That would be some fat tyre
That would be some fat tyre
I think I mentioned a program for logging vehicle mileage and maintenance records a while back. If not, I was going to mention it, but my computer was out of commission.
MyCar-Monitor I found a while back and downloaded it. It is quite nice with some different reports you can run. Logs all maintenance, mileage, and any other vehicle data you would like to record. In the mileage data you can input the expected mileage and it will give you a warning when you fall out of that range even.
Reports that can be made (charts actually) are Fuel consumption, fuel cost, fuel unit price, distance per fuel unit, fuel composition by producers (perfect for your test Jagk), cost report, cost per service type and cost per service works.
It gives some pretty interesting data.
MyCar-Monitor I found a while back and downloaded it. It is quite nice with some different reports you can run. Logs all maintenance, mileage, and any other vehicle data you would like to record. In the mileage data you can input the expected mileage and it will give you a warning when you fall out of that range even.
Reports that can be made (charts actually) are Fuel consumption, fuel cost, fuel unit price, distance per fuel unit, fuel composition by producers (perfect for your test Jagk), cost report, cost per service type and cost per service works.
It gives some pretty interesting data.
Yup, I've got a similar program on my iPhone. I'm using the free version at the moment, so I can't tell it which fuel I used at any given moment, which makes keeping track of that sort of thing a bit harder.
Nice to know that 90mph for 3 hours is more fuel efficient than going shopping. Save the planet - do 90mph. Probably get a tax refund of some sort if you tell the right person.
Nice to know that 90mph for 3 hours is more fuel efficient than going shopping. Save the planet - do 90mph. Probably get a tax refund of some sort if you tell the right person.
Just a quick update on various Diesel fuels.
So I guess I've done 4 or 5 tankfuls since my last post - about 2000 miles maybe? Anyway, I haven't got the exact figures to hand but I've found that Esso Diesel has been the most economical fuel for me, returning 435 (62 MPG) and 455 (65 MPG) miles respectively from 2 x 31.5 litre fill-ups.
The reasons I think for the difference are varied. The two that come to mind are that the 455 miles were done in the dry and with me REALLY trying to drive economical - very steady 60 MPH on motorway/A-roads and 1500-2000 RPM cruising to the speed limit in built-up areas. Also I tried drafting lorries! - although it definitely helps economy, I can't see anything but the back of the lorry, and the lorry can't see me. So far too dangerous and a bit stupid on my part to be honest. The 435 mile tank was done in the wet with a air-flow meter problem
now fixed, so not surprisingly economy was nto as good.
The other tanks were done on Texaco Diesel which was defnitely rubbish (54 MPG!), Total (Rubbish again 56 MPG). And the current tank is full of Tesco Diesel, which is actually pretty good (60 MPG average) considering I'm no longer trying to drive economically.
I know someone who's a chemical engineer for an American oil company at a British refinery - the only companies in the UK who you can be sure sell diesel produced at their own refinieries are Shell and BP. I'll keep going with Esso for a while to get a good measure of consistency, I'm guessing they get their diesel from the same supplier again and again which would explain similar economy.
One other thing that has been suggested to me is to only fill to half a tankful. For me (Fiat Panda Diesel), this means a saving of 17.5 KGs. Obviously for larger cars, you could be saving 30-40 KGs! Definitely worth considering doing this if you pass the filling station on your trip home / to work / wherever.
So I guess I've done 4 or 5 tankfuls since my last post - about 2000 miles maybe? Anyway, I haven't got the exact figures to hand but I've found that Esso Diesel has been the most economical fuel for me, returning 435 (62 MPG) and 455 (65 MPG) miles respectively from 2 x 31.5 litre fill-ups.
The reasons I think for the difference are varied. The two that come to mind are that the 455 miles were done in the dry and with me REALLY trying to drive economical - very steady 60 MPH on motorway/A-roads and 1500-2000 RPM cruising to the speed limit in built-up areas. Also I tried drafting lorries! - although it definitely helps economy, I can't see anything but the back of the lorry, and the lorry can't see me. So far too dangerous and a bit stupid on my part to be honest. The 435 mile tank was done in the wet with a air-flow meter problem
now fixed, so not surprisingly economy was nto as good.The other tanks were done on Texaco Diesel which was defnitely rubbish (54 MPG!), Total (Rubbish again 56 MPG). And the current tank is full of Tesco Diesel, which is actually pretty good (60 MPG average) considering I'm no longer trying to drive economically.
