They do have to have a certain cetane rating but they dont have to conform to having many additives or how much junk is in the fuel, compared to Shell of Bp that have "cleaner" fuels
Or that is what we are lead to beleive !!!
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They do have to have a certain cetane rating but they dont have to conform to having many additives or how much junk is in the fuel, compared to Shell of Bp that have "cleaner" fuels
Or that is what we are lead to beleive !!!
Here's an interesting website which has some info on different grades of fuel.
http://www.petrolprices.com/about-fuel.html
I think what has been said is correct the basic fuel is the same between supermarkets and for eg shell/bp, but the additives may be different/ I guess it's up to the driver whether he/she beleives that the additives make much difference to the car. The article says that even using higher RON petrol(eg 99 RON the highest octane petrol available - sold by tesco) will not make a difference to a lot of cars since they only require 95, only some cars will benefit and a lot of the "benefit" that people see is just a placebo affect. But I guess if you fill up at shell and notice that you consistently do more mpg than when you fill up at tesco - then that's evidence for the individual but may not be the case with a different car/driver.
http://www.petrolprices.com/about-fuel.html
I think what has been said is correct the basic fuel is the same between supermarkets and for eg shell/bp, but the additives may be different/ I guess it's up to the driver whether he/she beleives that the additives make much difference to the car. The article says that even using higher RON petrol(eg 99 RON the highest octane petrol available - sold by tesco) will not make a difference to a lot of cars since they only require 95, only some cars will benefit and a lot of the "benefit" that people see is just a placebo affect. But I guess if you fill up at shell and notice that you consistently do more mpg than when you fill up at tesco - then that's evidence for the individual but may not be the case with a different car/driver.
The octain rating just refers to the anti knock charecteristics of the fuel, so you can run the engine hotter (better advance curve) or with a higher BMEP by upping the CR or boost. You can do some of that to any car but the big question is if it's worth it. In most cases the power diferance you can get cheaply is so small and the cost of upping the CR is just too much to make the job worth while.
Other additives not related to octain used for engine cleaning are generaly in such small quantitys that for them to actualy have any effect you would need to run the fuel for a good 10,000 miles befor you could tell the differance in a full engine strip down.
Other additives not related to octain used for engine cleaning are generaly in such small quantitys that for them to actualy have any effect you would need to run the fuel for a good 10,000 miles befor you could tell the differance in a full engine strip down.
QUOTE "Ok I do beleive you. M0rk is probably right - with a more powerful engine you're probably not going to be revving it as much as I am in my car - although I don't really wring it's neck that much. Mind you I guess my only comfort is that you probably pay more for insurance!!"
my insurance is quite cheep
I'm 35, full ncb, kept in garage overnight, low crime postcode, 325 quid
road tax is a bummer though 200 quid IIRC
my insurance is quite cheep
I'm 35, full ncb, kept in garage overnight, low crime postcode, 325 quid
road tax is a bummer though 200 quid IIRC
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QUOTE "Ok I do beleive you. M0rk is probably right - with a more powerful engine you're probably not going to be revving it as much as I am in my car - although I don't really wring it's neck that much. Mind you I guess my only comfort is that you probably pay more for insurance!!"
my insurance is quite cheep
I'm 35, full ncb, kept in garage overnight, low crime postcode, 325 quid
road tax is a bummer though 200 quid IIRC
You gotta enjoy that ibiza!!
My insurance is about the same as yours (£1 cheaper a month) but I live in a relatively high crime area (My bf's motorbike got nicked from our drive in Sept..
) and keep the car on the drive not in the garage. The ibiza cheaper to insure than my old fiesta 1.4 though so I'm happy. I bought my 1.4 Sport (75 not 85) in April this year, and each fill I've recorded litres to fill the tank, and miles travelled. My MPG seems a little better than yours.
A 41.68 mpg was acheived by 37.88 litres lasting 357.3 miles. Of course this is only as accurate as me stopping after 3 clicks- but I don't think my petrol warning light comes on when there is only 7 literes left sensitive- I did around 35 miles after my warning light came on, and still only managed 37.88 before petrol came spewing out the tank)... based on the mpg I had overall that should have used around 4 litres.
