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General Best 500 for mileage?

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General Best 500 for mileage?

grimwau said:
Not quite true! My engine always reaches the "normal" temperature, it is the type/style of driving that affects the DPF more than anything else. You are correct that the engine will regenerate even on tickover however you cannot choose when the ECU will decide to begin the regeneration cycle and not many people will want to leave their engines running in a car park if the "DPF filter clogged" light comes on just as they arrive for work or have to catch a train.

In an ideal world I would like to see a visible indicator on the dash when the car is regenerating, a readout either in the menu system or in the speedo of the DPF status and the option to push a button to over-ride the ECU and start a regeneration manually.

I have twice driven 50 mile plus trips only to have the engine start to regenerate just as I am approaching my destination. If I had been able to choose to start the process manually I would have let the engine warm up and as soon as I hit an open stretch of road "hit the button" knowing that the conditions were ideal.

The most annoying aspect to me is that the diesel engine is capable of fantastic economy if driven correctly but the gains made from the "eco" style of driving are more than offset by the additional regeneration cycles performed due to the fact that this style of driving will clog the filter more quickly.
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Regeneration takes just a couple of minutes, even at a standstill. You don't need to leave the car ticking over in a public car park, just wait a minute or two.
Personally, I see no need for a light to indicate regeneration - the tone of the engine deepens, power drops off a little and the revs rise at tickover. It's very obvious.
Finally, I recently took a late night motorway journey, and averaged over 72mpg. I think that answers the OP's original question very clearly!
 
Zakt said:
Finally, I recently took a late night motorway journey, and averaged over 72mpg. I think that answers the OP's original question very clearly!
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Yesterday in morning rush hour I drove thirty miles into work (including a small queue) and I averaged 70.6mpg in my 1.2. I think that makes your answer to the OP's question a little less clear!
 
trphil said:
Yesterday in morning rush hour I drove thirty miles into work (including a small queue) and I averaged 70.6mpg in my 1.2. I think that makes your answer to the OP's question a little less clear!
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It's interesting that your figures beat even Fiat's own optimistic claims. What was your average speed over that distance?
 
Zakt said:
Regeneration takes just a couple of minutes, even at a standstill. You don't need to leave the car ticking over in a public car park, just wait a minute or two.
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When the DPF light comes on as I drive to work it takes 20 minutes to disappear, my route is on A & B roads, 11 miles, 20 minutes. This has happened on each occasion.
 
Zakt said:
Personally, I see no need for a light to indicate regeneration - the tone of the engine deepens, power drops off a little and the revs rise at tickover. It's very obvious.
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Of course you are correct, you'll need to forgive me for being a mere mortal.

As it happens I also am aware of when the car is regenerating (by the way you forgot to include that the instant MPG reading plummets) but then I did spend 25 years in the motor trade so am well aware of what happens under the bonnet.

However, there are a lot of owners who might not have our understanding of all things mechanical and who might not notice the subtle difference in engine tone or indeed notice that the RPM on tickover has increased to 1000rpm so I think you mean that this is obvious to YOU, I know that my wife has never noticed it in two years of ownership.


neet said:
When the DPF light comes on as I drive to work it takes 20 minutes to disappear, my route is on A & B roads, 11 miles, 20 minutes. This has happened on each occasion.
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neet, like you mine also takes a good deal longer than zakt to go out, but then we probably aren't driving properly.

Either that or we can get a sworn affidavit from him saying that it should only take a couple of minutes and form an orderly queue at the CAB.
 
grimwau said:
Of course you are correct, you'll need to forgive me for being a mere mortal.

As it happens I also am aware of when the car is regenerating (by the way you forgot to include that the instant MPG reading plummets) but then I did spend 25 years in the motor trade so am well aware of what happens under the bonnet.

However, there are a lot of owners who might not have our understanding of all things mechanical and who might not notice the subtle difference in engine tone or indeed notice that the RPM on tickover has increased to 1000rpm so I think you mean that this is obvious to YOU, I know that my wife has never noticed it in two years of ownership.




neet, like you mine also takes a good deal longer than zakt to go out, but then we probably aren't driving properly.

Either that or we can get a sworn affidavit from him saying that it should only take a couple of minutes and form an orderly queue at the CAB.
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Flaming already? tut tut. You may find that your MPG will increase if you take that almighty chip off your shoulder
 
Zakt said:
It's interesting that your figures beat even Fiat's own optimistic claims. What was your average speed over that distance?
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According to the trip computer 38mph. The journey is 2 miles along residential roads without much traffic going my way, then a mile or so of single carriageway A road and then the dreaded A12 heading northbound from Chelmsford to Colchester so not too bad trafficwise. I drove at a constant 60mph until I caught up with a lorry doing 56mph and then I stayed behind the lorry until I got to my turnoff. Then a small queue into the industrial estate where I work and an indicated 70.6mpg.

