Saving Fuel (How To)

General conversation and chit chat - The place for non-shooting specific topics. Introduce yourself here.

Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by Die Judicii » 09 Apr 2026, 10:37 am

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 do not fear death itself... Only its inopportune timing!
And,,,,It's been proven,,,,, the most trustworthy females in my entire life were all canines.
User avatar
Die Judicii
Brigadier
Brigadier
 
Posts: 4348
Queensland

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by bigrich » 09 Apr 2026, 4:19 pm

Die Judicii wrote: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 :D
User avatar
bigrich
General
General
 
Posts: 6186
Queensland

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by alexjones » 09 Apr 2026, 6:28 pm

Not using aircon saves fuel. But F that!
alexjones
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1388
Queensland

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by Blr243 » 09 Apr 2026, 7:11 pm

Take less crap on hunting trips In the city for short trips I’ll use an e bike or e scooter
Blr243
Major General
Major General
 
Posts: 4867
Queensland

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by bigrich » 09 Apr 2026, 7:50 pm

alexjones wrote: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 :P
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 :unknown:
User avatar
bigrich
General
General
 
Posts: 6186
Queensland

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by Die Judicii » 09 Apr 2026, 8:10 pm

alexjones wrote:Not using aircon saves fuel. But F that!


So times arent tough enough yet for you Mate ?

:lol:
I do not fear death itself... Only its inopportune timing!
And,,,,It's been proven,,,,, the most trustworthy females in my entire life were all canines.
User avatar
Die Judicii
Brigadier
Brigadier
 
Posts: 4348
Queensland

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by alexjones » 09 Apr 2026, 8:35 pm

bigrich wrote:
alexjones wrote: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 :P
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 :unknown:



Yeah mate aircon is my one luxury in life. I don't smoke and drink maybe once a year.
alexjones
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1388
Queensland

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by alexjones » 09 Apr 2026, 8:36 pm

Die Judicii wrote:
alexjones wrote:Not using aircon saves fuel. But F that!


So times arent tough enough yet for you Mate ?

:lol:


I sweat like an animal so I need the aircon. Haha
alexjones
Warrant Officer C1
Warrant Officer C1
 
Posts: 1388
Queensland

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by bigrich » 10 Apr 2026, 4:07 am

alexjones wrote:
bigrich wrote:
alexjones wrote: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 :P
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 :unknown:



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. :D
User avatar
bigrich
General
General
 
Posts: 6186
Queensland

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by 9.3x64 » 10 Apr 2026, 8:00 am

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.
9.3x64
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 282
Queensland

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by bigrich » 10 Apr 2026, 8:25 am

9.3x64 wrote: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
Last edited by bigrich on 10 Apr 2026, 2:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
bigrich
General
General
 
Posts: 6186
Queensland

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by bladeracer » 10 Apr 2026, 8:52 am

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.
Practice Strict Gun Control - Precision Counts!
User avatar
bladeracer
Field Marshal
Field Marshal
 
Posts: 14022
Victoria

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by bigrich » 10 Apr 2026, 2:59 pm

bladeracer wrote: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 :roll:
User avatar
bigrich
General
General
 
Posts: 6186
Queensland

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by Fester » 10 Apr 2026, 3:11 pm

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.
Fester
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 338
New South Wales

Re: Saving Fuel (How To)

Post by MG5150 » 10 Apr 2026, 5:06 pm

Die Judicii wrote: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
MG5150
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 274
Victoria


Back to top
 
Return to Off topic - General conversation