Hooray for cooking oil

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 07 Jul 2007, 20:41

Xac wrote:Drain hole:
Right under the flap hinge

It is basically just a hole through to the wheel arch.

Well done Xac, I must try harder.

weety · Post by **weety** » 07 Jul 2007, 22:24

MikeT wrote:
philhoward wrote:I guess sometimes you get a "good 'un"...

I've now had 3 TD Xantias, all about the same vintage (94/95), and mpg has varied between 40 and 48mpg - on the same routes.
These DOHC EFi engines have a good rep for mpg. Like I say, I'm not complaining

40-48mpg from a TD is what I was expecting but mine doesn't get anywhere near that and I'm wondering if it's a tuning issue. I haven't had to top up the oil at all though I recently did an oil change though I do have to add a dribble of coolany weekly, and I mean a just a sip.

air con i imagine.... i used to get 40-45 mpg out of my m reg non air con....only get 35-40 out of my air con one....who cares anyway i am on veggy as well

deian · Post by **deian** » 09 Jul 2007, 11:31

I've had 3 Fords in the past and haven't found anything wrong with them. But I'm not too keen on them, sure they are good cars, but I prefer others.

It would not surprise me if a 2.0 granny got up to 40mpg, for this to happen the engine would obviously have to be in a good mechanical condition... i.e not been screaming close to the red line often, and had it's oil and water changed often. There is no obvious excuse why any engine can return close what the manufacturer 'claim' unless there is a serious design flaw, but at the end of the day, longevity of an engine is down to how it is treated and maintained by the end customer. There are so many variables that need to be within a manufacturers tolerances, with a bit of care these tolerances are easily kept within the limits, but when they go over/under is when fuel consumption goes up.

My point is... mechanical condition will probably make a massive difference to fuel consumption over anything else. And if I remember correctly if you are talking about the Pinto engine... then they were pretty hardy engines.

On the other hand, the Granny Cosworth or Cologne engines were dreadful on fuel economy.

And as for Citroen's fuel economy, I think my V6 is better than my 325i that I had, although I think it may be running a bit rich, lots of 'fumes' from the exhast hole.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 09 Jul 2007, 13:45

My memory of the Ford Pinto 2000 engine was its considerable thirst around town but that its best economy was when the thing was driven very hard when it would get up to close to 30 MPG. Long runs driven gently made matters worse.

Brian UK · Post by **Brian UK** » 09 Jul 2007, 17:53

Anyone seen the information contained here?
http://www.dieselveg.com/
And the definitive part here.
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/briefs/excise-duty/brief4307.htm

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 11 Jul 2007, 19:47

weety wrote:
air con i imagine.... i used to get 40-45 mpg out of my m reg non air con....only get 35-40 out of my air con one....who cares anyway i am on veggy as well

I only turn A/C on when required as I assume it increases the mpg. Mine also has CAT. and EGR, do these impair on mpg?

I've gone 100% veggy in my experimentation. Smells a lot more pleasant now though I seem to be eating more fish and chips lately

I've discovered that my petrol can spout will roughly screw onto a 3 litre bottle of SVO and that the subsequent air leak around the loose thread actually speeds up the oil flow into my tank 8)

weety · Post by **weety** » 11 Jul 2007, 19:50

MikeT wrote:
weety wrote:
air con i imagine.... i used to get 40-45 mpg out of my m reg non air con....only get 35-40 out of my air con one....who cares anyway i am on veggy as well
I only turn A/C on when required as I assume it increases the mpg. Mine also has CAT. and EGR, do these impair on mpg?

I've gone 100% veggy in my experimentation. Smells a lot more pleasant now though I seem to be eating more fish and chips lately

I've discovered that my petrol can spout will roughly screw onto a 3 litre bottle of SVO and that the subsequent air leak around the loose thread actually speeds up the oil flow into my tank 8)

hmmm cunning i carefully place a 20 litre drum on the roof and siphon down with a length of hose (mmmm the taste of cold veggy oil)

lolingram · Post by **lolingram** » 11 Jul 2007, 19:55

I reckon that all you Veggy guys are becoming addicted...

hmmm cunning i carefully place a 20 litre drum on the roof and siphon down with a length of hose (mmmm the taste of cold veggy oil)

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 11 Jul 2007, 19:58

deian wrote:It would not surprise me if a 2.0 granny got up to 40mpg, for this to happen the engine would obviously have to be in a good mechanical condition... i.e not been screaming close to the red line often

I have to admit, I need to drive like a granny to get that sort of economy but I always thought that with today's engines and rev limiters, thrashing them was almost essential for a lasting engine.

deian wrote:My point is... mechanical condition will probably make a massive difference to fuel consumption over anything else. And if I remember correctly if you are talking about the Pinto engine... then they were pretty hardy engines.

That's probably the case with my Xantia then, poor engine condition masked by the fact it's a diesel!
When buying the oil filter and strap wrench, a parts shop assistant told me my Granada does not have the pinto engine fitted

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 11 Jul 2007, 20:31

Between about 1972 a1986 Ford didn't have another 2 litre petrol engine did they? The V4 was dropped after the Mk1 Capri - and the Pinto introduced to the public with the Mk 111 Cortina and found its way into the Granada 2 litre. Whilst the 2.5 and 3 litre were V6 Essex engines I don't think the V4 was ever used on the Granada. If it was it was quickly changed for the Pinto.

I'm sure the Pinto carried on into Mk 2 Granada but it may have died by the time the Scorpio came along (but I doubt it.)

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 11 Jul 2007, 20:38

weety wrote:hmmm cunning i carefully place a 20 litre drum on the roof and siphon down with a length of hose (mmmm the taste of cold veggy oil)

LMAO!!

p.s. Where do you get 20L from and what's it cost? 8)

weety · Post by **weety** » 11 Jul 2007, 21:35

MikeT wrote:
weety wrote:hmmm cunning i carefully place a 20 litre drum on the roof and siphon down with a length of hose (mmmm the taste of cold veggy oil)
LMAO!!

p.s. Where do you get 20L from and what's it cost? 8)

makro currently £9.85 (no vat)

micitroen · Post by **micitroen** » 11 Jul 2007, 21:54

Tesco also sell the same brand afaik its KSC and comes in 10L drums for £5.29....obviously the 20L is better value but I can get to Tesco a lot easier.
Also; the people that run this lovely country have now deemed that you don't have to pay duty on any SVO used under 2500L per annum..that equates to quite a few miles and more to the point it gives you absolute Carte Blanche to have the stuff in your tank in the first place.

weety · Post by **weety** » 11 Jul 2007, 21:59

micitroen wrote:Tesco also sell the same brand afaik its KSC and comes in 10L drums for £5.29....obviously the 20L is better value but I can get to Tesco a lot easier.
Also; the people that run this lovely country have now deemed that you don't have to pay duty on any SVO used under 2500L per annum..that equates to quite a few miles and more to the point it gives you absolute Carte Blanche to have the stuff in your tank in the first place.

be interesting to see how veggy oil usuage compares to lpg in a few months....our own pumps at petrol stations

MikeT · Post by **MikeT** » 11 Jul 2007, 22:10

Currently I'm buying either Tesco or Sainsbury's 3L pure vegetable (rapeseed) oil at 56/57p per litre. It simply doesn't compare to 95.9p for diesel

so I'm not too fussed about struggling with 20L or larger right now, not with my back

Besides, screwing the petrol can spout onto a bottle is such a fast solution, I quite prefer it to the syphon method!