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Perfect gear change...
- Thread starter Rip3z
- Start date
Punto/Clio GTT
5th at 24mph mine starts to struggle a little, spluttering, anything over 24 mph and 5th is fine, no power, just cruisin.
mk 1 ph 3 1.4
mk 1 ph 3 1.4
sh33n said:I thought about this a while ago,
I know people say change gear earlier and keep revs down, but say for instance I want to do sixty, and get into 5th at 30, I'd have to put my foot down more on the pedal to accelerate in a moderate fashion that just going up the box normally!?
Exactly what I was thinking.
MarkCup
ClioSport Club Member
It's not the gear change that affects consumption, but how much you push the loud pedal.
Change gear however you like but keep only the lightest possible touch on the throttle and you'll use far less fuel.
It's not how you change gear, but how quickly (or slowly) you want to accelerate that will determine fuel consumption.
Change gear however you like but keep only the lightest possible touch on the throttle and you'll use far less fuel.
It's not how you change gear, but how quickly (or slowly) you want to accelerate that will determine fuel consumption.
^ I agree totally.
The trick is to hardly push the go-go pedal at all. Just enough so the car accelerates really slowly.
I had my 172 reading 48mpg yesterday doing this for about 20 miles after filling up - it didn't last long though, as soon as I put my foot down it dropped back to normal
The trick is to hardly push the go-go pedal at all. Just enough so the car accelerates really slowly.
I had my 172 reading 48mpg yesterday doing this for about 20 miles after filling up - it didn't last long though, as soon as I put my foot down it dropped back to normal
MarkCup
ClioSport Club Member
Exactly ^^^
My Cup is currently showing 46.1 mpg after about 90 miles since a fill up with Optimax, and that's from holding everyone up accelerating reeeeeeeeally slowly (I'm in 5th from just before 30mph normally).
I do it everytime I fill up...almost obsessive LOL - I like to see how high I can get it for the first half tank.
Then when it's lost 30kgs of fuel (and I get bored) I drive like a man possessed for the rest of the tank :evil: - normally come in at 35-38 mpg for a full tank.
My Cup is currently showing 46.1 mpg after about 90 miles since a fill up with Optimax, and that's from holding everyone up accelerating reeeeeeeeally slowly (I'm in 5th from just before 30mph normally).
I do it everytime I fill up...almost obsessive LOL - I like to see how high I can get it for the first half tank.
Then when it's lost 30kgs of fuel (and I get bored) I drive like a man possessed for the rest of the tank :evil: - normally come in at 35-38 mpg for a full tank.
Its all about how you drive. For example my commute is a fairly stop-start affair, but I would say I brake/accelerate at least 50% less than most people I seem to follow. Read the situation ahead and ease off when traffic ahead is coming to a stop or slowing. Not only does it save your brakes when they aren't really needed, but it means you are generally doing 30-20-10-20-30-20 etc (usually in 4th as much as poss, I don't use 5th at 30 as it gives little scope for going any slower and doesn't help if you want to speed up either) instead of 30-0-30 etc, which of course would mean accelerating up through the gears. It would also help traffic flow if everybody did it, but thats by the by!
I always practice different techniques on the way to work as there is no real opportunity to have any fun, I manage 45mpg when I really want to without a great deal of effort. Just be very smooth with both braking and accelerating and you're onto a winner.
Only problem is having the strength to do it, if I had clear roads on the way to work I certainly wouldn't be worrying about how much fuel I'm burning.
I always practice different techniques on the way to work as there is no real opportunity to have any fun, I manage 45mpg when I really want to without a great deal of effort. Just be very smooth with both braking and accelerating and you're onto a winner.
Only problem is having the strength to do it, if I had clear roads on the way to work I certainly wouldn't be worrying about how much fuel I'm burning.
Golf GTI 1.8T
How can being in 5th at 30 put strain on the engine :S where you get that from mate?
It will be fine, its the perfect speed for it, any lower and it wont like it, obviously it aint gonna be for accelerating quickly or up hill at all but as said its more about the revs and slower acceleration to achive a high mpg figure.
