Diesel vs Petrol

I gonna write about BMW once again. Today on the road I saw a BMW 530d. During then I was wondering why does people buy a 530d instead of a 530i. I always think that fuel efficiency for petrol is always better compare to diesel. Probably because all heavy duty vehicle back home uses diesel and it emits lots of carbon monoxide to the air. When I saw BMW 530d on the road , I was thinking that there are something on 530d that I will need to find out. First thing that i found out about 530d is the fuel consumption. It is more efficient compare to 530i. The next thing will be the huge torque advantage (369lb ft vs 221 lb ft) over 530i. I manage to find an article that wrote about the advantage of diesel over petrol and the technology used in making the fuel consumption more efficient.

Models	530d	530i
Engine
Cylinders	6	6
Valves	24	24
Capacity	2,993 cc	2996 cc
Maximum Power	160 kW / 218 bhp / 4,000 rpm	200 kW / 272 bhp / 6650 rpm
Maximum Torque	480 Nm / 1,750 rpm	315 Nm / 2750 rpm
Fuel Consumption
City	10.3l / 100km	13.6l / 100km
Highway	5.9l / 100km	6.8l / 100km
Combined	7.5l / 100km	9.3l / 100km

Source : http://www.bmw.com.au/

As little as fifteen years ago, the diesel/petrol conundrum didn’t really exist. Diesels were slow, unrefined and fit only for taxis. It didn’t matter that they were cheaper to run than the petrol equivalent, because to stop at the black pump was to become a social pariah. But in the past few years, new technology has revolutionised the diesel engine so that they’re now a genuine and desirable alternative to petrol power.

The most significant technological breakthroughs concern the development of direct injection and common rail turbodiesel technology. Direct injection, as the name suggests, is a process by which the fuel is injected directly into the combustion chamber. The fuel supply can therefore be controlled more precisely, improving the efficiency of the combustion process. The latest common rail systems can also operate at a much higher pressure, further enhancing the detonation process. The result is more performance with improved fuel efficiency.

No less important has been the development of pre- or ‘pilot’ ignition systems. A tiny quantity of fuel is injected into the chamber and ignited before the primary combustion takes place. This minimises the harsh “knocking” or rattle sound traditionally associated with diesel powerplants. As a result, the latest diesel engines are now all-but as refined as their petrol equivalents.

The traditional image of diesel has been utterly transformed and it hasn’t taken drivers long to catch on. Executives who once sneered at the thought of a diesel car, are now revelling in the performance, refinement and fuel economy of the latest six and eight cylinder turbodiesel engines.

The petrol-powered BMW 530i and the diesel 530d cost similar money. The 530i has more power (258bhp vs 218bhp) but the diesel has a huge torque advantage (369lb ft vs 221 lb ft). In real world driving conditions, it’s the 535d that’s the faster, more engaging companion. And that’s before you consider the fuel savings – the 530d achieves an average of 40.9mpg, 8.8mpg more than the 530i. The diesel 5-series is not just more enjoyable to drive; it’s also cheaper to run.

This diesel-mania is even infesting the racing community. We’ve had diesel racers before – VW even sent a diesel van to the track – but they were no more than a token gesture, a marketing gimmick to appease the do-gooders. But now Peugeot is committed to building a diesel-powered Le Mans racer and Audi might well follow suit. They reckon they can achieve performance and economy, which in a 24 hours race is crucial.

Some commentators have suggested that we’re entering the age of the diesel, but such proclamations might be premature. Much of the technology that’s being used to such fine effect in modern turbodiesels is also beginning to filter into petrol engines. The Volkswagen group, for example, already offers a range of direct injection petrol engines that offer improved fuel economy and lower exhaust emissions. Audi’s Le Mans winning R8 was powered by a direct injection petrol engine, and a road-going derivative is employed to fine effect in the Volkswagen Golf GTi.

Sports car manufacturers will continue to favour petrol over diesel power. Petrol engines tend to weigh less than the diesel equivalent – an important consideration in a high performance car – and their free revving nature makes them more fun to drive. Many sports car drivers also continue to prefer the sonorous roar of a performance petrol engine to the more muted, deep bass mutterings of a diesel. Don’t expect to see a diesel-engined Ferrari rumbling down your high street anytime soon.

And while Le Mans may soon be populated by diesels, sprint racing will continue to be dominated by petrol power. A diesel-powered F1 car remains a preposterous suggestion, unless they change the rules. The point is not that diesel is about to replace petrol, but that for the first time we have a genuine choice. That can only be a good thing.

Source : http://www.castrol.com/

Increase of Petrol Price

Petrol prices are predicted to rise to an average of $1.50 per litre over this week as oil has hit the $US100 a barrel mark for the first time. But there are still places that sell petrol at the rate of $1.369

Implement some simple fuel saver tips to get 31% more for your fuel dollar this week.

Top Fuel Saver tip – Fuel watch (but don’t get caught)

NRMA research has shown that motorists using services such as Fuel Watch can save approximately $200 per year on their fuel costs.

Australia State Fuel Watch services:

Victoria	http://petrol.racv.com.au/index.jsp
Western Australia	http://www.fuelwatch.com.au
NSW, SA, WA, Vic, Qld (mostly metropolitan areas)	http://www.motormouth.com.au

But what about the dilemma where you have discount vouchers but the cheapest Fuel Watch station does not accept vouchers. Don’t get caught like I did..

The Fuel Watch web page gave an independent garage (Unigas) nearby as having the cheapest fuel at $1.25 a litre. I had a Woolworths discount voucher for 4 cents per litre plus an additional 4 cents off per litre if I use my Visa card. I figured that the Caltex/Woolworth garage would probably be a better bet – surely they can’t be more than 8 cents more expensive than the independent petrol station?

