My Summer Challenge 2011
 

Summer Challenge 2011

Its about time for my semi-annual self challenge, its something I normally do on the tedious drive to the family vacation to keep my self awake. Last year it was to drive from Warrington to the French Atlantic coast via Dover and Calais (1460miles) on less than 4 full tanks of fuel in the family Megane Scenic people carrier (1.4l gas) loaded to the gills with Kiddy / holiday stuff. I managed it, just even though we were cruising at 130kph on the French side and roughly 70mph (officer) in the UK I still had 1/3 of a tank (4 UK Gallons) left

This year I’m changing the stakes a bit. I’m going to the 24hr of Le Mans. So my challenge is to do the 1170miles on two tanks of in the Polo

Specs
Polo life average (at the time of print) 49mpg
Polo Tank size 11.5 gallons
Distance 1170
Required MPG 50.89

Now that might not seem the hardest thing ever. Here are the challenge points

1. The most I’ve ever got out of one tank in the polo is 571miles each leg is 585miles

2. Practically all of the driving is at freeway speeds, which = high revs, something a basic 4-squirt-per-turn mechanical diesel injection fuel system isn’t the most efficient thing for. My commute is 1/3rd back roads where the speed is a down in the 50’s

3. The car will be loaded to the roof with camping gear, BBQ, chairs, beer etc. Normally its empty and single occupant

4. No matter what time you try and go through Rouen, there is normally a huge tailback.

5. The French AutoRoute system is a Peage system with tolls every no and again. So I’ll have to accelerate all that mass each time

6. Call me chicken but I really don’t want to run out of diesel in France in a German car on the weekend where there is a HUGE French-German motorsport rivalry (Audi vs. Peugeot @ Le Mans)

7. 11.5 gallons is down to the fuel in the pipes – not something diesels or diesel pumps like

Drive slower !
110 kph / 69 mph will save a lot compared to 130 kph (French PSL)
100 kph / 62.5 mph will save even more.

It's gotten a lot better in recent years, with more automated pumps accepting debet / credit cards. Haven't had any problem at all getting fuel for the M/C, back in 2007.
Shouldn't be a problem on the motorway, though you'll pay premium prices there.

in the UK, I normally run at 2750rpm = 68 mph, but from Dover I'm in convoy with friends who tend to run a bit quicker . one of them got pulled by the Police the other year on the Perifique (sp) doing 130mph, not 130 kph and told the nice policeman he we just obeying the signed limit. he got a 200 euro fine :D

might be a chance to apply some tank tape aero mods and cover them in Le Mans stickers and claim its just part of the banter!

Accelerate after pulling out of one toll, kill engine, coast right into next toll:cool:

" This boattail brought to you by Le Mans!"

First of all, have fun :cool:

You will have so much idling near Le Mans when arriving and leaving... I'll think about you :p

Get a full jerrycan into the trunk, it will not handicap you. Do you have a manual pump under the hood in case of running out of diesel ?

On the way back you should slow down, your friends and you should be able to come back home without any help ;)

Your friend is a lot lucky to not be French. At 200km/h = 130mph (in fact as soon as PSL+50km/h 31mph) I would have the car immediately confiscated and I would have been in prison all week-end long...

Denis.

1. Sleep without tent/camping equipment. (Take coroplast belly pan off car, lay on ground, sleep on that).

2. Live off cold sandwiches for the weekend. (No need for BBQ).

3. Chairs? Sit on that same coroplast that you slept on the night before!

4. Buy beer at Le Mans instead of hauling it from home. Consume all beer bought at Le Mans so that you don't have to haul it back to home.

Look at all the weight you'll shave off your trip, not to mention the aero! ;)

Seriously though, have a good time at the track. Hope you achieve your Summer Challenge 2011 goal!

John

Good point about the beer, french beer is better and cheaper!!!

hmmm what aeromods can I do.....

Law will change very soon in France. @50km/h (31mph) over PSL you get

• a 3750€ (5250$) ticket, instead of 300€
• and 3 month prison

This is added to the the car confiscation, the 6 lost points on the driving license (out of 12) and its temporary cancellation of 6 months.

The same with others problems such as phoning while driving which goes from 2 points & 35€ to 3 points & 135€.

By now a stranger will have only the ticket, but France is working with all European countries to be able to apply prison and points/license cancellation too.

Denis.

Come on Rob..Assuming you have a satnav and a moblie phone, you should be able to catch them up if they zoom off..

And I'd maybe suggest trying the Dreaded P& G (engine on!)

