If I take off my roof rack, keep my windows closed don't carry excess weight in my car., run tyres that save fuel inflated to the correct pressure and put nitrogen instead of air I should save at least 40% on fuel. Oh and don't carry excess fuel other than what what is absolutely necessary don't accelerate too quickly and don'tspeed. Am I missing something. Love to hear your opinions
thejazzpianoma,
May 20, 9:52am
Nitrogen is a joke, it will give you no discernible savings for real world motoring.
You forgot not using your air con but that can be a false economy if it breaks through lack of use. as air con tends to do.
Running your tank low on fuel all the time can also be a false economy if it wears your expensive fuel pump out prematurely.
jmma,
May 20, 9:52am
Saving gas, I thought this thread was about farting in a bottle (o:
thejazzpianoma,
May 20, 9:54am
Of course the best manufacturers in the world Fiat and VW make methane powered cars.
morrisman1,
May 20, 9:57am
Might be possible. Perhaps we need to do a wee experiment
hijacka,
May 20, 9:58am
Gee I can smell the Methane vapour coming from you posts. lol
r.g.nixon,
May 20, 10:01am
Follow a large truck REALLY CLOSE - with your foot ready to hit the brakes hard.
morrisman1,
May 20, 10:02am
It would only be appropriate that VWs and especially Volvos run on methane. They would be self powered, running on their own emissions.
morrisman1,
May 20, 10:03am
fabricate a rigid bar linkage which goes on the front of your car and you can drive up to someone else and hook it to their towbar while moving. That will save heaps of gas!
thejazzpianoma,
May 20, 10:03am
Now you propose perpetual motion. will the misinformation and exaggerations never stop!
Running your tyres at the recommended pressure won't save fuel. Pumping them up to at least 40 psi reduces their rolling resistance, meaning the car needs less power to go the same speed, saving fuel. The car may ride a little harder, but the tyres will still wear evenly.
thewomble1,
May 20, 12:35pm
Curious why running tank low all the time will effect the life of the petrol pump.
lugee,
May 20, 12:37pm
The pumps motor and pumping components are cooled and lubricated by the fuel, so running low can cause overheating and/or excessive wear.
thewomble1,
May 20, 1:18pm
Sorry but I can not don't follow your reasoning.The only time I can understand there might be excessive wear is if the fuel got so low that it started pumping air . As long as it is pumping fuel the pump is being lubricated . Over heating can be stopped by the amount of fuel in the tank.! what about cars that have the fuel pumps mounted outside the tank!
lugee,
May 20, 1:26pm
Pay attention to this video from a manufacturer of fuel pumps: http://www.youtube.com/watch!v=QbzEeWy1b3o&feature=player_detailpage#t=163s Most fuel pumps are flow-through, where the fuel passes through the motor, lubricating it and cooling it. Since 99% of cars nowadays have an in-tank pump, your second point is pretty much null.
And yes, by running low, but above the pumps inlet there shouldnt be any issues, but since you don't know where that level is you won't relaly know if you're pulling in air, especially when cornering.
thewomble1,
May 20, 2:12pm
IT is the actualfuel that is being pumped that lubricates and helps cool the pump not the amount of fuel in the tank. So it does not matter how much fuel is in the tank as long as there is enough to pump continously the pump will be lubricated and cooled.
NZTools,
May 20, 6:49pm
Most fuel pumps are mounted in the top half of the tank, with the pick-up extending to the bottom of the tank. As for the pump sucking up contaminants when the tank is low, that is also a myth, as the contaminants slosh around the bottom of the tank where the pickup is, when the tank is full as well.
Running a pump dry will kill it. that is all.
serf407,
May 20, 7:10pm
Are specialised natural gas engines likely to increase as a proportion of vehicle sales ! or is there insufficient gas in NZ or is it still better to import crude for petrol/ diesel rather than import natural gas !
Go for brokerip out allsound deadeningjack wheel brace & spare wheel ,carpetslinings etcshould save another 20 %
morrisman1,
May 21, 3:24am
if you dont use your brakes, it shouldn't make too much difference how heavy your car is, because the energy you collect as you accelerate will be balanced when you slow down.
Aerodynamics is where it's at, smoothing the airflow on the rear of as many objects as you can, reducing turbulence. Full underbody panel will help heaps. Adjustable intake for radiator to manage cooling and not let through more air than necessary.
curlcrown,
May 21, 4:48am
If VWsare so great why is it that I've dealt with hundreds of Fords, Holdens, Mazdas and Toyotas and only a few Dozen VWs and had more problems with VWs than any of the others!
nzdoug,
May 21, 5:18am
i time the lights when stopped and shut off if there is a minute or more to kill. I lived in Rio de Janeiro in the 70s and people shut off their Beetles then when stopped at the lights.
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