I know someone who's a chemical engineer for an American oil company at a British refinery - the only companies in the UK who you can be sure sell diesel produced at their own refinieries are Shell and BP. I'll keep going with Esso for a while to get a good measure of consistency, I'm guessing they get their diesel from the same supplier again and again which would explain similar economy.
One other thing that has been suggested to me is to only fill to half a tankful. For me (Fiat Panda Diesel), this means a saving of 17.5 KGs. Obviously for larger cars, you could be saving 30-40 KGs! Definitely worth considering doing this if you pass the filling station on your trip home / to work / wherever.
That looks like a neat little app. I'll check it out later, might use it to keep track of all things related to my motorcycle. Thanks for the tip!
Updated - Two BP Ordinary results differ because during one run me and some friends went drag racing (don't worry - wasn't on public roads).
So fancy petrol is more expensive. Ha.
And it'd probably work better if you combined all the normal petrol and all of the premium petrol so you don't have to have a degree in thermo-physics to read it.
And it'd probably work better if you combined all the normal petrol and all of the premium petrol so you don't have to have a degree in thermo-physics to read it.
With the information you've collected so far, it seems that the type/make of fuel is a minor consideration. The greatest impact/consideration is tyre pressure so far.
Except the very cheapest petrol is Tesco (i.e. the stuff you told me would be the best) - which is one of the worst.
Going for more expensive fuel (i.e. Shell) actually works out cheaper in the long run....
Ha.
Even though the graph you've just posted shows every premium fuel costing more per mile than the ordinary one? 
Besides, picking apart petrol is the talk of people with adenoid problems.
Besides, picking apart petrol is the talk of people with adenoid problems.
Except you said that, and I quote...
"cheap and cheerful" sounds like Supermarket stuff to me - except i've just proved that (in my car at least) Shell actually works out not only with a better MPG but also a cheaper cost per mile than supermarket stuff (or at least Tesco).
EDIT - It may sound boring, but with the milage i'm doing atm going from Tesco Ultimate -> Shell Ordinary will save me £4.55 a week (which means I am getting almost an hours wages for free), or £19.73 a month - aka £236 a year. Sorta worth this test imo
"cheap and cheerful" sounds like Supermarket stuff to me - except i've just proved that (in my car at least) Shell actually works out not only with a better MPG but also a cheaper cost per mile than supermarket stuff (or at least Tesco).
EDIT - It may sound boring, but with the milage i'm doing atm going from Tesco Ultimate -> Shell Ordinary will save me £4.55 a week (which means I am getting almost an hours wages for free), or £19.73 a month - aka £236 a year. Sorta worth this test imo
As I said, the cheaper fuels (I.E the non hi-octane junk) will cost less per mile in most cases, as is supported by your latest graph!
Shell ordinary is pretty much the same fuel you get at Tescos.. it was only a couple of weeks ago I saw a Shell lorry delivering fuel to the local Sainsburys.
I do approx 220 miles a week and does it really bother me? Not really.. if I'm just riding to and from work I'll use 95. Every couple of weeks or if I'm going out for a fast ride I'll use the more expensive stuff. Frankly life is tiring enough as it is without having to bother doing annoying calculations to save £0.02p a mile either way!
Shell ordinary is pretty much the same fuel you get at Tescos.. it was only a couple of weeks ago I saw a Shell lorry delivering fuel to the local Sainsburys.
I do approx 220 miles a week and does it really bother me? Not really.. if I'm just riding to and from work I'll use 95. Every couple of weeks or if I'm going out for a fast ride I'll use the more expensive stuff. Frankly life is tiring enough as it is without having to bother doing annoying calculations to save £0.02p a mile either way!
Well obviously it's not otherwise I wouldn't get 5MPG more from one over the other...
It's cost per mile we're looking at. MPG is relative.
then its a 10% saving...
Tire pressures, traffic, load, even weather can affect fuel economy. Explain how otherwise I only got 125miles out of a tank last week, when the week before driving the same routes got me over 150?
From the table you've just posted
:
All of the "ordinary" (BP 95 is the same as Tesco 95, IMO) fuels cost less per mile than the "Ultimate/premium/hi-octane" stuff from the same place. Just look at your graph.
(That's where I was pulling the "cheaper fuel = cheaper per mile" thing.
