BBC Focus Magazine

[Liam Sheppard]

at 30 mph on a flat road what gear would be the most economical? 3rd 4th 5th?

[M Paul Lloyd]

Well usually it is accepted that if acceleration is not an issue and if their is no wind to factor in then the higher gear is usually preferable as the engine will need to produce less revs per minute and thus use less fuel.... but it isn't always that simple.......... some engines are more efficient at higher rpm and to be honest I would not be happy to suggest that there is a hard and fast rule for this.

The only way you can check this easily is to see how far you have to depress the accelerator pedal in a given gear at a specific forward speed under the conditions you describe in your car, and in my car I would say that my best efficiency at 30 mph on a flat road would be third gear, although I haven't actually checked that properly.

On the other hand it is worth mentioning that the most important factor is maintaining control of your car and running at very low revs might lead to a stall plus you could be so distracted trying to maintain your engine speed you might miss impending danger?

[Thinker]

More tips for fuel economy:

1) You can save 20% of your fuel tank if you turn the engine off when idling for more than 30 seconds. It uses next to no fuel to start your engine.

2) DON'T COAST or slip the car out of gear...You won't save fuel!

3) Listen to classic FM, this one actually works a treat for me, I tend to drive calmy and sensibly if I am listening to Beethoven. But if I stick the Foo Fighters on, I tend to drive more aggressively.

4 (and most importantly) Have a look at a Hypermiling website as I'll be here all bloody day!

[Shadowwolf]

I'd guess it depends on the vehicle, for my five gear and one litre engined mirth mobile I'd reckon that fourth was the most appropriate at that speed for economy and control. Mind you, that's just my impression from driving, don't have any figures that actually confirm greater economy.

You can save 20% of your fuel tank

I'm fairly certain that you would save some fuel but 20% seems a bit much for not idling, and would your savings just be transferred to more wear and tear on the starter system - assuming the vehicle is not one of those new ones that turns everything off when stopped. You might also have a delay from starting to actual moving and thus I will be wondering what confusion that car in front of me has with the concept of a green light

As for music, pretty sure I recall seeing a study once that found no issue with listening to the Metal whilst driving, can't for the life of me find it now mind. From my own perspective - acknowledging the questionable nature of memory and after the fact interpretation - I don't recall any difference in my driving with Cradle 'o' Filth or Nightwish on or the silence I now endure after I lost the radio enabling device. All the idiots I come near are certainly not listening to any music at a level I can hear outside the car yet still they drive like clowns. As for classical the slow sonorous stuff might put one to sleep and I don't see much difference between metal and pieces like Mars the Bringer of War by Holst.

Thing is, if you're driving like you're supposed to which means regularly observing your mirrors and environs then the music shouldn't matter, I mean deaf people can drive just fine - bar the presumable one I actually saw signing to a rear seat passenger as the drove.

4 (and most importantly) Have a look at a Hypermiling website as I'll be here all bloody day!

So that's why I encounter folks crawling up to traffic halted at lights even though we all know that they are going to have to stop which they do, then they shuffle a few feet and stop, shuffle another few feet and stop then sit there completely oblivious as the traffic ahead leaves

[Colm]

2) DON'T COAST or slip the car out of gear...You won't save fuel!

Why not? I find my car slows down more slowly if I am coasting. Therefore shouldn't it be saving fuel?

Another one is to slow down gradually in advance when coming to a red light, rather than going all the way up to it at full speed and slamming on the brakes.

And I think I saw in Focus before that 50mph was the optimal speed to drive at for the average car...

[M Paul Lloyd]

The problem as I see it Colm is how do you define what constitutes an average car.??

I bet mine isn't, and yet its technically a taxi!?

[Jamie]

3) Listen to classic FM, this one actually works a treat for me, I tend to drive calmy and sensibly if I am listening to Beethoven. But if I stick the Foo Fighters on, I tend to drive more aggressively.

Correct. I was driving back from Buxton the other day, had some Queen on. Nice easy pace. Put some Judas Priest on, added at least 15% to my speed. It was my wife that pointed it out to me.

Other tips :
- keep windows shut. Drag caused by them being open can add 10% to fuel consumption. And don't think about putting on the aircon instead - that makes the car guzzle fuel.
- change gear before revving to much. Half the time I can skip from 3 to five with no issues.
- keep the boot clear of unwanted junk.
- make sure your tyres are inflated correctly.
- keep up with servicing - clean oil and air filter!

And buy a diesel. My much lauded 1.9TD Skoda can get 70mpg on the motorway. Town driving is currently averaging at 52.3 mpg. Which ain't bad. And it's nearly 10 years old.

[The Beige Avenger]

I don't drive....

But, I do read...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brake_spec ... onsumption

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/pdfs/guides/FEG2005.pdf