All Journeys
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| avg((miles/litres)*4.546) | min((miles/litres)*4.546) | max((miles/litres)*4.546) |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| 40.432171132114 | 35.302665503799 | 46.137543858053 |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
Just travelling to work and back (and around town)
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| avg((miles/litres)*4.546) | min((miles/litres)*4.546) | max((miles/litres)*4.546) |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| 36.432300546701 | 35.302665503799 | 38.304928690178 |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
Driving long from Suffolk to Lincs ( via Kings Lynn and Boston - all A roads, (about 20 miles of dual carriage way :-( )
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| avg((miles/litres)*4.546) | min((miles/litres)*4.546) | max((miles/litres)*4.546) |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| 43.236619365361 | 39.233403352544 | 46.137543858053 |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
Suffolk to Plymouth
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| avg((miles/litres)*4.546) | min((miles/litres)*4.546) | max((miles/litres)*4.546) |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| 41.184002723865 | 37.371395914773 | 45.09494551533 |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
My journey to work is about 5 miles- so prboably a worst case. In summer I had the air-con on permanently- in the winter it's only on ocassionaly. I didn't think I had an economoy button for the air-con (but the air recirculation should be more efficient- but that isn't used during summer ).
I did an experiment of changing my driving habit on the drive to work over 3 tanks. I decided that my normal driving was good enough, and I didn't really want to have a new car and drive it too slowly just to save a few £'s.
First, driving normally - 42.49mpg
Second, driving with a bit more "spirit" - 37.37mpg
Third, driving like a granny/gently - 45 mpg.
A 41.68 mpg was acheived by 37.88 litres lasting 357.3 miles. Of course this is only as accurate as me stopping after 3 clicks- but I don't think my petrol warning light comes on when there is only 7 literes left sensitive- I did around 35 miles after my warning light came on, and still only managed 37.88 before petrol came spewing out the tank)... based on the mpg I had overall that should have used around 4 litres.
All Journeys
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| avg((miles/litres)*4.546) | min((miles/litres)*4.546) | max((miles/litres)*4.546) |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| 40.432171132114 | 35.302665503799 | 46.137543858053 |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
Just travelling to work and back (and around town)
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| avg((miles/litres)*4.546) | min((miles/litres)*4.546) | max((miles/litres)*4.546) |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| 36.432300546701 | 35.302665503799 | 38.304928690178 |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
Driving long from Suffolk to Lincs ( via Kings Lynn and Boston - all A roads, (about 20 miles of dual carriage way :-( )
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| avg((miles/litres)*4.546) | min((miles/litres)*4.546) | max((miles/litres)*4.546) |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| 43.236619365361 | 39.233403352544 | 46.137543858053 |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
Suffolk to Plymouth
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| avg((miles/litres)*4.546) | min((miles/litres)*4.546) | max((miles/litres)*4.546) |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
| 41.184002723865 | 37.371395914773 | 45.09494551533 |
+---------------------------+---------------------------+---------------------------+
My journey to work is about 5 miles- so prboably a worst case. In summer I had the air-con on permanently- in the winter it's only on ocassionaly. I didn't think I had an economoy button for the air-con (but the air recirculation should be more efficient- but that isn't used during summer ).
I did an experiment of changing my driving habit on the drive to work over 3 tanks. I decided that my normal driving was good enough, and I didn't really want to have a new car and drive it too slowly just to save a few £'s.
First, driving normally - 42.49mpg
Second, driving with a bit more "spirit" - 37.37mpg
Third, driving like a granny/gently - 45 mpg.
i managed 33.4 mpg last nite which is good for my car lol unless i was on a motorway then it goes high 30's
Welcome to SCN dontbother1979. You seem to be getting better economy than any of the rest of us - by a long way. I wonder why??
Just out of interest what fuel do you regularly use?? I wouldn't expect it to make that much difference!! Do you get stuck in traffic at all on your regular journeys?
Grant745
Guest
Hi guys, I have a 06 1.4 sport 75bhp petrol and have been checking my mpg recently. I have a 15 mile motorway commute plus do some town driving so its well mixed. My last 3 tankfuls have averaged about 37mpg!. I was expecting more than that as I try to drive smoothly and don't thrash the engine too much. Iv'e now done 6k so its loosening up a bit, I dont find the engine too bad, could do with more torque and I still tend to stall it now and again at junctions....never had that problem before. I did a long run down to Cambridge from Glasgow and managed it on one tank of fuel, just over 350 miles so not too bad.
(Assuming the speed limit) it should take about 7 and half minutes to drive to work (6 minutes is the best I manage during the early hours of the morning)... But it takes about 12 minutes to get to the car park... It's certainly not stuck in town traffic- but the car only just gets warmed up.
