Top topic is m.p.g.

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33384, 16 November 1973, Page 12

Top topic is m.p.g.

Saving fuel has become a prime topic among British motorists under the threat of petrol rationing as a result of the Arab oilproduction restrictions. Several major British newspapers have printed fuel-saving tips in their motoring columns, and motoring magazines have done the same. One leading British magazine, the “Motor,” has suggested editorially that staggered working hours would reduce traffic congestion sufficiently to give marked fuel savings to commuters. The magazine conducted some tests over a 45-mile route into London, using a petrol flow-meter, and found that consumption varied from 44 miles a gallon at a steady 50 m.p.h. on the congestion - free motorway part of the run, to a disastrous 14 miles a gallon in heavy, “stop-start” rushhour traffic. Over-all, a normal trip in rush-hour traffic took an hour and the car recorded 29.4 miles a gallon: at an off-peak time with steady driving, the trip took 29 minutes and fuel consumption was 42.4 miles a gallon. “Multiply our gains by a few million, and all those ration books could be redundant,” the magazine said. Car manufacturers have also given advice on how to save fuel. A typical selection of tips comes from British Leyland. The corporation says motorists should make sure their engine is in perfect tune, with correct ignition timing; avoid full throttle at all times; drive smoothly, avoiding sharp braking or acceleration; avoid switching off and coasting, which wastes fuel; put the choke in as soon as possible, and get

into top gear as soon as possible. The British Automobile Association has given similar advice, and has also warned motorists not to spend money on the various gadgets claimed to give vastly improved fuel consumption when fitted to a car engine. Such devices are “very often fraudulent, and we have brought successful prosecutions under the Trades Description Act,” the association’s chief save fuel, but the effect of engineer (Mr M. Jacobson), has said. Several countries are considering lower open-road speed limits in an effort to

save fuel, although the benefit varies widely front car to car. In its test of a British 2-litre car, the “Motor” found that driving at 50 m.p.h. instead of 70 m.p.h. improved the fuel consumption miles a gallon. One British J newspaper has reported that the Middle East situation is boosting the sales of motorcycles, which can return fuel consumption figures better than I’2o miles a gallon (a 50 c.c. machine). British sales of small moped-type machines are expected to top 100,000 this year, compared with 76,000 last year, and 44,000 in 1969.