Saving Fuel (How To)

[Die Judicii]

I have known this all along, but in normal day to day life, (and pre Iran blockade) I have ignored it until the recent shortages and price hikes. For the benefit of those that either don’t know or haven’t thought about it,,,,,,,,,, Just simply travelling 10 kph slower than usual on your journeys on the open roads makes a significant difference in the amount of fuel burned. It’s well worth practicing it.

[bigrich]

I have known this all along, but in normal day to day life, (and pre Iran blockade) I have ignored it until the recent shortages and price hikes. For the benefit of those that either don’t know or haven’t thought about it,,,,,,,,,, Just simply travelling 10 kph slower than usual on your journeys on the open roads makes a significant difference in the amount of fuel burned. It’s well worth practicing it.

i accelerate slower using the diesels torque rather than putting my foot into it , and dropping a few kays off your highway speed will definitely help . most diesels are at their happiest 1800-2000 rpm . air filter and oil changes help , but the extra servicing sidesteps fuel cost saving . i do it anyway, because i'm a bit OCD

[alexjones]

Not using aircon saves fuel. But F that!

[Blr243]

Take less crap on hunting trips In the city for short trips I’ll use an e bike or e scooter

[bigrich]

Not using aircon saves fuel. But F that!

i grew up with HQ holdens and valiants , the aircon in those cars was put the window down . i don't use air con cause aussies were bred tougher back then
only time i use air con is when i'm dirt road driving, it's more about keeping the dust out . can't see the sense of getting nice and cool then getting the heat shock when you get out , better of getting acclimatised to the heat

[Die Judicii]

Not using aircon saves fuel. But F that!

So times arent tough enough yet for you Mate ?

[alexjones]

Not using aircon saves fuel. But F that!

i grew up with HQ holdens and valiants , the aircon in those cars was put the window down . i don't use air con cause aussies were bred tougher back then
only time i use air con is when i'm dirt road driving, it's more about keeping the dust out . can't see the sense of getting nice and cool then getting the heat shock when you get out , better of getting acclimatised to the heat

Yeah mate aircon is my one luxury in life. I don't smoke and drink maybe once a year.

[alexjones]

Not using aircon saves fuel. But F that!

So times arent tough enough yet for you Mate ?

I sweat like an animal so I need the aircon. Haha

[bigrich]

Not using aircon saves fuel. But F that!

i grew up with HQ holdens and valiants , the aircon in those cars was put the window down . i don't use air con cause aussies were bred tougher back then
only time i use air con is when i'm dirt road driving, it's more about keeping the dust out . can't see the sense of getting nice and cool then getting the heat shock when you get out , better of getting acclimatised to the heat

Yeah mate aircon is my one luxury in life. I don't smoke and drink maybe once a year.

fair enough mate , i just don't use it myself . i tell you what though , in my old VC valiant , the idea of the quarter glass in older cars was brilliant . you could angle it to blow air straight at your face and chest . with a worked 318 V8 it was the nemesis of 351 fords back in the day.

[9.3x64]

I remember growing up my father had a yellow XB Falcon station wagon. Three on the tree with vinyl bench seat. The bench seat was ripped, and my legs used to stick to the seats and cut the back of my legs.
No air conditioning, and definitely no complaining.

[bigrich]

I remember growing up my father had a yellow XB Falcon station wagon. Three on the tree with vinyl bench seat. The bench seat was ripped, and my legs used to stick to the seats and cut the back of my legs.
No air conditioning, and definitely no complaining.

Yeah, aussies were tough back when. You’d get in your 60’s or 70’s made car, hop on a vynal seat and suck it up as you could hear your skin sizzle. lol

[bladeracer]

Coming up the southeast coast lots of people seem content to sit on 90kph to save fuel. So I just sit behind for a few klicks as there are lots of overtaking lanes. But as soon as you indicate to overtake there's a cloud of smoke from their exhausts as they floor it stop you passing them I quickly learned to drop to third and drop back a few hundred meters to start accelerating early so I can slingshot past them before they get up to speed. It seems unheard of to backoff when somebody overtakes you to make it a little easier for them to get past safely.