Guid luck

No Sat - but I know(jinx) how to get there.....

techniques employed will be:

*Coasting in traffic / upto tolls (eONc)
*Liberal doses of drafting
*Low upshifts away from tolls
*Cruise RPM to be 2750 (110kph)

Going to think of some subtle duct tape based aero - the Grille block will be back but there maybe more!

suggestions please - but don't forget the car will be parked in a busy campsite during the weekend and maybe subject to beer related sabaotage, so nothing too extreme

Need to think of simple removeable mods

How is that possible, can you buy mild in France now ? Although Pelforth Brun is superb if you could bring me some back... :D

I am late to the debate (as usual) however my suggestions would be :

1. Cheap tent from Tesco - they cost £6 and weigh nothing. And you can throw it away and save weight on the way back. Same for any other camping gear - you save on the return journey.

2. 2x5litre cans of Diesel for emergencies. You don't need a full jerrycan but they do sell them in Machine Mart if you feel the need. 2x5 litres should get you ~100-130 miles which should be enough ? They weigh 10-15KG max when full.

3. Tyres to the max for gliding / cruising - this has made the most difference in Helga and I'm obsessive now about when I can feel the ride softening - clue : fillings still in place. :D

4. Remove the rear seats if you don't need them, same for the spare and jack. Instead uprate your AA card to Europe cover and take a can of tyre sealer.

5. Pressure wash to remove crud which is also weight and also rust :D

6. Italian tune up before you go + a couple of "0-60 Diesel Additive" bottles. I have an unscientific 5-10% gain from these.

After that its technique such as drafting and coasting where possible. I haven't done that part of France so I don't know it too well - I haven't done Le Mans ... yet maybe. :D

1- Buying to throw away is a NONO- resource use, young man!

2. Agreed on the Fuel

3. The french Autoroutes should allow damn good tire pressures- meaning the Glide can be bloody long!

4. Is a spare not a legal requirement in France?

5. TOO RIGHT

6. Italian tune FTW- certainly perked up my bro's polo:thumbup:


Drafting should be good- but more trucks can be found on french A roads- they usually use them to avoid the tolls:rolleyes:

Not the spare. The fluorescent vests and a fluorescent triangle must be in the cabin.

Denis.

I'd forget that challenge, and arrive in France with as little diesel as you dare.
Fill up in France, go as far as you can, fill up so you'll make Calais - or whatever port - again, and fill up again, including the jerrycans if you're allowed to take them on the crossing.

You'll save a fair bit of Pounds by fueling up in France rather than in the UK :rolleyes:

good points.......

gonna ditch the space saver - pointless littl thing, back seats..... maybe:)

but I will ballon the tyres!

The cheap ones from Tesco are more or less single use anyway. :rolleyes:

Don't bother with a tent, recycle bin bags with tape.

I have a tesco one I bought a couple of years back and it still hasn't even been opened....might just make the polo into a camper!

Seems My challenge may be over before it starts.....

the 15 year old LHS driveshaft has decided it doesn't want to play anymore without droning at me - damn it

this is putting my whole trip to motorsports mecca in jeopardy

C'mon Rob, you have a spare on the other side, no ? Surely although Chug is ill, you have the technology ?

If not, maybe a temp smoker like one of those European charity runs competitors ?

You can't miss LM.

Plus the second option means that, oooh, that BMW 540 is just the ONLY choice... :D

tempted find something like a 540 on fleebay for peanuts - abuse it - then sell it for exactly the same as I bought it when I get back!

but that wouldn't be the ecomodder way... would it ;)

if you're smart, the 540 manual would sell (engine and gearbox only) for enough to cover the cars price and petrol for the trip

I'd suggest you knuckle down and sort the shaft- cant be too difficult, or pay a garage to do it? driveshaft change cant be too complicated

What, like your bentley ? :D

Plus you will be recycling it as 320 taps.

Took it to the experts - although there is play in the shaft they think its the drivers side wheel bearing(?) little confused on that as it getquiter when I turn left nand louder going right so you'd have thought LH wheel bearing wouldn't you???

there the experts so I see what they come up with.

found a rough e30 320is - now there is an engine and box worth saving!

bit emotional over BEN the Bentley - he was finally pensioned off from the mileage accumulation fleet the other week.... now living the comfy life with a customer

Not really- a whiny 4pot thats stunted to 2.0 for insurance purposes in italy...

buy an e36 m3 for £3k and make 4.5k selling the bits off it after a good thrash..

