way when I had a point to be made.
Now I with a family of 3 kids and mortgage I take it up the proverbial and thank them for it.

So how do you turn down the fuel? , and is it bad for the Motor, or don't a diesel lean out ?

PS I have never played with deisels or owned one, so know squat about them.

Cheers Justin.

[FNQCairns]

Hi Justin, what were you doing using the mechanical seconarys anyway in that V8 on those tyres!, cars sure used to sound sweet once upon a time, now even the home grown V8s sound like a slant 6 with twin pipes:(
Never been that fast in a car, have broken the 200kph mark as a teen in one though and a fair bit faster on a bike...ah those were the days:-/

It's a diesel, rules are reversed for diesels, you can turn them down until they no longer accelerate at full throttle if you want without harm, turning them up raises the EGT and they can melt pretty fast. Twice the compression = twice the burn temp...I am happy to turn the old girl down:)

cheer fnq

[loophole]

Hi Justin, what were you doing using the mechanical seconarys anyway in that V8 on those tyres!, cars sure used to sound sweet once upon a time, now even the home grown V8s sound like a slant 6 with twin pipes:(
Never been that fast in a car, have broken the 200kph mark as a teen in one though and a fair bit faster on a bike...ah those were the days:-/

It's a diesel, rules are reversed for diesels, you can turn them down until they no longer accelerate at full throttle if you want without harm, turning them up raises the EGT and they can melt pretty fast. Twice the compression = twice the burn temp...I am happy to turn the old girl down:)

cheer fnq

ok explain simple terms:-/ im young and got a dieseil hilux,, which i been getting 500 od km to the tank.

[FNQCairns]

Loophole sorry I do not know the Toyota's, on the Patrol it's a simple 5 minute exercise, possibly a search of some Toyota forum somewhere may be able to tell you if your injection pump has easy access to turn it down.

cheers fnq

[Chimo]

Hi FNQ

Tell me I have a GQ VE pump!

Are you able to read EGT, other than by placing your hand in the exhaust gas at the tail pipe?

As you know from the the leak story I was really keen to keep the pump as it was set when the turbo went on years ago, is that incorrect IYO?

Cheers
Chimo

[FNQCairns]

Hi Chimo, I am not even going to pretend to understand these pumps well, what little I can do to them amounts to white magic, there are setting inside that amount to voodooo! and I cannot go there!!.

On the back of the pump, the face near parallel to the firewall is a blade head screw with a lock nut on it.

To turn the fuel up turn it clockwise so inwards and to turn the fuel down turn it anticlockwise obviously so opposite to what one would assume to do on petrol engines.

A half turn makes a BIG difference so even a 1/8 turn can make a noticeable difference for a test, mark your original setting for return at any time.(I have found on mine for me 1/3 of a turn down from the standard setting suits me fine)
I understand the screw regulates total volume sent to any and all injectors each crack.

On top of the pump there is also an accerator looking linkage, because turning the fuel down turns it down over all rpm linear like, this now needs to be adjusted to return the idle speed back up assuming you turned the fuel down.

Drop dead easy and can do no harm going down with fuel, going up is to be used with an egt gauge to ensure it is not overfueling under hard working conditions.

My engine runs smoother with the fuel down a little, not as much holding power on a trip with hills but nicer for 95% of the stuff it does lately.

cheers fnq

[disorderly]

Never been that fast in a car, have broken the 200kph mark as a teen in one though and a fair bit faster on a bike...ah those were the days:-/


cheer fnq

Ah Scott, see what marriage and a kid does to a bloke.....http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/../yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/rolleyes.gif
From a wildman to driving around like an old granny to save a litre of fuel http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/../yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/wink.gifhttp://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/../yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/grin.gif.

[FNQCairns]

I have my head hung in shame already, the civilised wet sock syndrome:(........not really:)

cheers fnq

[Roughasguts]

Have to agree FNQ, the old V8's sounded sweet compared to the motors these days. (specially the WRX that sounds crap) But If you need a fix, Pull out Mad Max the Dvd and pump the volume up on that, music to me ears that gurgle.

Yeah the tyres those days...... hmmm every bit of the road was littered with blow outs they weren't much good. But neither was the handling after the compulsary air shocks everyone put on the arse end to jack the car up, geeez who's idea was that, but I did it anyway.

Yup I'm a wet sock to now, gone is the V8' muscle cars the Cordia Turbo, which in it's own right has a mean streak. Ahhh the Bol "D" or 900 Honda, and the following GPZ's. Hanging my head in shame now, might get me prostate checked I bet that's lost intrest as well.
Might check out the bowling club as well.

Good tip with the diesel pumps though, I'll remember that if I ever get a diesiel.
Cheers.

[whiteman]

I've got a V6 Prado 120 series. The Scangauge tells me the following driving on the same piece of Bruce Highway:

80kph 9l/100k
90kph 10.5l/100k
100kph 11.5l/100k
110kph 13.0l/100k

Tail gating a truck saves around 20%. Getting over 120 kph sucks heaps of fuel!

[PinHead]

Have to agree FNQ, the old V8's sounded sweet compared to the motors these days. (specially the WRX that sounds crap) But If you need a fix, Pull out Mad Max the Dvd and pump the volume up on that, music to me ears that gurgle.

Yeah the tyres those days...... hmmm every bit of the road was littered with blow outs they weren't much good. But neither was the handling after the compulsary air shocks everyone put on the arse end to jack the car up, geeez who's idea was that, but I did it anyway.

Yup I'm a wet sock to now, gone is the V8' muscle cars the Cordia Turbo, which in it's own right has a mean streak. Ahhh the Bol "D" or 900 Honda, and the following GPZ's. Hanging my head in shame now, might get me prostate checked I bet that's lost intrest as well.
Might check out the bowling club as well.

Good tip with the diesel pumps though, I'll remember that if I ever get a diesiel.
Cheers.

Now that brings back some memories...got rid of mine when the daughter was born..there was a problem with those bikes..you could only go full throttle or dead stop. But the best fun bike I had was the Mach II Kwakka..500cc 3 cyl 2 stroke...fantastic sting off the line.

Oh..and V8's were created for blokes that just cannot work out how to get power from a sturdy 4 cylinder.

[Roughasguts]

Oh yeah I wanted one of those Kawasaki 750cc 3 cyl two strokes, but never got to even ride one bummer. Apparently they didn't handle at all though, But the RD 400 daytona I had for a while wasn't bad fun.

Nah V8's where created for there noise factor, nothing else.

[mik01]

next we'll be recommending switching off the engine and rolling down hills!!!:-/

I'm refusing to buy into the fuel thing yet (finding ways to save fuel) - it has to even out sooner rather than later.

then again, maybe my head needs pulling out of the sand!!!

[Roughasguts]

next we'll be recommending switching off the engine and rolling down hills!!!:-/

I'm refusing to buy into the fuel thing yet (finding ways to save fuel) - it has to even out sooner rather than later.

then again, maybe my head needs pulling out of the sand!!!

Nup it's going to get worse. I pay 360 bucks a fortnight with fuel parking and tolls. I don't think this is going to be cheaper next year.

At the moment I'm weighing up the possibillities that it is just no longer economically viable to commute so far to work each day.

Not to mention the 3 or more travel hours added to my 12 hour work day, but i'm not ready for a change of pace or pay yet so I'm stuffed.:-/