I have moments when I just cant be bothered to drive hard and do early changes, but as soon as I come to corners or a slow driver I'm back to normal lol
It will be fine, its the perfect speed for it, any lower and it wont like it, obviously it aint gonna be for accelerating quickly or up hill at all but as said its more about the revs and slower acceleration to achive a high mpg figure.
I have moments when I just cant be bothered to drive hard and do early changes, but as soon as I come to corners or a slow driver I'm back to normal lol
MarkCup
ClioSport Club Member
I only go into 5th at 30mph if all I need do is hold/maintain a steady speed - a slight gradient or needing to accelerate labours the engine and is very inefficient, so I drop one to 4th until I'm where I need to be.
lawrence
ClioSport Club Member
is non-existent
short shifting, ie changing up earlier but without making the engine labour unnecasarilly(sp) common sense would tell though to be in 3rd at 30 going up a steephill, but general driving i would hit 5th once you get to 40 or stay in
4th around 30ish, but as stated its not the gear your in that affects consumption its how hard you press the accelerator.
4th around 30ish, but as stated its not the gear your in that affects consumption its how hard you press the accelerator.
1.6 Astra ... R.I.P. 182
anyone here in the IAM ??
if so you would then know if your cruising at say 30mph for example your much better off in 3rd or 4th gears but def not 5th. works better for fuel consumption as theres less strain on the engine and transmission and also means you can get out tricky situations better and safer as you will have the extra power there if needed.
if so you would then know if your cruising at say 30mph for example your much better off in 3rd or 4th gears but def not 5th. works better for fuel consumption as theres less strain on the engine and transmission and also means you can get out tricky situations better and safer as you will have the extra power there if needed.
MarkCup
ClioSport Club Member
I'm an IAM observer
And yes the "theory" would and does say that, but practically? As I said before...5th for holding and maintaining a steady speed is fine, and from personal experience far more economical than 4th or 3rd.
The main reason I/we recommend 3rd gear at 30mph to associate candidates is that it's far easier to remain within 30mph in third as the car can tend to run-away a little in 4th or 5th.
And yes the "theory" would and does say that, but practically? As I said before...5th for holding and maintaining a steady speed is fine, and from personal experience far more economical than 4th or 3rd.
The main reason I/we recommend 3rd gear at 30mph to associate candidates is that it's far easier to remain within 30mph in third as the car can tend to run-away a little in 4th or 5th.
MarkCup
ClioSport Club Member
GuyS said:
Better still, keep your eyes open and watch the roundabout for the gap that you can slip into without coming to a complete stop...that alone can save huge amounts of fuel.
That's somewthing we teach in the IAM - most ex or current bikers do it naturally though (as I did) - I used to be on a mission approaching a roundabout on two wheels...if I had to put a foot down to the ground I'd failed. Really teaches you about smoothness and reading the road/situation.
Blue4Ever said:
I did this a few times towards the end of the month in my past! By all means have some fun on the open roads, but when you get reasonably heavy traffic you may as well do all you can to conserve the car and petrol, as at the end of the day you aren't going to get anywhere quicker by sitting on someones bumper and braking all the time in a queue at 30mph (people always seem to do this to me), thats why I average about 36mpg over a month or so without ever really thinking that I've been taking it easy or whatever.
When i drive to work, i never usually hammer it. I go into 5th a lot at 30mph..It only puts strain on the engine if you let it drop to 25mph (ish)...
If i see heavy traffic ahead, i usually pull it out of gear, and roll up to the lights or traffic.
I'm seeing about 35.3 mpg at the moment, thats down from 38 mpg, and i've done about 250 miles since last filling up..My computer is saying that i will do a further 113 (ish) miles before needing to fill.
Tyson.
If i see heavy traffic ahead, i usually pull it out of gear, and roll up to the lights or traffic.
I'm seeing about 35.3 mpg at the moment, thats down from 38 mpg, and i've done about 250 miles since last filling up..My computer is saying that i will do a further 113 (ish) miles before needing to fill.
Tyson.