What I didn't mention is that my return journey took the figure down to 65 point something because the traffic at home time is appalling, I drive two miles in about 15 minutes right from setting off so cold engine and slow warm-up.

I reckon if I had the Fiat for a whole tankfull I'd have an indicated 63 or 64 mpg.
 
trphil said:
According to the trip computer 38mph. The journey is 2 miles along residential roads without much traffic going my way, then a mile or so of single carriageway A road and then the dreaded A12 heading northbound from Chelmsford to Colchester so not too bad trafficwise. I drove at a constant 60mph until I caught up with a lorry doing 56mph and then I stayed behind the lorry until I got to my turnoff. Then a small queue into the industrial estate where I work and an indicated 70.6mpg.

What I didn't mention is that my return journey took the figure down to 65 point something because the traffic at home time is appalling, I drive two miles in about 15 minutes right from setting off so cold engine and slow warm-up.

I reckon if I had the Fiat for a whole tankfull I'd have an indicated 63 or 64 mpg.
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63-4 mpg would be a pretty good average for a 1.2 I reckon.
I notice that the "Fuelly" banner under your posts states that your average MPG is 49.9 - what sort of environment does that involve?
 
neet said:
When the DPF light comes on as I drive to work it takes 20 minutes to disappear, my route is on A & B roads, 11 miles, 20 minutes. This has happened on each occasion.
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My dpf light never comes on - normal regeneration takes place without it. The regeneration is indicated by a change in engine tone, and a rise in revs at tickover, as I mentioned above. If the light comes on it's because the car hasn't had enough time to carry out the non-warning light regenerations it would have attempted beforehand. Listen out for them, wait until they have finished before switching off, and you'll never see that light again (y)
 
Zakt said:
63-4 mpg would be a pretty good average for a 1.2 I reckon.
I notice that the "Fuelly" banner under your posts states that your average MPG is 49.9 - what sort of environment does that involve?
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Basically that average is achieved by the journey I described once or twice a week plus for the rest of the time my wife uses it for short journeys around town (normally less than 2 miles).
 
Zakt said:
Some people on this site keep saying this, but I've yet to see any real evidence. There's one person who used to post about this, but there was clearly another underlying problem with his car as it would clog up within a very short time after a forced regeneration.
As long as your engine gets fully up to temperature it won't happen - the regeneration works even if you leave the car ticking over
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Interesting quote from the Mazda website:

"Mazda5 diesels feature a Diesel Particulate Filter (or DPF for short). This makes sure that soot in the exhaust is trapped in the system rather than released into the atmosphere. However, much like the bag in a vacuum cleaner a DPF needs to be emptied every so often.

On frequent stop-start journeys, the level of soot builds up faster, which is why the RAC and Mazda recommend petrol-power if most of your driving happens in the city."
 
On frequent stop-start journeys, the level of soot builds up faster, which is why the RAC and Mazda recommend petrol-power if most of your driving happens in the city."
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...and the AA, who advised Norwich City Council NOT to buy Blue(non!)motion Eco VW Polos. The Council, however, wanting to shout its green credentials from the rooftops, went ahead anyway and has incurred a huge cost dealing with blocked filters: the cars are used exclusively around town on short journeys. Those driven at night, by people who don't hang about, have fared best, but apparently the cost in failed DPFs has been large. The AA advised to buy small petrol engined cars.

And the poor bl**dy taxpayer has to pay.
But then Norwich is nationally known to have a crap administration with a shocking rating and so this arrogance was only par for the course.
 
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Ulpian said:
...and the AA, who advised Norwich City Council NOT to buy Blue(non!)motion Eco VW Polos. The Council, however, wanting to shout its green credentials from the rooftops, went ahead anyway and has incurred a huge cost dealing with blocked filters: the cars are used exclusively around town on short journeys. Those driven at night, by people who don't hang about, have fared best, but apparently the cost in failed DPFs has been large. The AA advised to buy small petrol engined cars.

And the poor bl**dy taxpayer has to pay.
But then Norwich is nationally known to have a crap administration with a shocking rating and so this arrogance was only par for the course.
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Just wait until half the country's Mayors' hybrid Lexuses (Lexi?) need their batteries replacing - then you'll experience real pain! :D
 
Zakt said:
Just wait until half the country's Mayors' hybrid Lexuses (Lexi?) need their batteries replacing - then you'll experience real pain! :D
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Hey! I'm sure no dangerous chemicals went into producing those batteries :ROFLMAO: I'm sure they're free range organic batteries produced with renewable resources ;)
 
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