Diesel £1.35/litre; now its getting serious ..........

[Bwana John]

Having just fuelled up at £1.35 a litre for Diesel I think it`s time to think about fuel economy.The Syncro is already lugging around a lot of extra weight compared to a normal T25 so is at a bit of a disadvantage to start with. So apart from the obvious things like going easy on the throttle has anybody got any ideas for getting more miles per gallon(litre)? Mine has a AAZ engine possibly doing 30mpg but not that great compared to a T4 2.5Tdi Auto sleeper camper that I once had that would do 45mpg with no trouble.It`s going to make trips to off-roading events a pricey weekend away! Any ideas?

[Titus A Duxass]

Bloody hell that's expensive - it wasn't so long ago when it cheaper then over here.

At the moment we're pay 1.14 UKP.

[ajsimmo]

I cut my fuel costs by adding new veggie oil at up to 50% mix (dependent on weather temp) in my AAZ syncro. Does same to the gallon, runs slightly quieter and a tad smoother / bit more power. No smoke, and smells nice too.

I shop around for the best supermarket deal at the time (ranging from 83p/l to £1/l), last time I was found by the missus in aisle 5 with 16 x 2l bottles of Crisp n Dry in the trolley

If you then fill up in the supermarket car park two things happen:
1. You usually get into a conversation with a passing old bloke who says "can you do that?" or "is that legal?"
2. You fill the supermarket's bin, not your own.

plus if you spend enough in some supermarkets they also give you 2-5p/l off their diesel - double winner

[syncropaddy]

Do the injector pump seals like veggie oil?

[ajsimmo]

No probs for the last 10,000 miles, average 70/30 diesel/veg. Bosch pumps are the most suitable for use with veggie, they like it. Don't do it with Lucas/CAV pumps, it does ruin their seals (I'm told).

Yet another win for Syncros over Landies.

[peasant]

Very simple measure ...pump up your tyres about 0.5 bar over the recommended pressure. Also have a good look around at all the shoyte that accumulates in our cavernous vehicles ...half of it is usually driven around needlessly ...throw some of it in the shed or wherever it belongs

Also ...bringing speed down from 60+ mph to 55- (where possible) makes a huge difference ...aerodynamics and all that

[Essex Nige]

aerodynamics

[syncropaddy]

aerodynamics and all that

Since when was a garden shed aerodynamic ....

[jebiga41]

I cut my fuel costs by adding new veggie oil at up to 50% mix (dependent on weather temp) in my AAZ syncro. Does same to the gallon, runs slightly quieter and a tad smoother / bit more power. No smoke, and smells nice too.

I shop around for the best supermarket deal at the time (ranging from 83p/l to £1/l), last time I was found by the missus in aisle 5 with 16 x 2l bottles of Crisp n Dry in the trolley

If you then fill up in the supermarket car park two things happen:
1. You usually get into a conversation with a passing old bloke who says "can you do that?" or "is that legal?"
2. You fill the supermarket's bin, not your own.

plus if you spend enough in some supermarkets they also give you 2-5p/l off their diesel - double winner

Going to be reverting to that way again soon methinks although not technically legal as you are actually meant to pay tax on the veg oil when its a fuel so be careful

[peasant]

aerodynamics and all that

Since when was a garden shed aerodynamic ....

It isn't, that's the point.
The faster you try to push it through the air, the more fuel rushes through the pipes.

On a long motorway trip sticking with the lorries instead of trying to overtake them all lowers fuel consumption by 1.5 liters per 100 km ...at least that's my experience with garden sheds

[ajsimmo]

although not technically legal as you are actually meant to pay tax on the veg oil when its a fuel so be careful

As I understand it, it's perfectly legal now in the UK to use up to 2500l per year (per person for individual private use) without having to pay duty.

[v-lux]

As I understand it, it's perfectly legal now in the UK to use up to 2500l per year (per person for individual private use) without having to pay duty.

That's how i understood the rule change a couple of years back too. Watched the price of veg oil almost double overnight when they brought the rule change in too!

[syncropaddy]

Paul has just put almost 30l of veggie oil in his tank ....... now his engine is cutting out!

[MoonlightCustoms]

ive run a few aaz's on vegi oil and proper bio diesel, never had any problems with them. I have come across people advancing the pump a tooth to get the best from it, but how much would you lose going back to regular diesel with the pump a tooth out?
For me tho vegi is a winner

[v-lux]

now his engine is cutting out!

Change the filter. The SVO cleans all the "pooh" out of the tank and deposits it in the filter. Worth a try...