[bigrich]

Coming up the southeast coast lots of people seem content to sit on 90kph to save fuel. So I just sit behind for a few klicks as there are lots of overtaking lanes. But as soon as you indicate to overtake there's a cloud of smoke from their exhausts as they floor it stop you passing them I quickly learned to drop to third and drop back a few hundred meters to start accelerating early so I can slingshot past them before they get up to speed. It seems unheard of to backoff when somebody overtakes you to make it a little easier for them to get past safely.

worst thing i hate blade is people that sit on 90 in a 100 zone , they pull into the left lane when there's a overtaking lane , and speed up and make you work harder to get past and overtake the small minded idiots

[Fester]

I think it's the unwritten rule for the brain-dead types to speed up for passing lanes.
Big fuel wastage, but you have to be prepared to floor it and pass them before they trap you.

Hard to make any savings now at $3 and heading for $4.
I am just not driving, as it's hard to fathom paying several hundred bucks for a tank of diesel.

Luckily, I got the last BT50 before the DPF models that used fuel like a V8 cruiser, I get 7s to low 8s, and it doesn't really change, where or how I drive it. Mostly Hwy. It does get worse if I pull 120 or more, but that was only a long trip thing to cut times.
I have been setting the scan gauge on trip mode lately and you can get it down in the 6s when heading down hill on the mountain Hwy but it will even out again, and you have to drive back up to get home.

I haven't been hunting, or even to the good range, as that's about 1hr 40m each way.
They doubled the range fees if you want to shoot steel so it all adds up to an exy day, used to be just ammo.
The back roads are the quickest way and the roads are a bit to crap for the 100kph limit, 90 and 80 on the rougher sections is much more comfy.

Fuel consumption was the reason the nomads just cruised at 80kph wasn't it, they must be spewing and heading for home now.

[MG5150]

I have known this all along, but in normal day to day life, (and pre Iran blockade) I have ignored it until the recent shortages and price hikes. For the benefit of those that either don’t know or haven’t thought about it,,,,,,,,,, Just simply travelling 10 kph slower than usual on your journeys on the open roads makes a significant difference in the amount of fuel burned. It’s well worth practicing it.

I think I'd rather pay double for fuel than drive 10km slower

[Wapiti]

I had to go for a nice long annoying drive down to Beaudesert to check out some machinery on Thursday, and what a damn pain that was.
People driving slow and holding everyone up, so inconsiderate as far as I am concerned.

You can stuff around and try and save a few pennies and in the process p*ss everyone off who has things to do, but it will make SFA difference.
Any engineering graduates on here that understand energy efficiency with regards to momentum over time?

How dare some other inconsiderate people, who are on a sightseeing drive or a weekender trip or some other unnecessary trip, clog the roads trying to save a few km/L on that same unnecessary trip doing bloody nothing, drive slow and hold up people to whom TIME is important, because they are trying to achieve certain things?
Because they are inconsiderate, uninformed people, that's why.

For example, in my R8 sedan, if I drove on cruise control on 100kmh I get fantastic economy, average under 10 km/L with a 6.2L V8 engine. Even down to 7km/L on the highway. Drop to 80kmh and p*ss everyone off by dreaming I'm saving fuel, and I use an average 14 km/L.
In the Ranger, or BT, although they are diesels, exactly the same thing. Cheaper over distance at that highway speed.
I test drove a Ford Raptor, a petrol V6 twin turbo at Stanthorpe the week prior, and although this nearly 3 tonne petrol monster goes like a rocket, on the highway out of town I got 9km/L average on the trip computer, it was 16-17 driving at 80.

