25% More Kms on a Tank

[vnx205]

I have discovered a way to get about 25% further on a tank of fuel.

It didn't involve changing my driving style, although that can certainly make a difference.

I didn't remove a lot of unnecessary weight or a roof rack from the vehicle, although that does help a bit.

I didn't change the time of my morning commute so that I struck fewer red lights and consequently had less stop-start driving.

I didn't fit a hiclone or add any magic potion to the fuel. In fact, I didn't have to modify the vehicle in any way to extend my range.

The method I used to get the extra distance works every time and gives me quite consistent results.

The way I am able to travel about a 25% further on a tank is astonishingly simple. What i did was, that instead of filling up when the fuel gauge was between the half and quarter mark, I started filling up when it was between the quarter mark and empty. So instead of getting about 500 km on a tank, I get about 620 km.

For the benefit of those who haven't yet worked it out, obviously this is not a serious suggestion. It is my less than subtle way of trying to demonstrate how useless a piece of information it is when someone announces that they get 650 km on a tank.

A statement like that is only of some use if everyone knows:

• The size of your tank.
• The point at which you decide to top up.
• The accuracy of your fuel gauge.
  AND
• The extent to which your gauge indicates a higher level when going downhill or around a series of right hand bends.

Without all those pieces of information, the km per tank is about as meaningful as my boast about a 25% improvement.

How far you drove since you last filled up is not very helpful. What we need to know is how many litres it took to fill the tank at the end of the trip to exactly the same level as when you started. Better still, that figure taken over several fills is more useful in case your vehicle has one of those tanks that appears to be full when it isn't, either because froth fills the neck or a slight slope changes how much you can fit in.

So if you want to tell us something useful, tell us how many litres/100 km or else tell us how many kms and how many litres it took to fill the tank. If we are interested, at least we will be able to do the maths ourselves and get a meaningful figure.

I probably could have followed Chucaro's general advice and saved this pot stirring till happy hour, but I had a few minutes to fill in between mowing the lawn and getting my hair cut.

[TimNZ]

but I had a few minutes to fill in between mowing the lawn and getting my hair cut.

Do NOT mix up your tools today!

[Slunnie]

There are two types of people in the world, those who can extrapolate from incomplete data.

[debruiser]

Unfortunately there are heaps of ppl out there that talk in such a manner

[Davehoos]

........

[uninformed]

I figure you would only need to know what capacity the tank was, and if we are talking about a set vehicle, then that may already be known.


Do people really say a "tank" and not mean the full amount

[superquag]

There are two types of people in the world, those who can extrapolate from incomplete data..........

Thanks for that one, a perfect start for the day.

[superquag]

Do NOT mix up your tools today!

x2......

[Disco Muppet]

I get considerably longer out of a tank of fuel....
....by not driving the vehicle.....

[chang]

Its saturday, i know i would of saved that time for enjoying a beer on the deck while admiring how good the lawn looks & celebrating not having to mow the thing for a couple of weeks.