| Archive for Downsizer For an ethical approach to consumption |
| KILLITnGRILLIT |
Driving methodsI wonder how many people here,that use the infernal combustion engine, adapt there driving to encompass a reduction in fuel use and therefore monetary expenditure and a greener future ?I tend to coast on downhills and when traffic lights are red but only when it is quiet/deserted and I also use the "racing line" when on dual carriageways/motorways at quiet times and one other thing is I tend to keep under 3000 rpm as far as possible. Another thing is that at night traffic lights are on sensors so if you flash your headlights at them the sync changes and if you time it right then you can get through without stopping. So do you adapt your driving in these or other ways? |
||||||
| Northern_Lad |
When going down hill, it's better economy to leave it in gear without pressing the accelerator. The engine will act as a brake and the action of the wheels driving the engine will mean a reduction in the fuel used. | ||||||
| KILLITnGRILLIT |
?? how can coasting at 800rpm and 60mph be less efficient than 2600rpm and 60mph ?? even without pressing on the pedal | ||||||
| Behemoth |
I follow your style KnG but keep below 3000rpm for safety reasons rather than efficiency. | ||||||
| Northern_Lad |
Because the action of the wheels driving the engine will mean that almost no fuel is used. If you coast, the engine has to use fuel to keep the revs up. Also, you're on dodgy ground legally speaking if you coast as you can't be in full control of the vehicle. |
||||||
| Behemoth |
I've never quite understood the reasoning for that. If depressing the clutch means you're out of control shouldn't we all have automatics? | ||||||
| Northern_Lad |
You shouldn't really be out of gear for more than a second at a time; coasting you could be out of gear for ages without your foot on the clutch. |
||||||
| Behemoth |
So depressing the clutch and leaving your foot there is OK? | ||||||
| jema |
I know I am not too good when it comes to speed  But I am a very non aggressive driver with I think quite good anticipation, I notice I need to brake a whole lot less than most drivers I see.
|
||||||
| dougal |
The number one skill of driving efficiently/economically - drive to minimise the use of the brakes. This can get 'hairy' if your anticipation is rubbish or your patience low! So develop your predictive skills before thinking you can do without the use of the brakes... However, with smoothness, anticipation, patience and skill, one can avoid having to dump excess kinetic (motion) energy to the brakes, where it is lost as heat. Avoiding dumping energy is what avoids you having to burn extra fuel to get back up to speed - the less you slow down, the less you need to accelerate! Think ahead! |
||||||
| RichardW |
I disagree. If the enginre is turning over, even not under its own power the suction will pull fule in if its a carb (other wise you could not start a car on a starter motor....) & if its a injection the system will keep them firing at the idle rate or it thinks the engine will stall. Justme |
||||||
| Northern_Lad |
Really? I'm talking from my experiences only. I drive a diesel so it may be different.
I was under the impression that it was a fuel management system, adding as much or little fuel as required to keep going at the required speed. |
||||||
| bernie-woman |
Re: Driving methods
I didn't know that 
|
||||||
| dougal |
Re: Driving methods
I'm not at all sure its true. However, in the dead of night, many traffic lights' programming ("sequencing") is adjusted so that they change immediately in favour of any approaching vehicle, as long as there is no traffic actually in the junction. Apart from the sequencing being adjusted according to the time of day, some controllers allow the possibility of a wireless (radio) over-ride to speed the passage of emergency vehicles. UK traffic light "traffic sensors" are generally 'loops' buried in the road surface - you can almost always see the traces of the work done on the tarmac for them. They use the magnetic influence of this big lump of metal passing over to detect the vehicle. Sometimes the same technology is used on the (free exit) barrier of some carparks. Don't tell anyone it was me that said you can open some of these barriers by getting a friend to wave a metal rubbish bin over the sensor, (so you can drive IN at the exit). EDIT: the flip side of this is that some proper traffic lights' loops are not sensitive enough to detect the approach of a small motorcycle - a cause of great annoyance to some. Road works temporary traffic signals normally (AFAIK) use microwave (sort of basic radar) sensors that detect a change in the reflection when a big lump of vehicle arrives. {Their programming may or may not be varied at different times of day.} If someone can show me a headlight sensor on a UK highway traffic light, I'd be interested to see it. In the meantime, flashing your lights won't do much harm... (but on the other hand, the most good it may do is to alert dozy night-time drivers to your presence). |
||||||
| Cho-ku-ri |
I still go round roundabouts the short way at night if I know nothing is comming, even although I wrote off my little beloved mini van over twenty years ago doing just that.  (I had a dream about that mini van the other night. I dreamt that I found it still intact under a sheet at the back of my garage) I wonder what that means?
|
||||||
| cab |
Re: Driving methods
And they can easily be set such that they can detect even a bicycle, its quite inexcusable that some of them seem so insensitive. |
||||||
| Penny |
Re: Driving methods
My understanding (which could be completely rubbish, as I have no idea who told me), is that the temporary lights put up for roadworks have sensors in that detect the flashing lights of emergency vehicles, and so will change to allow them to get through more quickly. The theory being that if you flash your lights, that will also work. Keeps me amused when waiting for them to change anyway 
|
||||||
| dougal |
Penny, while that may be the case in the USA, I think its the case that ours don't use such a system. | ||||||
| RichardW |
That you need to tidy the garage. justme |
||||||
| Armchair |
I understand that the flashing of headlights to change the traffic lights is as much of a myth in the US as it is here. |
||||||
| Penny |
Shame though, it does give you a momentary feeling of power....or am I just odd 
|
||||||
| Nick |
One of the better ways to save on fuel is to drive everywhere with your headlights on full beams, ideally foglights too. That way, most cars move aside and you have no need to break.
Keeping the radio on full blast also drowns out the noise when the enginometer dial hits 6/7,000 and the nice red bit. |
||||||
| Solomon |
I wish my car actually had a rev counter. Of course, I could always buy one...
Re driving practices, I can't drive fast at the best of times (0-60 if I'm lucky), so braking is very rarely necessary. 
|
||||||
| Behemoth |
Additional plastic trim, spoilers and underside illumination also enhance your sexual prowess. |
||||||
| Nick |
Like that's possible. | ||||||
| boisdevie1 |
I find the most efficient way of driving is to ride a motorbike. I never ever get stuck in traffic so rather than stop start driving like I had to endure on the M6 yesterday tea time I'm through such blockages in a flash. | ||||||
| Nick |
I should also point this out. Assuming we can look at it without igniting the discussion fires again. | ||||||
| KILLITnGRILLIT |
Re: Driving methods
Fancy a trip to Bonny Scotland ?? As an emergency service driver i can assure you we don`t have any elecy gizmos to change the lights(how quick would neferious types cotton onto that one eh?)and the only way the lights change infront of us is due to the beacons and repeaters on the appliances. 100% t.r.u.e. |
||||||
| fenwoman |
but how do you manage with 5 sacks of wheat and 3 bales of straw to carry? |
||||||
| lettucewoman |
PLEASE tell me you mean mini roundabouts - how on earth can you see down all the turnings off a big one?????!!!!!!!!!!!! |
||||||
| Barefoot Andrew |
And coasting was said to be dodgy... 
Must confess my driving isn't particularly green: I tend to drive quite fast if it's safe to do so. A. |