I don't know how people come to the conclusion that without getting up to speed and using the vehicles potential energy and momentum to use less on the ups and downs of driving distances, they will save fuel. It's on average (which is the whole point) fuel saving to do the speed limits which were set for highways to be the most energy efficient over distance.

It's all bull, and all I can say is if you need to do something out on the roads not just now but anytime, do it safely, don't do unnecessary self-indulgence sightseeing rubbish if you are going to hold up people who actually have things to do, and live in the dream that driving slower saves their pockets.
If driving is killing your budget right now, I say don't drive unnecessarily instead of stuffing up everyone else and costing all of us more in fuel and time.

[mchughcb]

Grey nomads, clogging up the highways towing their caravans or winniebagos at 80km/hr in 100 zones.

[bigrich]

I had to go for a nice long annoying drive down to Beaudesert to check out some machinery on Thursday, and what a damn pain that was.
People driving slow and holding everyone up, so inconsiderate as far as I am concerned.

You can stuff around and try and save a few pennies and in the process p*ss everyone off who has things to do, but it will make SFA difference.
Any engineering graduates on here that understand energy efficiency with regards to momentum over time?

How dare some other inconsiderate people, who are on a sightseeing drive or a weekender trip or some other unnecessary trip, clog the roads trying to save a few km/L on that same unnecessary trip doing bloody nothing, drive slow and hold up people to whom TIME is important, because they are trying to achieve certain things?
Because they are inconsiderate, uninformed people, that's why.

For example, in my R8 sedan, if I drove on cruise control on 100kmh I get fantastic economy, average under 10 km/L with a 6.2L V8 engine. Even down to 7km/L on the highway. Drop to 80kmh and p*ss everyone off by dreaming I'm saving fuel, and I use an average 14 km/L.
In the Ranger, or BT, although they are diesels, exactly the same thing. Cheaper over distance at that highway speed.
I test drove a Ford Raptor, a petrol V6 twin turbo at Stanthorpe the week prior, and although this nearly 3 tonne petrol monster goes like a rocket, on the highway out of town I got 9km/L average on the trip computer, it was 16-17 driving at 80.

I don't know how people come to the conclusion that without getting up to speed and using the vehicles potential energy and momentum to use less on the ups and downs of driving distances, they will save fuel. It's on average (which is the whole point) fuel saving to do the speed limits which were set for highways to be the most energy efficient over distance.

It's all bull, and all I can say is if you need to do something out on the roads not just now but anytime, do it safely, don't do unnecessary self-indulgence sightseeing rubbish if you are going to hold up people who actually have things to do, and live in the dream that driving slower saves their pockets.
If driving is killing your budget right now, I say don't drive unnecessarily instead of stuffing up everyone else and costing all of us more in fuel and time.

well i guess it depends on the vehicle as to what it's most efficient speed is . peak torque is associated with revs/efficient air speed through the motor . my prado 3 litre diesel sits on 2200 rpm at 100 kays per hour with it's auto/lock up converter . i notice more fuel usage if i go over 100kph , aero dynamics of a brick and the lack of hp/torque for the weight at that speed hurts efficiency. 80kph revs and torque are low , it's "loading up" when you hit hills and probably using more diesel . my old TD27 terrano had good economy at around 85-90 kph. that's what suited that motor in that vehicle .
i relate to what your saying about horsepower and fuel economy . as you know i've played around with old cars , and a 253 v8 has much better fuel economy in a kingswood sedan than a 202/186 with the same gearing at highway speed . 253 is under stressed and with it's better torque pulls much better and more efficiently than the sixes, as a result uses less fuel . cheers

[Fester]

My father didn't drive as fast, or ride superbikes like me, but he had courtesy, and comon sense, that seems to have gone the way of the dinosaur now.
He said he doesn't care about the speed limits or people speeding, just do it safely.
If you drive slower than the limit, stay left, and move left to let others pass and get on with their trip.

This latest trend of driving slow in the fast lane on motorways must be the most dangerous, and congestion-causing thing I see, appart from the road rage.
All they ever did was a few day blitz as speeding fines are where the money is, not keeping left.

