February 2003
Continuing my latest obscession with fuel consumption....
On a recent long trip with a number of friends driving the same cars (BMW E32 735i) we did a consumption comparison. We ran at exactly the same speed (in convoy) at 70 mph on cruise-control for over 100 miles. Two guys claimed 30 mpg on the run there whilst I was down at 25 mpg (on our on-board computers). On the run back (alone!) one of them claimed 36 mpg! This discrepancy (ie 11 mpg difference!) upset me somewhat and I've been trying to find explanations for it.
Firstly, a little more to put you in the picture...
His car has 163000 miles on the clock whereas mine has a mere 35K miles and has always been fastidiously Main-Dealer serviced (formerly belonged to Sir Frank Williams).
The car needed it's MOT the other day so I got them to check the mixture at the sametime...It's bang on correct. We did find a deficiency of ATF fluid due to a small leak from a cooling hose and I must admit I had noticed the gearchange was playing up a bit (now rectified).
One of the two other cars claiming 30mpg on the run out was carrying a completely full tank (like me)...I don't know about the chap who latered claimed 36mpg? The guy with the car claiming 30mpg both ways has no A/C fitted but the guy claiming 36 mpg does ...though neither he nor I had it switched on during the drive...Nevertheless, the system itself isn't exactly a light bit of kit!
Additionally, I have calculated that the rolling diameter of his tyres on his aftermarket 17" Alloys is LESS than mine so that would have put his gearing lower and worked against him in the 'consumption stakes'!
Nobody else that I'm in contact with with one of these cars claims 36 mpg (at an average of 75 mph...that's what he did on the way home apparently). I can explain some of my '25mpg at 70 mph) on the basis of the above...but not a difference of 11 mpg when he was going an average of 5 mph faster!
Hence, this brings me too my conclusion and question (you'll be relieved by now...LOL)
...There can only be 4 explanations:
1) There's a fault on the calibration of his computer
2) The mudflaps on my car (which he doesn't have) are costing me a huge amount in lost fuel consumption...LOL!
2)He's telling porkies
3)He's leaned his mixture out . (I do know that he has repeatedly sent secondhand AFM's back to his supplier saying they wouldn't 'adjust' properly.)
Leaning an engine's mixture out too far is a really bad thing isn't it?...Increased bore wear etc?
I'd be really grateful for some input on this and any other ideas.
Many thanks and sorry for the long post.
Regards
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What value do you put on the manufacturers warranty that you get with a new car,and would you be prepared to buy a new car without warranty if there was a price differential.
Obviously some brands have far more need of a manufactures warranty than others.
I would be prepared to buy,say a new Toyota without the warranty if it would save me perhaps £1000 off whatever price you could negotiate,but i guess that Toyota would say that the warranty costs are so minimal that you would only get about £20 off! Read more
What exactly is the minimum required warranty by law. I thought it was 2 years in the EU. Citroen used to give you 1 year folowed by a 2 year dealer warranty which was optional. Recently they have changed this to 2 years followed by 1 years dealer.
I expect the dealer warranty is full of exceptions.
Some TV manufacturers sell TVs to their dealers without a warranty at a reduced price and the dealer then covers the risk.
I'm Growlette and I hope it is OK to make this post.
Growler says I shouldn't say "hello boys' because it means some ad or something you have over there and that would make you laugh. Well hullo boys anyhow.
I been following this thread on stupid riding and as you know we are both dedicated bikers. I am still learning (I have a Virago) and I love it. please all you boys on 2 wheels ingat ka (that's take care in Filipino). Crazy riding isn't clever. Reading this I get some good tips on good behavior on the road. I don't know how you handle that cold weather, Growler was giving me a hard time because I said I was cold and he said what you talking about it's 21 C. Cold for me anyhow. We are at the beach right now, wow BIG surf and it's nice to get out of the city. We got the bikes lined up on the beach and there's a little bar with cold San Miguels and nice music. Many Westerner guys here have local girlfriends, some have their own bikes and some of the girls just backride. You know Manila is one the four most polluted cities in the world. Our traffic is unbelievable, sometimes 45 mins just to go 500 meters. But get out of town and we have good highways and our countryside is beautiful with friendly people.
Gas is cheap!!
I tried to put up a website on the PC one time with a link for you so we could show you some pix, Growler said I messed it up. Didn't work anyway. We'll try again.
Social note only I don't know if that's allowed, sorry if not. I read all the posts here, it is a good insight into UK culture and life. Thanks everyone and KUNG HEI FAT CHOY! That's Happy NY in Chinese which starts today!. Year of the Goat. Long and happy life every one.
chinese.astrology.com/yeargoat.html Read more
Maraming salamat po! Your Tagalog is very good naman. Anong inumin para sa yo when you visit Philippines? The Big Man says he's buying. SMB ayo ko. Baileys on the rocks masarap par sa akin. Anong probincia anak na lalaki mo?
In fairness to all I think we better close this na. When I have a site working I'll post the link.
Thank you everyone, please be careful in the snow and take care always.
Has anyone got any ideas about mph per 1000/rpm for a renault
kangoo.I have just bought the vehicle and I would like to run
it in as per honestjohns advice page.It is a 1.9 normally
aspirated diesel.I have tried contacting renault through websites
and their help line(hopeless call centre)i have put a technical
request in at the supplying dealer but I feel it will have
5000 miles on the clock by the time they get back to me.The
handbook says it does 90mph at 4500 rpm ie top speed,do you think
I could assume that it does 20mph/per 1000rpm in top.Any help
would be appreciated.
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Yeah, the only figure was for top gear.
The test was actually a group of the Kangoo, Berlingo, and VW Combi. The Berlingo having a 22.2 figure, the VW not listed.
The mag obtained 38 mpg for the Kangoo, which adding on the usual 20% for normal? driving, means 45mpg should be reachable.
Browse
I believe so, the numbers on the marker posts indicate how many km from the start of the motorway - 208.6, 208.7 etc. Except on the M6, where they indicate the distance from the London end of the M1!