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I'd be cautious about sticking too many additives in diesel as I've read that it can strip a coating off the engine. Using a premium diesel every few tanks has the same beneficial properties but also the essential lubricants. I'm no expert, its just what I've read.
The additive that works is called 2-ethylhexyl-nitrate or 2-EHN, and it makes the fuel burn more readily. It's got a very distinctive smell, and you can smell it in all those 'power booster' things and also the premium diesel.
Rusty, a couple of things. I drive an underpowered diesel-fueled lump of a car. Recently it started asking for 35mpg on a motorway and country roads. Too much for my liking.
I gave it some diesel, added Diptane (check my Pug post or google it) and after a few miles to mix it in the tank we went for a drive. Some 25 miles of twisty Irish country roads (R108 Drogheda to Swords), 3rd gear and over 3k rpm all the way. She cried at first, farted and coughed, then started singing. 3-3.5k rpm and she went like a stink. The consumption hasn't gone up (and the road is properly twisty and hilly) compare to the flat and boring motorway, the car pulls better since.
The tyres - when I needed a set some 2 years ago I chose Milleniums, cheap and Avon-made, good enough for me. We happily spent 18 months driving all over the place including a blast from London to Poland with the boot overspilling. Several trips between London and Dublin followed. The front wore but the rear didn't. As my Pug is FWD it probably affects the tyre wear. I considered Michelin Energy Savers but they were costly and... at least in the opinion of the 406 drivers' forum, they give little grip in wet or slippery. So I found Uniroyals - proper rain tyres. The grip is immense, the ride supple, the noise - you have a radio for it.
Bottomline - just drive the thing, fix what needs fixing, change as and when required. Oil, filters, air pressure in the tyres, they all make a difference. Driving style? Not unless you're a moron.
Enjoy!
I considered Michelin Energy Savers but they were costly and... at least in the opinion of the 406 drivers' forum, they give little grip in wet or slippery
They are apprently much better now with the newer versions.
We have some from a year or two ago (not sure if they are the new or not, they might be) on the Prius and I have certainly not noticed any issues.
Top tip seems to be drive really slowly 🙂 This morning I had very little fuel and the petrol station at home is not convenient, but the one at work is. Stayed behind a lorry the whole way at 47mph and got 65mpg!
Ha! Moly with your green credentials, you should have been in that lorry and that would have neutralised your incremental carbon footprint for the day. Shame on you 😉 🙂
I should have been on my bike! I've attempted every morning this week to ride in, and failed each time. First four days I actually put on cycling gear only to have to take it off again. Usually a combination of too much faffing, ill-preparedness and extreme tiredness leading to over-sleeping or morning lethargy, however last night I was just putting a bit more air in the tyres and blew a valve, spare tube had multiple punctures 🙁
Interesting though that I'd normally get 51-52mpg on the same run, so going almost 50% faster on average only results in a 15-20% drop in mpg.
Drive a bit slower, 60mph will make a decent difference and unless you are going miles & miles it won't take that much longer. You'll probably arrive more relaxed too.
Look further ahead - no point accelerating if you can see a queue/roundabout/sharp bend ahead.
Slow down earlier on the approach to roundabouts/traffic lights. Let the car slow down, rather than driving at the same speed up to the obstacle & then braking hard.
I have started doing this on my commute and fuel consumption has gone up loads. Managed this on the way home from work last week (60 miles):
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If you could run the engines at high revs constantly, diesel and petrol engines would give you similar power and efficiency. However, because you spend more of your time driving at less-than-optimal revs, that is where the diesel gives you the better performance.
Has anyone had their diesel engine re-mapped? Interested in experiences.
If you could run the engines at high revs constantly, diesel and petrol engines would give you similar power and efficiency
Not entirely sure this is true. Diesel has more energy in it per litre, and also diesels have much higher compression ratios which results in greater thermodynamic efficiency.
They would be closer if you ran at high load, because petrol engines run more efficiently with the throttle wide open. It's inefficent to have to suck air through a tiny hole.
Incidentally VW's FSI and TSI engines are direct-injection petrol engines meaning they don't use a throttle (as much, if at all) - they slow the engine down by simply injecting only a little bit of fuel directly into the cylinder and cleverly making sure it ends up near the spark so it ignites.
Has anyone had their diesel engine re-mapped? Interested in experiences.
Had my Leon 2.0 TDI (PD) remapped a couple of years ago. Fuel consumption is roughly the same (if not slightly improved) but a lot more responsive in gear. I think the key is that you can accelerate up to speed more quickly.
As mentioned, a few MPH slower can make a significant difference to the MPG as can the usual suggestions of turning of the air-con, ensuring your tyre pressures are correct (or even a few PSI over), removing the roof-rack, and emptying your boot of unnecessary junk.
It gets to be abit of a game. More interesting than speeding tickets. -I've done with those.
I'd vouch for the lorry tracking. Only on quiet motorway in bone dry conditions mind. If you are sensitive to it, you can feel the draft from about three lorry lengths behind. I averaged 73MPG on a 350 mile round trip last year. Used about 1/3 of a tank full. Moderate gap, about "one chevron", so I wasn't being too loony.
Old Focus 1.9 TDCI with 150K miles.
you can feel the draft from about three lorry lengths behind
I'd like to point out I was NOT slipstreaming the lorry, merely not overtaking it thereby giving myself an excuse to drive at 47mph.
molgrips - I use the Nokian WRG2 over here. Simply the best tyre I have used. Perfect for UK winter as works very well in the wet and dry as well as snow and ice. I noticed the improved MPG too over Xmas.
Obviously they will be swapped over with my summer tyres soon but keeping them on for the time being. Simply amazing feedback on wet and slimy roads.