Now that it's the norm, and the braindead NSW premier is going for lower open road speed limits, and suggested as slow as 80Kph instead of 100, just proves it is just the fines he wants, as well as having NFI, or never leaving his concrete habitat.

Imagine trying to drive across the state at snail's pace.
He suggested it earlier, for safety reasons.
He suggests it now for the fuel crisis reasons.

I didn't know I would have to live in Wokeworld, and will never fit in there, like most of us here.
We will see some slow driving now, and likely when we are in a hurry.
Even I am trying to stay on limits; if not pressed for time, I got all my points back a few years ago.
Sold my Ducati superbike and avoid driving down anywhere near the city as much as possible, as speed traps are set up to get you if you're not familiar with the area. They have announced a rapid expansion as well, so I just won't go there.

[mchughcb]

When I drive in the USA or Europe the first thing I noticed compared to Australia is how separated the traffic is. Then I read one day why it isn't like that in Oz and the reason is the obsession by the government with speed cameras. So people are doing 1km above or generally below the limit worried if they will get fined. This results in preventing the natural flow of traffic. In the USA generally you wont get a ticket under 90mph and ditto in Europe in the motorways. Hence faster cars in the fast lane.

[Die Judicii]

My father didn't drive as fast, or ride superbikes like me, but he had courtesy, and comon sense, that seems to have gone the way of the dinosaur now.
He said he doesn't care about the speed limits or people speeding, just do it safely.
If you drive slower than the limit, stay left, and move left to let others pass and get on with their trip.

This latest trend of driving slow in the fast lane on motorways must be the most dangerous, and congestion-causing thing I see, appart from the road rage.
All they ever did was a few day blitz as speeding fines are where the money is, not keeping left.

Now that it's the norm, and the braindead NSW premier is going for lower open road speed limits, and suggested as slow as 80Kph instead of 100, just proves it is just the fines he wants, as well as having NFI, or never leaving his concrete habitat.

Imagine trying to drive across the state at snail's pace.
He suggested it earlier, for safety reasons.
He suggests it now for the fuel crisis reasons.

I didn't know I would have to live in Wokeworld, and will never fit in there, like most of us here.
We will see some slow driving now, and likely when we are in a hurry.
Even I am trying to stay on limits; if not pressed for time, I got all my points back a few years ago.
Sold my Ducati superbike and avoid driving down anywhere near the city as much as possible, as speed traps are set up to get you if you're not familiar with the area. They have announced a rapid expansion as well, so I just won't go there.

I was in the same class in the same school.
And as you said, "COURTESY & COMMON SENSE"
It goes a long way.
So, if I choose to drive at 90 instead of 100 on the open road and apply the abovementioned,, I don't give a flying f@ck as I'm not impeding
any other road users in their sense of urgency.
If the road ahead prevents this I simply go back to 100 till an opportunity presents for them to pass then ease up and wave em past.
I do that especially so for trucks, and I always get their "signalled" appreciation for it, if not, a big THANKS via the UHF
If that's good enough for the "professional" drivers I figure it's certainly good enough for any other road users.

[Tiger650]

Be careful driving a DPF equipped diesel too slow, can get expensive when the DPF clogs and you get oil dilution through re-gens.
I hate the bloody things.

[Die Judicii]

Be careful driving a DPF equipped diesel too slow, can get expensive when the DPF clogs and you get oil dilution through re-gens.
I hate the bloody things.

LOL, that's one thing I don't have to worry about.

[Fester]

I was lucky to miss out on a DPF valve by months and end up with a very economical heavy ute that also has some go, due to the torque.
I did get an EGU, though, so unless I block it now, it could cause an engine fail when the cooler fails. I should get onto that.
Also won't have black oil, 2 days after I change it.

