Improve Mpg Economy

[sanjsanj]

Has anyone tried this? (adding a little"acetone" to your fuel)

Theres also a video on it here.

 

Does anyone know if this really does work?

[Den.]

There are MANY for and against this. Probably the most famous (infamous?) thread on the subject is on the Explorer forums:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showth...age=1&pp=20

 

I havn't been on there in a long time but one poster claimed he was getting 30 mpg in an Explorer. Sounds iffy at best but..........

 

Hope this helps.

[big_kev]

Nope it doesn't work, dont bother trying it.

[Den.]

I agree there as I wouldn't feel it worth the risk. Petrol is a lot cheaper than a new engine, emissions systems damage or other possible repairs. I'd also wonder what it would do to a cat on vehicles so equipped.

[Scorpiorefugee]

I've been a bit disappointed about the fuel consumption on my '52 Ghia diesel, usually settling at about 38 mpg on a long run. Having been nagged by SWMBO that the tyres looked a little low, I increased the presures fron 32 to 39 to match those on my old S reg. I was somewhat embarassed to find that on exactly the same 600 mile round trip that I made 6 months ago, it returned 47mpg as opposed to 38. I've since been getting up to 53MPG on longish runs and a lot of ear bending to boot.

 

I've since replaced the front tyres and a check on the chart at the Tyre fitters and it seems that the tyres were about the right pressure originally so we shall have to wait and see what happens next.

 

Back to the original problem, I share the view that anyhting added to fuel in a modern diesel is a risk. If you want to increase economy you might like to try what I am currently doing an getting about 15mpg above what I was a few months ago.

 

Very simply, adding a bit of air to the tyres and dropping the motorway cruising speed down to just inside the limit is giving me a steady 51 mpg. On a busy motorway when the speed is reduced to 60ish, it goes up to nearly 60mpg.

 

I do understand about over inflating tyres, so no comments about that please, but I am amazed at the improvement I am currently enjoying. The range on a full tank is now over 700miles as opposed to 450 ish a while ago.

 

Obviously, getting stuck in traffic is a problem, but I still find that local trips with some town work still gives me economy in the upper 40s.

 

Ron.

[mumof4]

tyres should be 41 front 38 rear.32 is way too low.

 

I know that at a tyre place i went to they had the tyre pressure in the 30s..but i pointed out my little sticker on the A pillar which said the above.That is for 215/55/R16s by the way.

[Andrew T]

I think MK1s with none reinforced tyres used much lower pressures than MK2s.

[mumof4]

but he said it was a 52 plate on 32 psi..that he increased it to 39 like on his MKI.....so far a MKII, it was way too low.

[neiluk]

Are Mk1's OK with non reinforced tyres then? They are just about the same weight as a Mk2 arn't they?

 

I'm picking up my Mk1 1999 2.3 Ghia tomorrow and I will have a 250 mile motorway trip home with it. What pressures should it's tyres be at to be safe?

 

Thanks,

 

Neil.

[tdi90]

Our 1999 mk 1`s tyres are 195/65 R 15 T and the run at 38 psi front, and 35 psi rear

 

205 / 60 R 15 H are 40 psi front and 37 rear

 

215 / 60 R 15 H are 34 front and 31 rear

[neiluk]

Thanks very much tdi90 ;) .

 

Are yours reinforced or not? 94 and higher I believe.

 

Thanks, Neil.

[tdi90]

TBH no.

Although I need 4 new tyres ;) so I`ll replace them with reinforced ones as recomended.

I`ve had a few quotes and cheapest so far are about

[Scorpiorefugee]

This is getting way off topic, but who's complaining.

 

First, It is worrying how much difference there is in recommended tyre pressures.

 

Haynes quotes Front/rear - Unloaded/Loaded 39/36 - 42/48 for 215/55s

 

Hand book..................................................41/38 - 44/47

 

All of which means the tyre fitters are way out :lol: ;) :lol:

 

What is more relevant to this topic is that by adding 6psi to the main dealer checked setting of 33 I got a good 20% improvement in fuel consumption which possibly answers a lot of questions on that topic.

 

What effect it has on tyre wear and safety is another issue entirely. All that I can add on that is that mine now steers better, as would be expected, and the old front tyres were worn badly on both inside and outside edges.

 

;)

 

On the subject of reinforced tyres, the concensus is that ALL MPVs must have reinforced tyres and there are no exceptions.

Edited April 20, 2007 by Scorpiorefugee