petrol prices

[Pyoor_Kate]

E85 can give economy 25% worse, does this make up for 2 or 4 p difference

For me it's not so much about the economy as about the potential for carbon neutrality... not yet, but eventually

[rayofleamington]

For me it's not so much about the economy

same here... although I do like using free veg oil in an old Diesel vehicle ;-)

[aupickup]

well the price is what it is, we either pay it or dont drive

as a point my astra deisel will do a lot more miles per litre ( gallon) than any van or pick up i have had, so the extra saving on road tax etc is minimal in my instance

[dunketh]

40MPG IS certainly not cloud cuckoo land! I checked a few weeks of typical motoring and I got an average of 39mpg (including some stop- start commuting). On a run I get 45mpg.

I frankly don't see how that is possible and I stick by my original assertion.
Its certainly not possible with a 1275 lump.

My old 1098 was never that good. Though granted I could exercise a lot more restraint.
I know the fuelling is pretty much 'spot on' so its not an issue of tuning either.

Anyway, as has been said, we have to pay it so there's nothing we can do.
We should be used to bending over and letting the government shaft us - its nothing new.

[Orkney]

Bit of a story on the local paper website here today about petrol prices,

Northern Isles MP, Alistair Carmichael has launched a campaign to address the “unfair and disproportionately” high petrol prices which continue to discriminate against island residents.

He has written to Alistair Darling MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, requesting that the Government takes immediate action.
“Both Orkney and Shetland are paying about 15pence per litre or more for petrol than those on the UK mainland. I hope to soon secure a debate in the House of Commons where I will again be arguing for the need to cut fuel duty in peripheral and rural areas.”

Didn't realise it was as much as 15p a litre more here
No wonder i cant afford the v8 on the road

[Pyoor_Kate]

40MPG IS certainly not cloud cuckoo land! I checked a few weeks of typical motoring and I got an average of 39mpg (including some stop- start commuting). On a run I get 45mpg.

I frankly don't see how that is possible and I stick by my original assertion.
Its certainly not possible with a 1275 lump.

'm afraid I'm on Roger's side on this one; Rebecca used to reliably get in the region of 35 -38mpg, particlarly on longer runs (unless I went tromping along at 80, at which point the fuel economy went through the floor). And Brick (my 1256 Viva) hit almost 40mpg on my 400ish mile treck around the country picking up ebay wins.

[Kevin]

Just noticed Kate have you relocated again recently or has it been for a while and I just didnt notice

[alainmoran]

I frankly don't see how that is possible and I stick by my original assertion.
Its certainly not possible with a 1275 lump.

Though granted I could exercise a lot more restraint.

You hit the nail on the head there bud!

40mpg is entirely possible with a combination of conservative tuning and a light foot ... even with rich tuning if you stick to 60mph on the motorway it takes you mebbe half an hour longer to get there, but the difference in fuel consumption is astounding ... even in a 'modern' car (although you get less funny looks driving a minor at 60mph on the motorway)

That being said, it doesnt take into account the hills and curves you most likely see on island roads.

[Pyoor_Kate]

Kevin - erm, nope. I just never got around to fixing my profile

Still living just West of London

[chickenjohn]

It can help fuel economy a lot if you make sure your engine is running properly. I got a great tip from the club technical man (Rob Thomasson), if your Minor is not getting close to 40mpg average and mid 40's on a run, then take off the cylinder head and regrind the valves in and clean the head. Makes the engine breathe like it should and that combined with a sensible right foot and anticipation will get you the fuel economy figures I quoted and which are backed up by the experience of others. I also regularly check the mixture and adjust it and push in the chocke asap- it all helps!

Cruise at 55-60mph- for best economy- as said above and keep up with the traffic by using the torque of the A series engine rather than revving the nuts off it. All that does is waste fuel and make a lot of noise, you don;t go much quicker. So, get the engine running right and drive it right and you will get great fuel economy.

[plastic_orange]

I'm obviously the exception on here - I'm not really bothered about economy - so long as i can get 20 mpg I'm quite happy. Of course, i don't smoke, drink to excess etc etc, so putting petrol in a hobby car isn't a big deal (don't link being scr*wed though, as we are at the moment on a number of fronts with the current administration).
If you want economy, buy a diesel.
On the topic of saving the environment, the government is being pretty disingenuous about this one on more than one count.

Pete

[Orkney]

Of course, i don't smoke, drink to excess etc etc

well its been said that i do ..
but look at it this way,

You earn say £100 pay tax (say your lucky enough to be on the higher rate)
so thats £40 gone for starters.
Leaves you with £60
spend £20 each on fuel, fags & booze - each of which carry in excess of 50% duty so effectively your earning £100 to spend less than £30 !!!
Not surprising after that sort of rip off theres no money left for luxuries

[MoggyTech]

If anyone want a real fright...Google Peak Oil.

[dunketh]

if your Minor is not getting close to 40mpg average and mid 40's on a run, then take off the cylinder head and regrind the valves in and clean the head.

A job on my 'to do' list. I'd like to give it a nice top-end rebuild but until it actually stops working that goes on my 'low priority' list.

as said above and keep up with the traffic by using the torque of the A series engine rather than revving the nuts off it.

I do try. Unfortunately it spends 99% of its time in rush hour traffic, we have terribly congested roads here and huge hills to deal with. There are often times when you have to 'floor it and stop'. On a run I tend to leave it in 4th and I find the torque will pull it along and nearly any speed.
I got around 100 miles to a tenner on the weekend, this is the best I ever get. Thats on a run touching 70-80 occasionally.

[MoggyTech]

100 miles for a tenner is 45MPG so I suspect your top end is very good.
Congestion traffic driving is what's killing the general MPG, but it will do that to all cars, not just Minors.

[norman]

hi everybody, i just bought my wife a 4 door and want one for myself now
if any of you are interested i sell ...
i give a 100% money back guarantee if your not happy with it!
my Escort van has them and i can get 550 miles to a tank (derv), i've had over 600 miles, (665) but that was "really" trying useing every trick pos.
i cant make a claim of what you will save, but 20% isn't unusual.
if anybody is interested e....

best wishes

Norman
Email addy moderated/removed - Andrew

P.S.
my eyes are on storks reading all this stuff on the forum

[norman]

can i just say the message i just sent was in reply to an item on fuel cost and not a blatant add, as it looks!
Norman