I was so sad when I last drove around the central coast, and it was like Sydney, courtesy replaced with arrogance, and a race to cut you off, rather than let you merge. Congestion was also bad.

It would be so easy, but cities have gone into reverse; the road rage thing was scarier than the new breed cowboy truckers.
They are more dangerous than the young, aggressive girls, as they will kill others rather than just themselves.
I feel no guilt at all for sticking them on an uphill section if they do anything near tailgating me, been chased a couple of times after doing it twice. I will continue to do it, as it keeps me safer, not letting them tailgate me.

The govt didn't give 2 hoots when they started it all with things like the speed traps and double demerits.
Those red light cams in unfamiliar areas were the first 1-pointer speeding fines I started getting on the bike as you have to change into 2nd gear, then the 40 zones on 3 lane Hwys left me with no chance.
That's when I noticed the start of the end to keeping left.
I notice the latest casual speeding adds that will lead into the new plan of point-to-point cams and camera trap expansion plans.

Keeping us safe lol
A bit like taking more guns off the streets when our guns are all locked in safe storage.
No change to the Western suburbs crime shootings though, or them using semis and pistols.

[bigrich]

we have only 2 oil refineries left in australia , one in brisbane and one in geelong . well the one in geelong has caught fire ! sounds pretty freakin suspicious to me

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australi ... ocialshare

[Damo300]

we have only 2 oil refineries left in australia , one in brisbane and one in geelong . well the one in geelong has caught fire ! sounds pretty freakin suspicious to me

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australi ... ocialshare

Very convenientimo.
I've worked in the lytton refinery as Caltex and ampol.

It's very hard to light fires in refineries. The safety is next level. The permits to work handed to you by the operators must be adhered to, right down to the last full stop.

Timber scaff boards were common causes of near misses with fires, as were empty bulka bags blowing around in winds, but that all gets sorted out in management meetings when they blanket rule things out, like timber scaff boards next to heat sources, and all bulka bags disposed of in close top bins etc.

Can't wait to hear the cause, or what they tell us is the cause.

[Damo300]

Insider info tells me the fire is under control, and noone was hurt.
Not sure on the cause.
They're saying it's in the alky plant, so maybe a timber scaff board haha (hope not)

It stops them from making unleaded for a little, but the diesel production is not effected and is still at 100% production.

[Wapiti]

Saw that this morning, blowin' Bowen was talking about it. F**k knows why this human failure is involved. Maybe he should stick to fellatio, that has to be the only reason he's where he is.
A fire at one of Australia's last two refineries, and a human failure who hates fossil fuels is the one telling us about it.
Figures.

[Die Judicii]

we have only 2 oil refineries left in australia , one in brisbane and one in geelong . well the one in geelong has caught fire ! sounds pretty freakin suspicious to me

https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australi ... ocialshare

Very convenientimo.
I've worked in the lytton refinery as Caltex and ampol.

It's very hard to light fires in refineries. The safety is next level. The permits to work handed to you by the operators must be adhered to, right down to the last full stop.

Timber scaff boards were common causes of near misses with fires, as were empty bulka bags blowing around in winds, but that all gets sorted out in management meetings when they blanket rule things out, like timber scaff boards next to heat sources, and all bulka bags disposed of in close top bins etc.

Can't wait to hear the cause, or what they tell us is the cause.

I can vouch for that from one single experience, and even that,, was many years ago now.
It was at that same refinery in Geelong.
I was an off sider for a mate of mine who was driving the semi, and we had to pick up some gear inside.
We were stopped at the gate and all the usual paper work/permits etc were being checked.
They asked if we were smokers (I was, at the time) and they took my tobacco and cigarette lighter.
Pick it up on your way out,,,,,,,, I was told.

[bigrich]

here's a positive story , seems like crusifulli is charging ahead in QLD to fix a very big problem , and build infrastructure, security and jobs . good on him . is he the most capable premier in the country at the moment ?

https://www.msn.com/en-au/money/markets ... ocialshare