ddcboyle Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 (edited) Ive driven this route about 6times in the zed, and always had to fuel up mid way even though the trip computer tells me i will be able to get there on one tank, it lies!After having an argument at work, that my zed shouldnt be able to do it because their car cant, i thought id give it a go.Ruislip (W.London) to Livingston (W. of Edinburgh), 428miles.Main issues are going to be traffic on the m40/m25, getting past that, it should be clear through the m6 unless theres an accident or floods. The next issue will be approaching the m8 through glasgow. Scotlands motorway is no doubt a dual carraigeway with a speedlimit of 70 which is never reached by either lane, with constant traffic.Anyone done this before? I will be recording it in hope of it being successfulEdit 1: [if average of 30mpg, i would use just over 14gallons14gallons converting to 63litres, with a fuel tank of 80litres, should have plenty to spare63litres at 1.40 for fuel, £88.20]Edit 2 [the way i will be testing is topping the car up to the max, recording the price i paid for fuel and litres, then driving to scoland and refilling the tank at the garage next to my house, again recording the price and litres. The garage topup in scotland will show how much litres i have used. I will then post what avg mpg i got on trip computer, and what mpg i got via refuelling the car] Edited December 18, 2012 by ddcboyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stew Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I've done 400 odd miles on a tank and the light came on about 2 miles from the house, realistically It would have done nearer 500 miles. The Zed has a big tank so taking it easy and avoiding traffic it'd be doable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasso Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Take the M6 toll to avoid Brum otherwise you'll be stuck in slow moving traffic and roadworks! Good luck, sure it can be done. Turn your heater off, no lights etc and go for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddcboyle Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 Take the M6 toll to avoid Brum otherwise you'll be stuck in slow moving traffic and roadworks! Good luck, sure it can be done. Turn your heater off, no lights etc and go for it Is it actually true that electronics effect mpg? I see how it makes sense, since it drains battery and engine works more to recharge, just didnt think itd effect it that much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dErZ Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 It would also be interesting to see if you got better MPG's using the cruise control compared to your foot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rtbiscuit Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 keep it at 65 all the way and your laughing, those last 5 mph and every mph over 70 has a larger impact on fuel usage than every thing before hand. if you can do it at 55 mph you'll get about 550 miles to a tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wasso Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Agreed under 70mph and its a winner. For sure turning off any ancillaries will help mpg. So don't even think about AirCon! Drive with your windows shut as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddcboyle Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 i know at 45 i get 38-41mpg but thats a lonnggg drive and probably illegal, so im thinking of just hooking on behind a truck at 56/60mph. ive already tried cruise method, it uses less than ur own foot if ur not thinking about mpg and just thinking about staying at 70. but if u drive with foot on pedal and going neutral on a hill or when u see braking up ahead, you get a few hundred metres of free fuel. ipod and beat headphones it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glrnet Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 You'll get 450milea at 25mpg so you should achieve it, leave at 0530 from yours and you'll miss most of the traffic especially if you use the M6 toll, bit longer but worth it IMHO. Oh and sort your Zorst before you go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bounty Bar Kid Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Loving this thread. Wanna go back to Edinburgh at some point next year. One of the best cities in the UK. Would love to be able to do it for less than a ton! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddcboyle Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 Loving this thread. Wanna go back to Edinburgh at some point next year. One of the best cities in the UK. Would love to be able to do it for less than a ton! Each time ive went home it cost full tank there (bout 90 as i never let light go on)+20/30 more. So hopefully, i get there without topping up AND the light doesnt come on You'll get 450milea at 25mpg so you should achieve it, leave at 0530 from yours and you'll miss most of the traffic especially if you use the M6 toll, bit longer but worth it IMHO. Oh and sort your Zorst before you go Exhaust getting done this weekend hopefully. And aslong as theres no traffic or grannies doing 20mph, i should be getting 30minimum. Hopefully i can get that friday off work so i can head in the morning instead of rush hour london Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keyser Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I wish you well with it - I know I wouldn't make it but hope you do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddcboyle Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 I wish you well with it - I know I wouldn't make it but hope you do One green machine will get the trip done and the one that cant, can enjoy a faster and funner trip there Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rayhoop Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 if u drive with foot on pedal and going neutral on a hill or when u see braking up ahead, you get a few hundred metres of free fuel. On down hills, leave it in gear, keep your foot off the clutch - let the momentum of the car