Clubjazz - Honda Jazz & HR-V Forums

Other Hondas & General Topics => Off Topic (Non-Honda) => Topic started by: Jocko on July 14, 2017, 03:29:00 PM

Title: Spending on motoring.
Post by: Jocko on July 14, 2017, 03:29:00 PM
I am a week away from my first year as a Honda Jazz owner. Everything I have spent on it has been logged in a spreadsheet. I also keep a diary of what I have done to the car and also for logging journeys other than the day to day taxiing of Mrs Jocko.
Every year end I top off with fuel and then do a year end audit. I tabulate cost/mile, average weekly running expenses, average weekly mileage and such like. I have done this for years (it is just so much easier using a computer).
Anyone else as anal?
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: peteo48 on July 14, 2017, 08:23:57 PM
Yes ;D!

I have always kept a detailed record of my fuel consumption manually using the brim to brim method. I used to log this in a book but I now use Fuelly.com - there are other sites that do a similar thing. It gives you graphs and pie charts - I love a good pie chart!

I also keep a record of all maintenance and repairs in an accounts book.

Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: Jocko on July 14, 2017, 09:00:36 PM
I first started with a notebook and pen back in 1978. I'd just bought a 3 year old FIAT 126. I've recorded every car and bike since. Back in 1997 I moved over to using the computer, with my Vauxhall Cavalier 2.0i CD.
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: John Ratsey on July 14, 2017, 09:21:10 PM
I've always kept a record of the fuel. That's how I discovered that my Austin A35 gave around 36mpg irrespective of how it was driven (and with a 5 gallon tank it needed frequent refuelling). However, I've only got about 15 years of records in a spreadsheet and haven't seen the previous paper logs recently.
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: jazzway on July 14, 2017, 09:52:23 PM
I love my spreadsheets, for everything.   ;D  :D

Here a screenshot of the maintenance overview, it's linked to a list with every part changed, installed, when, where and the costs, plus it's linked to the fuel consumption list.

(https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/85q0ywo1yz6aj0b/jazz-onderhoud.jpg)
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: Jocko on July 14, 2017, 09:52:49 PM
My paper logs had to go. I had no room to bring them with me when I left the family home. They might still be there but all I have now is the past 20 years on computer. First fill up, back in 1997, cost 66.7p/litre. Cavalier had 90K miles on it when I bought it and I did a further 90K before giving it to my nephew. I did 82.5K with my Volvo (as you can see I soon get tired of my cars!). Think the Jazz will see me out. Next July I have to reapply for my licence! I remember when I got the first computer licence, back in 1973, and it said it expired in 2018. Never believed that would ever come round.
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: peteo48 on July 15, 2017, 10:24:17 AM
Loving the spread sheets Jazzway. My IT skills are not the best but I'm tempted to drag myself into the 21st century!
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: jazzway on July 18, 2017, 11:21:46 PM
Loving the spread sheets Jazzway. My IT skills are not the best but I'm tempted to drag myself into the 21st century!
Thanks!
With my work in the IT business it is maybe a little easier, but i am by no means a spreadsheet specialist. ;) I am happy to help you if you want! This spreadsheet is in iOS Numbers, btw.

The reason i made it is that our brother in law maintains our car (he owns an independent garage) and he encouraged me to order the parts myself to save us some costs. The spreadsheet 'warns' me in time to order stuff, which i order for a part in the UK. I print out a complete calendar year list of maintenance, work and other parts (lamps, tires, etc.) and that goes into the service booklet of the car.
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: madasafish on July 19, 2017, 06:43:13 AM
I use Fuelly .Much simpler.

https://www.fuelly.com/driver/madasafish/jazz?fu=5188302 (https://www.fuelly.com/driver/madasafish/jazz?fu=5188302)
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: Jocko on July 19, 2017, 06:58:24 AM
I use Fuelly too, but only for my petrol and not for any other costs.
Checked your link but it just said
Error
There was a problem accessing this vehicle
Title: Spending on motoring.
Post by: jazzway on July 19, 2017, 09:59:52 PM
The spreadsheet is more than a fuel/costs calculator like Fuelly and Spritmonitor. I also use Spritmonitor.

I use Fuelly too, but only for my petrol and not for any other costs.
Checked your link but it just said
Error
There was a problem accessing this vehicle

I thought you used Spritmonitor, like me? ;)
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: Jocko on July 20, 2017, 06:21:32 AM
I use both. Spritmonitor lets me post here. Fuelly allows lots of info in signature which doesn't work here.
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: RichardA on July 23, 2017, 06:51:52 PM
I've been keeping a spreadsheet for years of my fuel log. I did briefly use a phone app but the records went a bit wonky if I didn't update for a while. (can't remember the name of app, but it was a free Android-based app).

I added the mpg readout column to the spreadsheet to compare the trip computer with the spreadsheet calculations. The From column was to see if there was any difference in using branded or super unleaded over supermarket unleaded.

