Fuel $aving Tips - United Bimmer Community

**c1apton** · 11-08-2005, 08:48 AM

With fuel prices they way their going there's a few things you can do to get the most for your buck$$$:
* Buy your fuel in the early morning - when the temps are cooler fuel contracts and you actually get more for the $. Some stations try to offset it by putting heaters on their pump lines but you still get more if you buy in early hours vs afternoon or evening.
* Buy brand name fuels - stay away from XYZ discount fuels - most of them buy from old supplies or "bottom of the barrel" suppliers. Also buy from a station that has ALOT of business, the more business they have the fresher the supplies.
* Here's a "BIGGEE" - NEVER buy when the fuel truck is there!!! NEVER! When that "lunk" is there, he's stirring up all the sediment, dirt, condensation (water) in the bottom of their tanks and you know where that will end up - yep in your tank.
Other notables - keep tire pressures up, avoid major traffic (if possible), regular filter changes (cleaning if you're K&N equipped) and a dose of 99c STP gas treatment. You can buy the higher priced stuff Techron, etc.. but a bottle of STP every 2-3 months will keep injectors & fuel components clean at a fraction of the cost for the exact same results.

**Numark318i** · 11-11-2005, 12:57 PM

good list
I also found while im accelrating, an di dont ned to race or get anywhere fast, I just use second gear for some upph and take the car into 5 gear. This saves me alot of fuel..cause 5 gear takes less fuel to move u.

**jybute** · 11-27-2005, 01:22 PM

^^^^^^ the only thing though with running in the higher gears( lower revs) is you are not burning the fuel properly, I used to do that and my mech told me that im actually burning richer so there for less efficient.

**catalyst** · 11-27-2005, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jybute

^^^^^^ the only thing though with running in the higher gears( lower revs) is you are not burning the fuel properly, I used to do that and my mech told me that im actually burning richer so there for less efficient.

Yea i agree.. its fine to cruise in 5th or something once your up to speed as numark said, but if you need to accelerate just drop a gear, or else your engine will just suck up alot of gas trying to raise the rpm's above 3000 for some good acceleration.

Also some other tips:

Running clean oil by changing it every 3-4 thousand miles will improve your gas mileage alot.

Go out on a high RPM cleaning session with your car, raising cylinder head temps and then using something like seafoam will clear out alot of carbon in your engine. It will help your gas mileage a bit if you have been running low grade gas lately, or have never cleaned out the engine before.

witeshark · 04-25-2006, 05:56 PM

What a great thread - thanks c1apton and all

**scrichy84** · 04-25-2006, 06:07 PM

I was just reading this about 10 minutes ago thinking that it would be a great thread to bring alive. Great job on it guys!

**doughboyea** · 04-25-2006, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c1apton

* Buy your fuel in the early morning - when the temps are cooler fuel contracts and you actually get more for the $. Some stations try to offset it by putting heaters on their pump lines but you still get more if you buy in early hours vs afternoon or evening.

You know that the tanks for the fuel are kept below the frost line... so the temps are pretty much the same year round in the tank... just thought you should know

Dough

**Numark318i** · 04-25-2006, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doughboyea

You know that the tanks for the fuel are kept below the frost line... so the temps are pretty much the same year round in the tank... just thought you should know

Dough

good to know.

anyone have more tips?

Also keep ur car maintained. Oil changes, Plus, Wires, air filter..etc. If your cars running more efficiently due to plugs, oil, filter...you will use the gas pedal a little less cause ur car wont need as much gas to get up and go. If that makes sence. Also it will help save you money on uneeded repair bills.

**EnvyM3** · 04-26-2006, 07:44 AM

Best saving tip of all......Carpool

Sounds like I'm joking but I'm serious. Have your friends drive you around and you won't spend a dime.

**c1apton** · 04-26-2006, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Numark318i

good to know.

anyone have more tips?

Here's little trick (more of a game) This applies to all except the ///M rides. When driving "try" to keep your MPG meter (below speedo) as high as you can. If I'm not mistaken our ///M bros have the oil temp guage there.
That MPG meter is actually a vacuum guage & the higher the reading the less fuel you are using.

**dinan540** · 04-27-2006, 10:18 AM

What a great thread. Good stuff to know.

nick_318is · 04-27-2006, 02:08 PM

My suggestion is don't drive around like an asshole all day, I like to try and make the 318is fast which probably takes a few MPG away.

**doughboyea** · 04-27-2006, 06:00 PM

You know, it's really hard to maintain a really good mpg. In the past, I've been able to get ~450-500 mi on one 16 gallon tank (I'm extreamly aware of this because my 190E only would go 260 to 300mi).

Then, slowly, I've been loosing my range. Last summer, the embarassing situation occured where I ran out of gas

. When that happened, I was exactly at 444mi. That was the summer after I had my DME reprogramed. Odd. Well now, I'm down to only ~400mi on one tank. Just got a bottle of STP fuel system cleaner (cost me over $7.00). I put that funky additive in yesterday. I'm also going to do my best to use a feather on my gas pedal.

To date, after ~70mi, the OBC is saying 28.6mpg, of course that means more like 27mpg.

I guess we'll see how this tank (and the ones that follow) end up.

Dough

**c1apton** · 04-27-2006, 06:35 PM

Dough, you might consider changing fuel filter if you haven't done so recently. A good time is AFTER you run STP or any good fuel line cleaner through. I'm coming up on Insp II and have STP in the tank right now - will change fuel filter at that point. (you also don't need the concentrated STP - the little bottle at a $1.00 or just above does an OK job. I do it 3-4 times a year and injectors are like new)

**CAPiTUL** · 04-30-2006, 11:58 AM

Shit, I'm only getting like 20 miles p/gal, on average, with my ride.

Honestly, though, these high prices are a blessing in disguise. America has long been glutonous with its fuel consumption. Maybe this will smack some sense into her.

It kind of pisses me off. Back in 97 I purchased a 95 Saturn (. . don't even go there!) and it was getting 27 mpg in the city and well over 33 on the hwy. I see cars bragging about 25 in the city now. WTF.