[Euro] Incredible fuel consumption!

[Justin L]

I just took my Euro from Canberra to Sydney Airport and back to do a pick up. Distance travelled - 579.3km Fuel comsumed - 37.15L
That's 6.4L/100km or 15.6km/L. I can't believe this! The best I could ever get from my '00 Camry V6 was 11.9km/L. Whilst the Camry is a 3.0, it weighs pretty much the same as the Euro at about 1,400kg.

I drove at an average of 110km/h without cruise on the way there and with cruise on the way back. Only driver on the way there and with 2 passengers on the way back.

I love my Euro even more now! :D :D

[yfin]

Yeah the Euro consumption is pretty good. That said I still think my dad in his Passat 2.8 V6 gets better highway figures than the Euro - low 6s (according to the fuel computer). God knows how it gets down that low.

Does anyone know what the Honda claimed highway cycle fuel consumption is for the Euro? I always seem to see the combined or city figure quoted.

[h22a accord]

Justin L, thats great consumption1 did u have the air con, head lights and radio turned off?

[The-Genesis]

what fuel computer? lol

[Entity]

i've tested it, mixed city/suburb driving i get

optimax - average 11.3L/100km
Ultimate - average 10.5L/100km

my car has currently got 5500km on it, and i've been doing about 3 tanks of each alternating to check the consistency.

im quite happy in the 10's but if i can get it to under 10 i'd be heaps happy

[gd1_nz]

Some figures from Honda NZ

http://honda.co.nz/site/technology/fuel_consumption.html

[Justin L]

Justin L, thats great consumption1 did u have the air con, head lights and radio turned off?

Only aircon on the way back. Headlights and radio on for 75% of the trip.

[Justin L]

I was wondering whether leaving the gear in neutral (for Auto) when stationary (ie. at the lights) would improve fuel efficiency for city driving?

[msnealo]

I was wondering whether leaving the gear in neutral (for Auto) when stationary (ie. at the lights) would improve fuel efficiency for city driving?

Holden say it saves about 3%

They have it in their Astra's, where when you come to a stop it shifts to neutral and then when you take your foot off the brake it engages first gear.

Good idea in theory but not very nice to use. Let's say your sitting at the lights and you miss seeing them turn green, so you quickly jump from the brake to accelerator and feel a thump as the rev's rise before the gear is engaged.

[jl88rl]

When i see red approaching i slide it to N then brake so theres less resistance and i dun have to hold my foot heavy on brake waiting on the line.

Probably cos i came from years of manual... would that be damaging the gear box tho.. ?

[stephen8512]

thats what i do in my manual
when it goes amber, i shift into neutral, then glide to a stop, and if i can take the foot off the brake whilst still being stationary and not rolling forward or back i will do so.....
but pple say downshifting is better? i just find it tedious.....can someone give me an explanation as to why downshifting is preferred as opposed to just gliding to a halt?

[Catcha]

thats what i do in my manual
when it goes amber, i shift into neutral, then glide to a stop, and if i can take the foot off the brake whilst still being stationary and not rolling forward or back i will do so.....
but pple say downshifting is better? i just find it tedious.....can someone give me an explanation as to why downshifting is preferred as opposed to just gliding to a halt?

I think personally and was told its dangerous, reason being your not in gear, so if you need to accelerate or get out of a situation, your not in gear for the right speeds therefore you cannot maximise your speed. I see it as not different in pressing the clutch and changing down just like netural but you know your in control.........I think that makes sense :confused:

[h22a accord]

I think personally and was told its dangerous, reason being your not in gear, so if you need to accelerate or get out of a situation, your not in gear for the right speeds therefore you cannot maximise your speed. I see it as not different in pressing the clutch and changing down just like netural but you know your in control.........I think that makes sense :confused:


ditto.

[aaronng]

thats what i do in my manual
when it goes amber, i shift into neutral, then glide to a stop, and if i can take the foot off the brake whilst still being stationary and not rolling forward or back i will do so.....
but pple say downshifting is better? i just find it tedious.....can someone give me an explanation as to why downshifting is preferred as opposed to just gliding to a halt?
If you are coming to a complete stop, there is no point downshifting. But what I do is slow down, still in gear and once my rev drop to 1200 or so, then I press the clutch in. Once I am at a complete stop, I shift the neutral.