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Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: Jocko on July 23, 2017, 08:50:08 PM
Surprisingly similar to me, Richard.
(http://i.imgur.com/EXSz7Ox.jpg)
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: peteo48 on July 23, 2017, 09:11:21 PM
I'm massively impressed with your mpg Jocko. Of late I've been averaging 40 or slightly less. What type of motoring do you do? I have to say I do a lot of short journeys and relatively little motorway or other trunk road type work.
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: Jocko on July 23, 2017, 09:26:49 PM
I'm massively impressed with your mpg Jocko. Of late I've been averaging 40 or slightly less. What type of motoring do you do? I have to say I do a lot of short journeys and relatively little motorway or other trunk road type work.
I do a lot of short journeys, here in Kirkcaldy. Four miles each morning and lunch time, Monday to Friday.
This is my ScanGauge E data for a typical day.

Distance travelled: 8.0 miles.
Average mpg: 49.7 mpg
Average speed: 17 mph
Max speed: 32 mph
Maximum revs: 2576 rpm
Max coolant temp: 77°C

At the weekend we pop over to Lothian so my wife can visit her family.
This is the data for a typical weekend run. Mainly dual carriageway/motorway.

Distance travelled: 93.9 miles.
Average mpg: 57.2 mpg
Average speed: 34 mph
Max speed: 57 mph
Maximum revs: 3431 rpm
Max coolant temp: 85°C

The fuel figures in my spreadsheet are calculated, not from the ScanGauge or dashboard read out.
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: Jocko on July 23, 2017, 09:34:48 PM
No coasting with Engine Off, like the Hypermilers do. Don't believe in it. I feel it is not safe.
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: peteo48 on July 23, 2017, 09:59:08 PM
Thanks for the stats Jocko.

Feel a bit better now. You are doing a lot more distance work than me and even your short stuff is longer than mine if that makes sense.

But impressive figures nevertheless.
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: Jocko on July 24, 2017, 07:06:21 AM
Took my wife to her work this morning and on returning home downloaded the ScanGauge data for the trip.

Average mpg: 55.4 mpg
Max coolant temp: 74°C
Distance travelled: 3.9 miles
Maximum revs: 2614 rpm
Max speed: 33 mph
Average speed: 20 mph

So that was cold car out of garage, drive better half to hospital, drop her at door, return home and park car in street ready to pick her up at lunch time. Quite good figures considering engine never got fully warmed up (84°C).
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: guest5079 on July 24, 2017, 09:07:40 AM
Whilst I keep a record of what is done to the car, I do not keep a record of fuel. Every so often I do a check and each time it comes out at around 45mpg. This is very mixed driving.
However reference to Peteo, One occasion after doing  a trip of 10 miles stopping,  then did a couple of miles in the middle, before returning to a fair distance run and it went down to 32mpg before returning to normal. So short runs are without question fuel guzzlers.
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: Jocko on July 24, 2017, 09:54:22 AM
I find short runs gives me a lot more opportunity to improve my mileage. On a long trunk road run, short of keeping your speed in check and driving to avoid having to use the brakes, there is not a lot you can do. However in town and on short trips you have much greater scope. Since fitting the ScanGauge I have found that by slowing in a high gear, with no throttle and low revs, I may get 130 mpg, but by changing down and allowing engine braking I use no fuel at all as the Deceleration Fuel Cut Off comes into play.
Also, on my usual morning trip, the route chosen to avoid as many sets of lights as possible, I know exactly where to lift off the throttle so that the car slows to the speed I want without having to use the brakes.
While my wife gathers her things and gets out the car I used to leave the engine running. Now, for the 30 or so seconds it takes her to get organised, I switch off. Some people will say that causes wear and tear on the starter and drains the battery, etc, but for the 230 extra starts it adds each year, I don't think I need worry.
Since fitting the ScanGauge, and noting what works and what doesn't, I have improved my mph by about 15 - 20%.




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Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: guest5079 on July 25, 2017, 11:06:50 AM
We are forever told that the way to maximum fuel efficiency is, to maintain a light foot, avoid heavy braking try to anticipate other drivers movements and keep the speed to around 56mph in an appropriate highest gear.
I freely admit to being a bit heavy footed as when I am on open road, hills or otherwise I try and maintain my speed.
Yesterday, I filled up with petrol, which I usually do when the tank gets to half full and decided to try an experiment. I did not slow down to 56mph on the dual carriageway but I did try and be a bit more light footed. After I filled up, my gizmo told me I had '480 miles to my next garage'. I take little notice of this normally BUT yesterday on reaching home I had 490 miles left after 54 miles since filling up. All I did was not increase the power as much on hills. So whats the answer?  The only difference was a slightly lighter right foot, I still bumbled along at 70 where I could.
All of this involved avoiding the hoard from the metropolis causing mayhem in their quest to get to the sea. I travel the A30 once fortnight and see the VERY occasional accident, yesterday 3 accidents
all appeared to be overtaking problems.
Title: Re: Spending on motoring.
Post by: Jocko on July 25, 2017, 12:27:52 PM
Seemingly, the experts drive in their stocking soles. I would worry I picked up a stone on my sole, and it wouldn't come to light until I had to do some heavy braking! Did consider driving it my old,  thin, dancing shoes.