That it impressive. Was the journey down hill with the wind behind you doing 30mph in top gear? My last car, a Vectra Diesel, gave consistently gave me 50+ mpg on a motorway run, which I though was good for a car of its age. Nearly 80mpg is usually the reserve of mopeds, to get that from a car is fantastic.
That 79.6 beats my previous best of 75mpg. This trip was rural Yorkshire roads to Castle Howard. I put it down to my technique and being an Advanced driver helps a lot. If I get less then 60 on any long trip then I think I`m doing something wrong. But. I have to admit this engine at 110bhp has amazing lower end torque and does not create a fuss ticking over in top gear! robert
A lot to do with it. Knowing when to use engine braking, rather than feathering the foot brake, using the right gear and staying at a steady speed. We notice the mileage in the car does much better on motorway/A road driving than commuting (especially in Crawley with it's obsession with multiple roundabouts!).
That's truly impressive, Robert. In the days when it costs £5 a gallon, a mileage like yours is wholly desireable. Congratulations, that is exception driving... When I was driving, I don't any longer, petrol was 30p per gallon.
The thing about that trip was I did not even bother to check the MPG until we were on our way back. It was then at over 70mpg so I just went into economy mode and managed to lift it higher.
When I switched driving style from accelerate hard then brake for next corner / junction etc. to "hyper-miling" I raised my average MPG by 35% - equivalent to 10 years free driving I reckon! I think engine braking is overrated; I read that some cars use zero fuel when engine braking, but I'm struggling to beleive that they can run smoothly with zero fuel? I think that no-braking is more efficient! Anyways, cruising in neutral whenever the road is at least (or even close to) zero friction [slightly downhill], or using pulse-and-glide; keeping at least 4 and preferably 8 seconds from car in front so i can just lift off when they brake, turn off, or whatever; lifting off for bends such that I don't actually need to brake at all [OK, so bends at bottom of the kill are a challenge!] and so on enable me to now beat the published MPG for the car by 15% on average.
Engine braking will still use fuel. The fact that the engine is still turning (and thus acting like a pump powered by the momentum of the vehicle) means it is still drawing in air. This air is measured by either the Mass Air Flow meter or Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor (depending on your car) which tell the engine control unit (ECU) how much air is being drawn in. This is regardless of throttle position or engine load, it is just a measurement of air entering the engine. Based on this measurement, the ECU will calculate how much fuel it needs to squirt in via the injectors, in order to achieve the ideal air to fuel ratio of 14.7 to 1. All this is regardless of throttle position. If the fuel mix is not right, then the oxygen sensor in the exhaust complains and your car gets upset, so it has to keep the mix right. That's not to say that engine braking is bad. Going down steep gradients I'll always use it, simply because I don't like the idea of being in a two tonne object that is relying on a piece of 5mm thick aluminium tubing to hold the pressurised brake fluid that will work my brakes. The most fuel efficient way to take a car down hill would be in top gear with no throttle, but I don't fancy that myself, just in case. (If you are in top gear and your brakes fail, no much is going to stop you, and trying to change down at that point carries the risk that if you can't get it into a lower gear after taking it out of top, then you're completely free wheeling).
Yes, I agree about using engine braking to control speed coming down hill, I just don't see it as being the most fuel efficient way of slowing down for a bend 200 yards away - coasting does that nicely for me, with the engine on tick over (off would be better, but I don't fancy that!!)
It's very different engine braking on a motorbike and much easier. Easing off the throttle (accelerator!) can drop your speed dramatically and in a very short space of time. Doing this is especially effective coming up to a junction, which is why a good motorbike rider will seldom brake unless he/she absolutely has to. It can be a little disconcerting though sitting behind such a rider, as there is not much warning they are slowing down! Hard braking on a motorbike is actually dangerous - wheels locking up have a nasty habit of going into a wobble and throwing you and the motorbike down the road :(
You'd think with modern bikes, and other vehicles for that matter, they could get round this by setting an accelerometer to the brake light circuit, configured to activate the brake light under significant decelleration. It would only add about a quid to manufacturing costs, with components as cheap as they are now. It could potentially save lives. It has often crossed my mind that if I get a sudden engine failure while someone is too close behind and in a world of their own, it would be catastrophic. Brake lights wouldn't stop people driving too close behind but they do serve their purpose of getting the following driver's attention and alerting them to the fact you are slowing down.
It is indeed, as it was not long ago that it happened to my brother who threw his passengers off into the ditch (his girlfriend) and ended up sprawled out on a country road a fair distance away from his bike. Not only did his bike end up in a hell of a state, he ended up with broken ribs, cracked teeth and a broken leg. Guess it could have been a lot worse though, had they been on a busy road with traffic !
I find riding or driving behind a car whose driver has a "happy relationship" with the brake pedal incredibly annoying and distracting. You all know the type - brake on a bend, brake for a bump in the road, brake to fiddle with the radio, brake because the weren't paying attention and suddenly realise they're behind the wheel of a car... I prefer to keep a safe distance from the car in front where possible and even more, pay attention to the road. Since I've been on two wheels, I've realised that modern cars with all the safety features make driving too easy and protected which I do think has led drivers to become a little complacent about their driving. On a motorbike you've much more exposed and you cannot get distracted for a second. It'll be that second that another road user will do something silly, you hit something in the road, etc, etc, etc...
Some sound advise all round guys. But I have to pull you up on driving in nuetral. Good points about "happy relationship" with the brake pedal. I look at it this way: You have used energy to get you to speed so why waste it on braking. If you can do a journey by looking ahead and keep braking to a minimum then you are well on the way to good MPG.
"I have to pull you up on driving in nuetral." I was taught that you shouldn't be in neutral because you weren't in control. Is that what you are refering to? Hope so, 'coz I'd love for someone to explain to me why that's "not in control"?