For autos, if you want to shift to N, then do so AFTER you have stopped, and not on your approach to stopping.

[stephen8512]

yeah thats what i do aaron....exactly what u described, but i do it like this
*yellow amber signal*
*lets say im in 4th gear..slow down to about 1500rpm*
*push clutch in and shift to neutral*
*press brake and glide to stop*

[aaronng]

yeah thats what i do aaron....exactly what u described, but i do it like this
*yellow amber signal*
*lets say im in 4th gear..slow down to about 1500rpm*
*push clutch in and shift to neutral*
*press brake and glide to stop*
Yup, we're doing it pretty much the same since we would be pretty slow at 1200-1500rpm in 4th. Actually, now that I think of it, there is not much acceleration on offer in 4th at 1200rpm... So for me to keep it in gear is probably just a habit. :)

[Justin L]

For autos, if you want to shift to N, then do so AFTER you have stopped, and not on your approach to stopping.

Why? Wouldn't that improve fuel consumption? I notice that the auto downchanges when slowing. Unlike my Camry which goes to neutral, I think.

[yfin]

Apparently shifting from neutral to drive at every traffic light is a bad idea (talking about the AUTO here - according to my mechanic father). He once saw me do it - in his auto - and gave me a big serve :D He said something along the lines of - "it is not a manual - putting it in and out of gear all the time is not good"

[aaronng]

You save fuel if you leave it in gear when slowing down. Once you are stopped, then N saves more fuel. But as yfin said, everytime you shift from N to D, the auto does some pretty big movements in the transmission. Very different compared to a manual.

[jl88rl]

... well, Ive got three years warranty.

:P

[msnealo]

... well, Ive got three years warranty.

:P

me not understand?

[aaronng]

me not understand?
Auto box. If it breaks, Honda fixes it. No clutch for them to blame on wear and tear. :D

[Justin L]

Apparently shifting from neutral to drive at every traffic light is a bad idea (talking about the AUTO here - according to my mechanic father). He once saw me do it - in his auto - and gave me a big serve :D He said something along the lines of - "it is not a manual - putting it in and out of gear all the time is not good"

Yeah, I've heard that advice before. However, doesn't the Holden Astra do this automatically when stationary?

[yfin]

Yeah, I've heard that advice before. However, doesn't the Holden Astra do this automatically when stationary?

If the Astra box is manufactured to do this - that is completely different to an auto box that is designed to be left in D.

With most autos you get a jerk or clunk when you shift from N to D. Repeat that process thousands of times per year more than the person who leaves it in D (if it becomes your habit in daily driving at every stop light - that is a fair call I think) - it makes sense that it can lead to gearbox problems.

jl88rl - you make a good point about warranty but you never know your luck. Your auto box could go in 3 years and 1 day.

I say leave it in D - not worth it in an attempt to save maybe $20 of petrol per year.

[msnealo]

I have to agree with yfin, as a previous owner of an Astra I can definitely say that even though the gearbox is designed to select neutral when brake is applied and vehicle is stationary that after 65000klms the gearbox was clunkier going into gear on takeoff.

If you take Holdens word for it that it saves about 3%, then 20000klm at 10l/100klm and at best your going to save $75 a year. That's $75 I'm not going to save as I don't think it's worth risking my gearbox. I also think you could save a lot more than 3% by altering driving style alone. I'm not willing to risk hurting my $35000 car for $1.50 a week.

[V205]

I agree. (re: auto gearbox not automatically going into neutral at stop)

But how about engine breaking with a manual car? I do it fairly often but only to down to 3rd gear. (not 1st and 2nd)

To me, 3rd gear is the best balance gear for slowing down the car for stop braking and not being as harsh on the gearbox as 1st and 2nd.

[V205]

When I drive an auto... I might shift it from D to N when I know I'm waiting on the same spot for more than 5 mins etc

[Justin L]

Actually, I sometimes flick to neutral to smooth out the idle and not to save fuel. I find that with the air-con on, my car sometimes vibrates a little at idle. Shifting to neutral tends to eliminate it. Anyway, I'll think I'll leave in D now. Not worth the risk I reckon.

[nexace]

Seriously... the amount of money which can be saved is minimal compared with any maintenance required. You would be better off going easier on the accelerator.