Ask a Shiter

[ashmicro]

That PDF from SOC/Valeo is very useful. The symptoms described in the first part are exactly what happened to my mate's 407 before it shat its 'box.

[Cavcraft]

Do Di engined Transits run on veg oil?

[Pete-M]

Why is it that if I open a rear window (or two) there is a buffering sensation with ears popping whereas when I open the front windows it's fine? It's happened in at least 4 cars I can think of.

 

Try just opening the huge sunroof on a Pug 205 3dr with the windows closed... there's some proper turbulence when you do that...

[warren t claim]

If a pollen filter is blocked is it safe to remove and run the ventilation system without it?

[myglaren]

If a pollen filter is blocked is it safe to remove and run the ventilation system without it?

 

Best not as it is there to keep crap out of the aircon system, not pollen out of your nose.

[pdg]

Do Di engined Transits run on veg oil?

 

 

Yes (with a few considerations...)

 

PM for more

[warren t claim]

Do Di engined Transits run on veg oil?

 

My 1996 example didn't. I had to have the pump cleaned after a quarter of a tank and that was with biodiesel.

[Tayne]

Speaking of which. Sort of.

 

What are the chances of a '53 plate Renault Traffic SL27 DCI 100 SWB liking the veg?

 

And didn't someone on here tell us about a website offering veg oil conversions? It listed hundreds of cars and if it said "one tank kit" you knew it was ok to pop a few litres of cooking oil through.

Any ideas?

[Cavcraft]

I'd put good money after bad it won't do it any good Tayne. My local diesel specialists reckon modern common rail (which I'm sure the DCi engine is) engines will gum up and eventually knacker themselves if run on veg oil.

The old rule of thumb used to be 'non-common rail' diesels with Bosch pumps are ok, anything else isn't.

[pdg]

Can't remember the name of the site that tells single/twin tank info etc. but it'll be linked somewhere in http://www.vegetableoildiesel.co.uk/forum/

 

I wouldn't put veg through a dci - imho that's asking for a bill...

 

 

Still unsure whether it's 'the done thing' to link like this, but hey.

[warren t claim]

How long will it be before we have a family saloon capable of 100mpg?

[CreepingJesus]

Don't hold your breath, in short.

The technology to make small capacity diesels do around 75mpg has existed for years. Ultra-high pressure injection, variable cams/turbos etc., and the 3D digital control systems to make it all sing are good enough now, and getting better. 100mpg might be do-able, at least in theory.

Coming in against that, are the high cost of using ceramics and exotic materials, the ever increasing mass of the cars the engines go in, and ironically environmental legislation.

In fact, when Peugeot's retiring head of R+D gave an interview a few years back, he took a massive swipe at the marketing people, and the legislators responsible for the above. Made interesting reading to say the least.

And the wind buffeting when travelling with open windows: it's a function of the cars' aerodynamics, however good or bad they are. I'm considering a set of those plastic wind deflector things for the V70, 'cos it's hopeless having my window down more than about 1/4 at anything over 40-ish, and I far prefer flicking my fag ash out the window...! Anyone know where to get a set?

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

How long will it be before we have a family saloon capable of 100mpg?

 

The interior dimensions of a contemporary supermini are no smaller than what you'll find in a 1985 family saloon. As people haven't grown massively taller over the past 25 years, it's only the marketing that's changed (alright, the boot may be a tad smaller). The Ibiza Ecomotive claims to be able to deliver 91.1 mpg extra-urban. That's quite an impressive figure- shame about the car!

[Pete-M]

I'm quite regularly hitting 60+ mpg in Skoda Superbs, without even slightly trying. Managed 74.5 mpg from one a while ago, so it wouldn't surprise me if they'll be doing 100 mpg soon.

 

My own stuff, I'm lucky seeing 30 mpg.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I'm quite regularly hitting 60+ mpg in Skoda Superbs, without even slightly trying. Managed 74.5 mpg from one a while ago, so it wouldn't surprise me if they'll be doing 100 mpg soon.

 

My own stuff, I'm lucky seeing 30 mpg.

 

I'm struggling to get much more than 20mpg out of the Scorpio (admittedly mostly urban driving). LPG saves u dosh innit m8?

[Tayne]

Its the urban driving thats killing your economy.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Its the urban driving thats killing your economy.

 

'Urban driving' in the context of a place like Sheffield doesn't really include much waiting at traffic jams, merely a few traffic lights. Driving at a constant indicated 78mph on the motorway, I'm still well under 30mpg. Haven't done any long runs at 56mph to check it out, but I'd be mightily surprised if I got more than 35.

[Tayne]

Its not so much the jams but the stopping at lights, junctions, roundabouts and then accelerating back up to 25-40mph that uses so much fuel.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

can't argue with that- and there's plenty of all of these, plus quite a few hills 'round here.

[Rod/b]

long runs at 56mph to check it out, but I'd be mightily surprised if I got more

 

What difference do you reckon driving at 56 will make?

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

long runs at 56mph to check it out, but I'd be mightily surprised if I got more

 

What difference do you reckon driving at 56 will make?

 

 

I can't remember the exact numbers, but I think it usually works out to burning around a quarter less fuel (so, in mpg terms, an increase of about a third) as opposed to doing 78mph (I always use the cruise control as much as possible, so it's a pretty much constant speed in either case).

[Rod/b]

Why not 55, or 60?

[Wilko220]

I think it's used by manufacturers because it's equivalent to a round number in metric - 100km/h I would guess. It's the same reason that some lorries are restricted to that speed.

[Rod/b]

Ah Wilko you bloody spoilsport. I was going to have some fun.

[Wilko220]

Ah Wilko you bloody spoilsport. I was going to have some fun.

 

Sorry!

[pdg]

56mph is 90.123kmh(ish) - so that's a nice round number.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

I think it's used by manufacturers because it's equivalent to a round number in metric - 100km/h I would guess. It's the same reason that some lorries are restricted to that speed.

 

90km/h to be precise. Most vehicles on the road are optimised for economy at 90kph in top gear (and it's been that way for at least 30 years). However, an indicated 56mph is not the same as an actual 56mph. Probably needs to go to an indicated 57.5mph or some such for optimum economy- hence why, whenever I do it, I keep getting SLOWLY overtaken by lorry drivers needing to grind every last second out of their working day.

[Rod/b]

Most vehicles on the road are optimised for economy at 90kph in top gear (and it's been that way for at least 30 years).

 

Brilliant.

[garethj]

Its not so much the jams but the stopping at lights, junctions, roundabouts and then accelerating back up to 25-40mph that uses so much fuel.

Agreed. My Volvo 740 would never do more than 25mpg under these conditions, no matter how grandad-like I drove it. On the motorway the very high overdrive meant it did 35-38mpg even at stupidly illegal speeds.

 

However, an indicated 56mph is not the same as an actual 56mph. Probably needs to go to an indicated 57.5mph or some such for optimum economy

FAIL. You'd better economy still at 50mph than 56 as long as the engine wasn't labouring (v. unlikely), and better economy again at 45mph. Don't try it on a motorway though.

hence why, whenever I do it, I keep getting SLOWLY overtaken by lorry drivers needing to grind every last second out of their working day.

It's quite hard work overtaking in a truck, so unless you're absolutely at miser level try and do 60, then it's you overtaking them instead of them having to pass you.

[pdg]

90km/h to be precise.

 

1 mile = 1,609.344 metres or 1.609344 km

 

Therefore

 

56mph = 90.123264kmh

 

To be precise

 

The limiters are set to 90kph though - they just round out to 56mph. A bit of tyre wear or a slightly different pressure and it's off anyway.