Town or motorway driving, which is better in the long run

[Mcp138]

Hey there everyone

Im really confused and need an expert opinion or two. Basically which is better for the engine, Town or motorway driving. Also which would give the highest Miles per gallon figure

Town advantages -Engine usually run for less time (doesnt have to cope with as much heat)

Motorway Advantages - Constant loads on engine, No momentum lost due to lots of accelerating/braking

Cheers for your thoughts!

 

[mountainmachine]

I'd imagine:

Motorway Advantages - Constant loads on engine, No momentum lost due to lots of accelerating/braking

As too be honest no high loads on the engine if driven properly. better mpg figure.

As you wont be going many miles around town. Say averaging 15mph motorway say 60mph.

 

[Rampage94]

motorway unless it's bumper to bumper. if it's a clear run then its perfect.

 

[182_blue]

hmm, constant same speed on the motorway is not particularly good for new engines, then again short stop start journeys aren't particularly good for them either, mixed driving conditions are ideal really then again modern engines should stand upto most driving situations so i wouldn't worry to much

as for mpg then motorway is best if you keep to a reasonable speed (i.e about a constant 60 ish !!!!!, couldnt do that myself though)

 

[custard]

really a mix is best.
the killer is constant town driving.
my 1st cinq engine was very 'tight' and didnt rev well which i put down to it being used only in town for short journeys

 

[Hellcat]

In order of MPG..

1. Motorways.
2. Town
3. A and B roads :slayer:

Remember, you're more likely to damage your car in town than you are on a motorway. Oh and all that wear on the clutch too.

A car used by a rep - zipping up and down the motorways each day - might have 100k on it after 3/4 years. I'd bet it would feel tighter than a car with half the mileage which had been used in town.

 

[faster4_tec]

I would say the same as hellcat.

A car thats been used to get on long journeys onto motorway them bombed up and down will probably be your best bet.

g'box will be good too as it hasn't shifted that many times.

next time your in town count how many times you change gear in ten miles, then compare to the motorway (if its clear there really is no need to drop gears unless you have my car, which is fine with 1 person, but with any load whatsoever 3rd is called upon regulary ).


mine had 52k of country and super smooth A66 driving, never went anywhere else and felt practically like new except rear drums were seized due to lack of usage
after some B road bashing in the lakes 3/4 free'd up, the remaining one had to be replaced and brakes were immense ever since.

driven it in sunderland now for 1.5years.
THE suspesnion needs CONSTANT attention (speedbumps, potholes, chattered crp roads and traffic calming), the g'box is totally recked, 3rd gear is a regular nailbiter will it go will it not??
the brakes and front tyres are worn out after about 5/6k since new
its got about 10 new door dings (AHOLES)
new clutch feel's well worn in already.
on th upside the handbrake works nicely as its used all th time, so is really positve and holds perfectly.

 

[arc]

g'box will be good too as it hasn't shifted that many times.

indeed, an overused box will be a bit sloppy - and that's no good.

 

[faster4_tec]

or like mine, doesn't like gears and car wobbles violently sometimes when unloaded/ sligthly loaded (when you are barely using any throttle on a flat road to hold speed). think its the output shaft bearings

 

[Mcp138]

Cheers for all the replies!

Starting to make more sense now, its always interesting to get other peoples opinions.

 

[BenW]

Town advantages -Engine usually run for less time (doesnt have to cope with as much heat)

An engine in town will get hotter as it doesnt have the cold air hitting the radiator.

All the rest has already been said, motorways are best although i never go on them, can't stand them!

 

[GhostWKD]

dont forget nipping to the shops and back all the time, the car will never get up to operating temp and will always be on teh warmup cycle

 

[Skate2create]

dont forget nipping to the shops and back all the time, the car will never get up to operating temp and will always be on teh warmup cycle

...which occassionally leads to gunk build up on the underside of the oil filler cap which people often mistake for head gasket failure

 

[GhostWKD]

good call yup that doesnt get the condensation out as it never heats up enough

 

[multipete]

most engine wear happens when the engine is cold,so motor way driving is heaps better...............