What we're (or at least I'm doing) is comparing the premium (97/98+ octane) to the standard and commonly used 95.
From the table you've just posted
:
All of the "ordinary" (BP 95 is the same as Tesco 95, IMO) fuels cost less per mile than the "Ultimate/premium/hi-octane" stuff from the same place. Just look at your graph.
(That's where I was pulling the "cheaper fuel = cheaper per mile" thing.
What we're (or at least I'm doing) is comparing the premium (97/98+ octane) to the standard and commonly used 95.
I love the way you've totally changed your tact. I would class Shell ordinary as a "premium" fuel compared to Tesco / Asda fuel etc as thats what most people run their cars on.
I've never been comparing the BRAND, I was comparing the cheap'n'cheerful (Being RON95) to the more expensive jungle juice that's known as "Super unleaded". Perhaps a mis-communication on my behalf?
I'm not a snob and I'm not paying more to get my 95 from BP, when I can save £2.50 and get it at Sainsburys.
Petrol from Tesco is like value beans. They work, and they don't cause any harm to you (or engine, in this case! :razz
, so why pay more when there's hardly any difference?Besides, the local BP station isn't used very much. However, the Sainsbury's one is. Busier fuel station = better chance of having a fresh batch. I'd rather have fresh supermarket petrol than 3 week old posh petrol, which is when Unleaded starts to lose it's octane rating, IIRC.
You know what would really help? Some data comparing different fuels of the same octane from different brands to see what effect it has on MPG... oh no wait!
Inherently Tesco fuel obviously can't be the same as Shell petrol otherwise there wouldn't be such a big difference.
Inherently Tesco fuel obviously can't be the same as Shell petrol otherwise there wouldn't be such a big difference.
I believe that 80% of the difference is caused by changes in your driving, tyre pressures, heat and humidity etc. Just a few PSI can cause you to lose 15 or 20 miles out of a tank..
And I'm not stupid plz don't act liek i am k?
Do you drain the tank and fuel system between each fill? Do you drive a robotised setup rig which can repeat EXACTLY the same conditions?
My point is that it's quite possible that there may indeed be a slight (and I do mean slight) difference between 95 from Tesco and 95 from BP, there are other factors which significantly contribute..
What may work in your case may not be the case in others.
http://forums.moneysavingexper ... p=864763&postcount=14 sums it up pretty well.
And I'm not stupid plz don't act liek i am k?
Do you drain the tank and fuel system between each fill? Do you drive a robotised setup rig which can repeat EXACTLY the same conditions?
My point is that it's quite possible that there may indeed be a slight (and I do mean slight) difference between 95 from Tesco and 95 from BP, there are other factors which significantly contribute..
What may work in your case may not be the case in others.
http://forums.moneysavingexper ... p=864763&postcount=14 sums it up pretty well.
It's fashionable to think you know about petrol. And it's fashionable to claim that the tests are invalid unless done in a lab. Both fashions are wrong.
Damn this is extreme, just fill your facking car up and drive. Your as bad as my grandma walking around Asda trying to get all the reduced deals.
You can't compare like this. My car is strictly a work commuter. I have driven the same road, the same speed, the same way, and the same 20 miles to work and 20 miles home for 2 years now. I fill up with fuel at either the Exxon down the road from home or the Exxon near work. I put about 10,000 miles on the car per year, so 20k miles for the 2 years. I can get anywhere from 20 mpg to 26 mpg on any given tank. That's a difference of $0.10x per mile at 20 mpg and $0.80x per mile at 26 mpg. $0.20 per mile difference driving the exact same route the same way every day.
I agree. What's even worse than your grandma walking around Asda trying to get the deals is people who drive all over the place to different stores to save a few pennies on an item. You can easily put an extra 15 miles on the car, which for me would be about $1.50 in fuel, just to save $0.05 on a loaf of bread, $0.15 on a gallon of milk, and $0.03 on a pound of lunchmeat.
I agree. What's even worse than your grandma walking around Asda trying to get the deals is people who drive all over the place to different stores to save a few pennies on an item. You can easily put an extra 15 miles on the car, which for me would be about $1.50 in fuel, just to save $0.05 on a loaf of bread, $0.15 on a gallon of milk, and $0.03 on a pound of lunchmeat.
...
Jakg's Fuel/MPG Challenge
(99 posts, started )
FGED GREDG RDFGDR GSFDG