turn the engine with a closed throttle. It uses less fuel (virtually none) compared to the engine having to fuel itself to stay at idle. That is assuming your lambda probes work! It is the beauty of modern engine management systems that run closed loop fuelling when cruising. The best I have ever achieved in the Z is 37mpg driving from Luton to Centre Parcs in Nottingham (with passenger and luggage) - I was cruising at 60mph with very gentle throttle input and lifting off well in advance if slowing down (rather than using brakes). It does take some effort planning lane changes etc though. The average soon dropped as soon as I drove slowly through Centre Parcs.. and the drive home was a bit more spirited, but still averaged 31 so was happy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddcboyle Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 if u drive with foot on pedal and going neutral on a hill or when u see braking up ahead, you get a few hundred metres of free fuel. On down hills, leave it in gear, keep your foot off the clutch - let the momentum of the car turn the engine with a closed throttle. It uses less fuel (virtually none) compared to the engine having to fuel itself to stay at idle. That is assuming your lambda probes work! It is the beauty of modern engine management systems that run closed loop fuelling when cruising. The best I have ever achieved in the Z is 37mpg driving from Luton to Centre Parcs in Nottingham (with passenger and luggage) - I was cruising at 60mph with very gentle throttle input and lifting off well in advance if slowing down (rather than using brakes). It does take some effort planning lane changes etc though. The average soon dropped as soon as I drove slowly through Centre Parcs.. and the drive home was a bit more spirited, but still averaged 31 so was happy. Ive always found the car slows too much when you keep it in gear, i.e. sliproad coming off dual/motorway, if its a long one i stick it in neutral and gain speed going down the hill where as 6th gear brings it down some mph. If i can get 37 the whole way id be impressed. My initial goal was 40 but simply due to hitting the m74/m8 all being uphill more than down, i doubt ill get that. Gear changes, take off in 2nd upto 18mph, 4th til 38ish then ive been putting it in 6th by about 38mph. Aslong as its just below 2k revs, going from 2nd to 4th it should hit just above 1k revs, few hundred above the idle revs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4RE Leather Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I wish you well with it - I know I wouldn't make it but hope you do If you and I had a go it we would need to stop 4 times Chris. But we would be nice and warm and get there in double quick time:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris`I Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Pfff you should do that easily IMO. On the way back from the Jockland hoon we got over that out of a tank. Main considerations are driving at a constant speed and keeping momentum. Stop/start or any kind of on/off throttle will kill MPG and your chances. Make sure tyre pressures are correct also. Stick to the speed limit (or near enough) and you'll be fine so long as you dont get caught in a lot of traffic. EDIT: Keep it in gear also when slowing down, anticipate traffic conditions and change lanes when you need to without having to speed up or slow down, keeping as constant a speed as possible. Wasso has seen what happens when you follow the master Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 Iv'e gone from London to Newcastle on 1 tank and had enough fuel to last me a couple of days up there Averaged 34mpg I think and it was a lovely drive, stopped once at services just past york I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 6th at 38mph I think thats your problem, change gear when the engine tell you not when you think you should.... I only change up to 6th at 60-70mph it has been discussed on here many times but changing gear at too low revs is NOT economical especially in a Zed, 2k revs minimum, ideally 2.5k revs.... I am pretty sure my Zed would stall if I put it in 6th gear at 38mph Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smudgedon Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 (edited) I've got a similar challenge this weekend Croydon to Bristol, back to Croydon and then over to Ashford in Kent and back to Croydon 412miles on 1 tank, using M25, M4 and M20 Edited November 28, 2012 by smudgedon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dblock Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 420miles is roughly what I get from a tank of fuel every week. That's 15mile commute and back so I'd say thats easy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Bounty Bar Kid Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 I get this... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 You must do a lot of stop start driving..... do you ever get above 30mph ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddcboyle Posted November 28, 2012 Author Share Posted November 28, 2012 i might try that app regarding the gear changes, some were saying changing gear too early, when i changed normally (when it felt right), i didnt get much mpg, where as changing earlier i did. not sure if thats because i relied on trip computer to tell me mpg and maybe it got confused? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spursmaddave Posted November 28, 2012 Share Posted November 28, 2012 i might try that app regarding the gear changes, some were saying changing gear too early, when i changed normally (when it felt right), i didnt get much mpg, where as changing earlier i did. not sure if thats because i relied on trip computer to tell me mpg and maybe it got confused? The trip computer is never far off for me, you do have a UK Zed that has the 80ltr tank yeah...... If you have then on a long run like this you should get 500+ miles to a tank easy, thats not even 30mpg, I get that on a 50 mile trip to Surrey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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