I'd hoped that my mpg for the journeys to work would be the other side of 40mpg, but perhaps I shouldn't complain too much ;-)
In the begining I used any old petrol (Tesco/Asda), but lately I've stuck to Shell's normal unleaded. I expect that this is entirely subjective but the car seems less hesitant with Shell than Tesco fuel (nearest Asda is 10 mile away... I need to go out of my way to avoid the pair of ShellPetrol stations)
Adam
(donbother doesn't reflect apathy, just the e-mail account that is half way between spam and non-spam)
That'sthe 75ps right? Does the induction kit or peco backbox make much difference?- There's another thread with some discussion of these things on 1.4 but no real conclusions.
Don't suppose you have a sound clip of it???
Back to the MPG -
I'm currently still on my "taking it easy" tank of petrol. Up to 275 miles and gauge is showing about quarter tank left (though on mine it drops rather quickly from this point). I've been helped by the Christmas traffic being lighter I only get to "crawling" along stage for about 10-20% of my journey now as opposed to about 50% of my normal journey (I know it's crap!!
). Also helped in "driving like a granny" by the recent fog which meant driving at more than about 60-70 would have been idiotic anyway.So. I'd say I'm on course for at least 320 miles from this tank - which isn't too bad. I guess the heavy M25 and North West London traffic and my normal rather faster acceleration and driving (but not caning it everywhere like richierich honest guv)
are the reason for my normal mpg.
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cheeky!!!! i dont cane it everywere.... just like to get on with it... unless my gf is being a b!tch and she dont know the way home so i had to catch up :/
Only joking mate - but I you did admit to doing 90 in fourth (which must have been fairly close to the rev limiter on the 1.4!) - don't think you'd get 33mpg if you did that all the time 23mpg more like!! Fastest I've ever been in mine was about 105 but it did't get there quick and I only did it for a few seconds. Not normally a speeding driver by quite that margin.
I find that the car runs better in slightly moist weather (ie that horrible misty rain), someone explained this to me once but I can't remember the reason - I think it something to do with moist air giving better combustion... but this could be wrong. I seem to remember them saying that some cars you could get a gadget that humidifies the air on intake...Anyone else out there remember or know of this? I could be talking complete bull but it's a nagging "fact" that's surfaced in my brain,......
Update - last tank of fuel when I filled up I'd done 320 miles (exactly!!) and put in 39.87 litres so I make that 36.5mpg.
Which is pretty good considering that although I was taking it easy I was doing my normal driving which isn't long distance cruising and I did get stuck in traffic for at least 10-20% of the time. So I'm fairly happy now.
I gave my car a late birthday treat by filling with Vpower- let's see if the extra 6p per litre over normal shell is worth it!!
Which is pretty good considering that although I was taking it easy I was doing my normal driving which isn't long distance cruising and I did get stuck in traffic for at least 10-20% of the time. So I'm fairly happy now.
I gave my car a late birthday treat by filling with Vpower- let's see if the extra 6p per litre over normal shell is worth it!!
Now I feel like I'm talking to myself- but incase anyone is still interested and hasn't fallen asleep.
I managed 324miles on Vpower before I filled up and put 40.45 litres in so I make that 36.4 mpg. Which is pretty good considering that my driving had returned to normal (less like a granny) and the traffic volume picked up. I don't think the car drove that much differently. Perhaps a little more responsive but that could be placebo effect!!
By my reckoning it's worthwhile buying V-power if my normal mpg will be 36 but on normal shell it's 34.... At 7p extra a litre I tried to work it out...
For 200 miles on V-power = 24.6 litres = £23.10 (at 93.9p/litre like it was this morning!)
For 200 miles on normal shell= 26.6 litres = £23.12 (at 86.9p)
Now thats actually a 2p saving but of course this is by no means a scientific experiment.
I shoved V-power in again and I'll see if the mpg is consistent even though the traffic has now gotten horrible again. I like to think that it may be cleaning up the engine a bit too. I don't expect that the security firm who owned the car before would have shelled out (ha ha boom boom) for decent fuel.
I don't think I'll run on V-power all the time as it is expensive but if the mpg is consistent with both types of fuel as the above then it shouldn't actually make that much difference to my pocket. I'll keep an eye on it!!
It's been one of those things I've been thinking about trying... In fact I'm going to be doing 3 trips between Suffolk and Lincolnshire over the next 5 weeks, so that ought to give me chance to do the first trip on normal shell, then do the next lot on Vpower.
Worst case, over 3 full tanks it'll only be £8.40 more expensive ;-)
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