OK

- wheel bearing change - no improvement
- putting the pootang ditchfinder part-worn remoulds on the back.........huge Improvement! but still warbling slightly - change them next payday.

Also I got brave on my last tank and drage 572miles out of it. It was well into the red but with a gallon Gerry can to act as a get out of jail free card I'm starting to think this do-able...... as that was a drop down to 59(uk) when the past few tanks have been 60's

btw the polo tank is 40 litres, the reserve , filter and lines make up another 5 litres and I've just put 43.66 litres in!!! :0

Warbling getting worse and it was getting hard to select gears - Its currentyl in getting a 'box oil change while I'm at work...

I'm not crossing my fingers anymore, my pesimist side has won the day!

If the car is still mobile on thursday at 6am I'll be very surprised - even then will it be able to do nearly 600miles in two legs?

Is it a cable operated clutch or a hydraulic one? could it have the old Mk 1 golf issue of bulkhead being pulled apart by cable movement?

Its a diesel- just lock the box in 4th and off you go:turtle:

ZERO HOUR

The gearbox oild top up helped, so has a new wheel bearing but at the end of the day there are nearly 1200 miles in front of a battered and abused city car.

wish me luck!

(p.s. cable)

Best of British, old Bean!

Have fun on the trip !

firstly and mostly importantly - I survived (obviously....cos i'm writing this!)

so did the Polo

I managed a the downward leg, including a getting it wrong an having a detour. as I took the wrong direction out of the ferry port. 584 miles on 11.45 US gal. 51mpg(us) but it was on fumes. As I restarted at the fuel start the revs shot up as it self-carb'd the air in the fuel pipes!

I had to stop a couple of times due to the smelling gearbox oil - the garage that topped the oil up didn't torque off the drain plug (they flushed it) so It basically did the reaining weekend on what hadn't seaped out. oh and the exhaust fell off just afer Rouen.


Knowing the tank could to the distance and more I decided not to do the same on the way back up - especially as I need to get to Calais through the traffic (360,000 people watched the end of the race at the circuit - one that doesn't have the most modern traffic infrastructure!
I was pretty certain the Car wouldn't make it home through france because I was hearing all kinds of noises so I decided to give it an autobahn economy test/ultimate italian tune-up. I simply turned the radio up and cruised at 120-130kph waiting for the enevitable bang or squeal or crunch of something catastrophic lunching itself
but after just over 4 hours I pulled into Calais..... pretty decent run, and while drafting a Porsche 911GT3 RS (yep) I found the polo goes eerily silent at around 155kph.

the remaining 285miles took 4hr40min and but I only needed a £10(@147p pe litre) splash and dash to get home. but there is still quite a bit left in the tank!

challenge = complete

as soon as I have refuelled the car I'll be able to tell you what the 75mph average was pretty certain its over 45MPGus.

Hurrah! gawd bless the derv!:)

Glad you made it in one piece, and given the cnhance to upgrade the exhanust too- it has been generous!

I remember covering 3000 miles with a sock for a rear topmount in the 320- Radio full blast..

Also, Autobhan stroming behind all sorts of exotica:D

thanks to the smoke -only regs for the MOT on the polo I might ditch the CAT and go stainless

And the figures are in

Leg one
61.49MPGuk - 51.19MPGus for 586miles cruising at 65-70mph

Leg two
53.48MPGuk - 44.53MPGus Cruising at 75-80mph Peaking at well beyond the legal limit while chasing exotica through Nord-pas-de-Calais!

both leg completed with around 100kgs worth of camping equipment on board

50+ MPGuk while hooning along loaded to the gills, thats my kind of economy!!

Rob, I laughed my head off reading your report, nothing beats truly ropey motoring :D I wonder, did you find any time at all for some hypermiling? I'm going to guess that the Porsche may have the answer to that one!

on the way down I did, eONc down hills, drafting 2750rpm limit, dwl on hills. There isn't much else you can do for pure cruising P&G-ing it would have driven me up the flipping wall if I tried to down for hour after hour!

still, it goes to show how good unstressed diesels are for economy, I'd love to see a petrol car to that kind of speed with that quantity of luggage and return that kind of mileage!

Figures are pretty damn good-top work!

as for your statment above, the 535i managed 35.36 mpg on a 145mile round trip to the unit with an engine crane! and all my tools in it.. P&G with E(on) Glide FTW!

And I can almost guarentee that it'd be happier porsche baiting:thumbup::D:eek:

yeah but theres the sense of achievement doing it in the polo! :D