Married Cheapskates Set Guinness World Record

[Rambit]

Here's a story how a married couple set a Guinness world record by driving through 6 countries from London to Poland on one tank of deisel. The driving tips seem outstandingly boring to me and something I could never see myself doing. What's the fun in doing that???

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Petrol Preservation -- Guinness Record Holders Tell How

By Pete Misiak

March 5 2008



Helen Taylor just wanted to pinch a few pennies. But her fuel-saving driving grew to a passion – she eventually met her husband John while sharing tips, and the two have set several Guinness World Records together.

“I didn’t have a lot of money, and I decided I had to work out very quickly how I could get further in distance on a smaller amount of fuel, which worked for me,” Taylor told Chrysler’s Pete Misiak in an interview. “I was able to pass that information on to other people, and this continued on as a passion. And John’s the same. John has the same passion as I do, and we actually got together through fuel economy driving.”

Just recently, Helen and John drove a Jeep Compass and a Jeep Patriot SUV through six countries, from London to Poland, on a single tank of diesel fuel. Carrying two passengers in each standard vehicle, plus luggage, they traveled 1,124 kilometers, or about 703 miles. Both vehicles averaged more than 23.5 kilometers per liter, or about 67 miles per gallon.

“Keep in mind that this is a very luxurious vehicle. So we had comfort, we had safety, without sacrificing the fuel economy,” Helen said.

Helen’s tips to save fuel:

- Drive in the highest gear as soon as possible
- Drive smoothly; don’t weave in and out of traffic
- Leave distance between you and the car in front
- Accelerate gently. Quick acceleration can use up to one-third more fuel
- Don’t over brake
- Check tire pressure. Every one pound per square inch under the suggested inflation rate can hurt fuel economy by up to 3 percent

Look for the Australian couple on American roads soon. They’re setting out to break another Guinness World Record that will involve the general public.

“All we want is everyone in the world to aim to save 10 percent of their fuel bill. Imagine what a difference that will make. In fact, one in 10 years, everyone will get a free year of fuel. So how about that.”
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Bernie

[Cibalo]

I agree with checking the tire pressure, but I do it for other reasons. I pretty much bought my car to do all the things they say not to.

[wantit]

yeah bernie,
I adhere to those fuel saving tips everytime I get into my SRT8. Don't you?
NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
you gotta be kidding me!
accelerate gently?
get in the highest gear as soon as possible?
don't weave in and out?
here are my tips:
as soon as the light turns green, right foot to the floor.
don't shift into the highest gear, until speed is 100mph or better.
and finally, do whatever it takes to be first!

[marlinspike]

Maybe if instead of wasting all that time setting records and figuring out tips, she worked harder and took night classes, she wouldn't be saying "I didn't have a lot of money."
And how much fuel has she wasted setting fuel conservation records?

[vvv90]

Originally Posted by marlinspike

Maybe if instead of wasting all that time setting records and figuring out tips, she worked harder and took night classes, she wouldn't be saying "I didn't have a lot of money."
And how much fuel has she wasted setting fuel conservation records?

BWAHAHAAAA!!!!!

No kidding!

[The Gunslinger]

Originally Posted by Rambit

Helen’s tips to save fuel:

- Drive in the highest gear as soon as possible
- Drive smoothly; don’t weave in and out of traffic
- Leave distance between you and the car in front
- Accelerate gently. Quick acceleration can use up to one-third more fuel
- Don’t over brake
- Check tire pressure. Every one pound per square inch under the suggested inflation rate can hurt fuel economy by up to 3 percent

Um... derrrr? I'd have never even though of those!

Also, using 'highest gear' is a load of crap. Street cruising in 5th gear is an easy way to end up with an empty tank. RPM below the 'power band' range run rich and suck petrol trying to accelerate or even maintaining speed. Driving in the highest gear that lets the engine rev at the lowest RPM of it's power range is what you're aiming for.

In my VTS the 'sweet spot' is 2000-3000RPM. Highway speed in 5th gear runs at about 3400RPM, and would net better fuel economy if Citroen had the foresight to fit a six-speed transmssion in the VTS models, which have enough power to maintain cruise speeds in the sub-3000RPM range. Super-ideal fuel economy zone is about 75-80km/h in fifth gear. At that point it's happily running at about 2300RPM, and uses a stupidly low 3.6L/100km. However if I try and drive at street (normally 60km/h) speeds in 5th the revs dip to 1900RPM, the fuel economy jumps to about 8L/100k to maintain speed, and any kind of acceleration sends fuel economy plummeting to the 16L+/100k range. Shifting early is just as bad as running in lower gears. Shift too quick and your engine struggles to accelerate in that rich, low-power zone.

Something tells me this couple have the combined personalities of a doorknob.

[vvv90]

Originally Posted by The Gunslinger

Um... derrrr? I'd have never even though of those!

Also, using 'highest gear' is a load of crap. Street cruising in 5th gear is an easy way to end up with an empty tank. RPM below the 'power band' range run rich and suck petrol trying to accelerate or even maintaining speed. Driving in the highest gear that lets the engine rev at the lowest RPM of it's power range is what you're aiming for.

I have to disagree with you based on my analysis. I guess every car is different.

Case in point:

My Vette has a wideband O2 sensor in it. So I can prove my point.

I can cruise at 1000-1200RPM at 50-55MPH, well below it's power band, and maintain a 14.7:1 AFR at cruise in 6th gear. AFR readings with some acceleration to maintain cruising speeds never dip below 13:1 AFR.

That's with a 31.9 MPG average measured over ~200 miles with ~420RWHP.

[marlinspike]

You'll get the best cruising MPG in the highest gear you can do without lugging. This is different from the best accelerating MPG.

[The Gunslinger]

Originally Posted by vvv90

I have to disagree with you based on my analysis. I guess every car is different.

Case in point:

My Vette has a wideband O2 sensor in it. So I can prove my point.

I can cruise at 1000-1200RPM at 50-55MPH, well below it's power band, and maintain a 14.7:1 AFR at cruise in 6th gear. AFR readings with some acceleration to maintain cruising speeds never dip below 13:1 AFR.

That's with a 31.9 MPG average measured over ~200 miles with ~420RWHP.

I'd have to say a Corvette would be an exception, it's a very high-tier sports car. I'd imagine every RPM would be squeezed and teased for near-maximum power across the entire range, and would overall be running quite lean.

I've found in most cars that as long as the engine isn't 'under load' at cruising speeds, gentle acceleration will only bump consumption up by a notch. If the engine is already under load, trying to accelerate will cause that distinctive strain as the engine note drops half an octave and it starts bucketing fuel into the cylinders (mostly because the throttle is open far too wide for the engine speed, your cylinders are drawing air in at a slow rate but the ECU is reading a wide throttle so gives it a healthy kick of fuel. Mass-air sensors and such do cut back on this, but it's still definitely a factor).

Your 'best accelerating' consumption would definately be higher on the rev range, I let the revs run out to about 3000rpm before shifting when I'm running conservative, 7000rpm when I'm feeling naughty . In that respect I agree with Marlinspike wholly.

[CATFI$H]

I would think drafting behind the car in front of you would give better gas mileage?????