Fuel consumption question

haminka

I'm trying to watch my fuel consumption.
Ford Focus 1.8 diesel, commute to work, so a mix of motorway/town, cca 85-90 km every day.
I average 5.2-5.4 l/100 km on one tank as per my trip computer.
I try not to accelerate or brake excessively, check my tyres regularly and watch my gears, the only real sin is heater in winter because I hate driving when I'm cold. I'd be the one driving in a hat, scarf across my face and gloves.

Is there anything more I could do?

Henry Ford III

Wouldn't imagine so. C.53mpg is not bad.

The heater doesn't increase fuel consumption does it?

haminka

not really sure, heard use of the air conditioning does but i'm not using it, only the heater. just trying to get as many hints and tips as possible to make my driving more economical.

Kenny Logins

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Wouldn't imagine so. C.53mpg is not bad.

The heater doesn't increase fuel consumption does it?

Increased load on the alternator? ..but I can't see it making much of an impression on MPG...

listermint

53 MPG is pretty good realistically. the only way to improve this would be to strip weight out of the car like unneeded seats, sure then you may aswell walk or get a bike.

166man

Jebus... I wouldn't make myself sit in my car either too warm or too cold for the sake of maybe 2-3 extra mpg.

Life's too short.

haminka

166man wrote: »

Jebus... I wouldn't make myself sit in my car either too warm or too cold for the sake of maybe 2-3 extra mpg.

Life's too short.

Well, depends on the person and your perception of cold. My husband has no problems sitting in a cold car in a light jumper and a t-shirt while I'm freezing my backside off in a heavy winter jacket and 4 more layers underneath.

September1

Avoid breaking but accelerate briskly so your engine can operate at most efficient revs when sudden burst of energy is needed, limit amount of time when clutch is disengaged. If winter is affecting economy too much, you might block radiator (in full or partially) but WATCH temperature of oil very carefully and be ready to remove it - you really do not want to overheat your engine. You might buy heated jackets for motorcycles if you feel that heating is too wasteful, but your engine is making a lot of waste heat so this should be not issue.

Alanstrainor

September1 wrote: »

If winter is affecting economy too much, you might block radiator (in full or partially) but WATCH temperature of oil very carefully and be ready to remove it - you really do not want to overheat your engine....

Wtf!?

CiniO

haminka wrote: »

not really sure, heard use of the air conditioning does but i'm not using it, only the heater. just trying to get as many hints and tips as possible to make my driving more economical.

Using air conditions does increase fuel consumption but not using it make it deteriorate and after year or two of not turning it on, air conditioning will just stop working and might need quite expensive repair, so all the savings you are making will be lost.
Use it on hot days to cool yourself, as well as wet days to dry the windows.
I'd say using A/C at least once a week should prevent it from deteriorating.

Using heater shouldn't increase fuel consumption at all.
Just instead of heat being lost through radiator it will go through the ventilation channels to inside the car.
I don't think I ever heard such a stupid idea to be trying to save fuel by not using heating. Use it as much as you need. Using fan takes a tiny bit of electricity, but it won't make any difference in fuel consumption.
Make sure you use it, especially for demisting windows at least, as if you crash because you didn't see something because windows was fogged up, will cost you way more than this few cents extra on petrol for using the fan for the whole year (and I really mean it - using the fan wouldn't make more difference in fuel consumption than few cents per year).

September1

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Wtf!?

Engines are efficient at high temps and consumer cars are made to work is massive range of temperatures. Going too hot is worse than slightly too cold, so modern vehicles are able to dealt with warmer climates at expense of some economy in colder climates.

Two more tips, you might get engine block heater and electric interior heater - this should improve economy massively during first couple miles - also car would be warm and toasty when you get in the morning. If you are brave enough you might go with lower viscosity engine oil then recommended, but this could least to other problems - so check what other hyper millers with same engine do.

CiniO

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Wtf!?

That's an old way for cars with broken thermostat in the winter.
In Poland you see half of older cars having their radiator covered with cardbox or plastic to prevent them operating at too low temperature.

deandean

Pump up your tyres a bit. There'll be two figures in the manual: One for car with 1 or 2 people, and one for car fully loaded. Use the latter even if in the car on your own.

Try a dose dipethene in the tank.

Google 'hypermiling'

But you're doing well there with those figures.

langdang

haminka wrote: »

I'm trying to watch my fuel consumption.
Ford Focus 1.8 diesel, commute to work, so a mix of motorway/town, cca 85-90 km every day.
I average 5.2-5.4 l/100 km on one tank as per my trip computer.
I try not to accelerate or brake excessively, check my tyres regularly and watch my gears, the only real sin is heater in winter because I hate driving when I'm cold. I'd be the one driving in a hat, scarf across my face and gloves.

Is there anything more I could do?

A major factor, which you haven't mentioned, is speed. What speed are you doing on the motorway? What's the breakdown of time/distance on motorway vs town?

On the heater thing - having the heat whacked all the way up will lengthen the time it takes for your engine to get to temperature. On a petrol I'd say it's not a major impact. Dunno bout diesels. But as previous posters have said - being able to see out of your car is kinda handy...