So I drove off to the Caltex/Woolworths garage and saw they were a whopping 12 cents per litre more expensive! Back I headed to the Independent garage,only to find that they had moved up their prices to match Caltex Woolworths prices at lunchtime.

Fuel Watch Lesson 1: Go early in the morning after you have looked it up on the web as the fuel watch services generally check prices at 7:30 am.

Fuel Watch Lesson 2: If the fuel watch service lists a non voucher station as being the cheapest – do a quick comparison using the web instead of driving there. Here are some good sites to help you.

 

Check Shell prices (Coles) in your suburb.

Find a Caltex station near you that accepts Woolworths vouchers and call them up if need be.

 

Fuel Saver tips – Easy to do

1. Avoid high speeds. According to statistics quoted by the Motor Vehicle Repair Industry Authority, if you decrease your speed from 110 km per hour to 90 km per hour, you will save around 25% of your fuel bill. That’s 1 free tank in every 5! Going from 110 kmh to 100kmh saves you about 10%.
   
2. Increase tyre pressure. The RACV recommends that you inflate your vehicle’s tyres to the higher end of the manufacturer’s recommended range of tyre pressures and make sure your wheels are properly aligned. This will reduce fuel consumption as well as wear and tear (RACV).
   
3. Accelerate gently – don’t rev. Anticipate traffic ahead by slowing down and speeding up gently.
   
4. Go top gear as soon as you can, however don’t let your car struggle by going up to fast.
   
5. Plan your journey – minimise stops, hills, school zones and traffic lights. Flatter and constant travel is better even if it is a slight detour.
   
6. Avoid lengthy idling – According to the RACV switching the engine off for even a short while will save more than is lost from the burst when restarting and the wear and tear is negligible.
   
7. Maintain your car. Keep services up-to-date. A well maintained car uses less fuel and is safer.
   
8. Monitor Air conditioner use. According to the RACV, air conditioners can increase fuel consumption by between 5 and 10%, particularly on very hot days. However, at higher speeds, use of air conditioning is better for fuel consumption than open windows.
   
9. Minimise wind resistance by removing roof racks and visors. Close your windows at high speeds.
   
10. Remove unnecessary weight from the car especially the boot.
    
11. Coles and Woolworths fuel saver vouchers – we all know about them, keep your eyes open for extra deductions. For example, an additional 4 cents if you use your visa card. Don’t drive out of your way to find a petrol station that will give you a discount as it may cost you more in fuel driving there than you will save. If you don’t shop at Coles or Woolworths take a walk amongst their trolleys or parking garage, lots of spare cast off receipts.
    
12. Know the pricing cycle of your local service stations. Monday through to Wednesday morning is the cheapest time to buy fuel in the Sydney metropolitan area. In reality there is no set day that is the cheapest to buy fuel. Fuel Watch statistics shows that in Brisbane and Sydney the price cycle is usually at its lowest early in the week; in Melbourne and Adelaide it is generally at its lowest later in the week and in Perth it may be cheapest in the middle of the week.
    
13. Buy petrol early in the morning, especially in the summer months, as this is when the fuel in the station tanks is most dense and you can get as much as 5% more. It expands with the heat of the day and you pay more for less fuel. No topping up after the nozzle clicks because this extra fuel will either slosh out as you drive around and/or evaporate.
    
14. Reduce driving – Walk, cycle, pool trips or use alternative forms of transport and save on gym and doctor’s fees. Still the best way – you save 100% on fuel.

 

Fuel Saver tips – For the Serious Guzzlers

• Convert to gas (hybrid petrol and gas systems are available) – costs around $2000 and in some states like WA you can get a $500 rebate from the government.
  
• Lease your car through salary packaging. This usually allows you access to a fuel card which entitles you to “before tax” pricing and even with FBT it makes a positive difference at the end of the year. You can still use your discount fuel vouchers. (Check terms and conditions with your employer).
  
• Buy a smaller more fuel efficient car – no not that little red sports car you had your eye on.
  
• Buy a hybrid fuel cell car – like the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight (less than $30,000).

 

Source : http://www.enrichedyou.com.au/articles/fuel-saver-tips.html

 

Diagnosing problems from tyre wear.

Your tyre wear pattern can tell you a lot about any problems you might be having with the wheel/tyre/suspension geometry setup. The first two signs to look for are over- and under-inflation. These are relatively easy to spot:

Here’s a generic fault-finding table for most types of tyre wear:

Problem	Cause
Shoulder Wear Both Shoulders wearing faster than the centre of the tread
	Under-inflation
	Repeated high-speed cornering
	Improper matching of rims and tyres
	Tyres haven’t been rotated recently
Centre Wear The centre of the tread is wearing faster than the shoulders
	Over-inflation
	Improper matching of rims and tyres
	Tyres haven’t been rotated recently
One-sided wear One side of the tyre wearing unusually fast
	Improper wheel alignment (especially camber)
	Tyres haven’t been rotated recently
Spot wear A part (or a few parts) of the circumference of the tread are wearing faster than other parts.
	Faulty suspension, rotating parts or brake parts
	Dynamic imbalance of tyre/rim assembly
	Excessive runout of tyre and rim assembly
	Sudden braking and rapid starting
	Under inflation
Diagonal wear A part (or a few parts) of the tread are wearing diagonally faster than other parts.
	Faulty suspension, rotating parts or brake parts
	Improper wheel alignment
	Dynamic imbalance of tyre/rim assembly
	Tyres haven’t been rotated recently
	Under inflation
Feather-edged wear The blocks or ribs of the tread are wearing in a feather-edge pattern
	Improper wheel alignment (faulty toe-in)
	Bent axle beam

Source : http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg2.html