The octane discussion has been beaten to no end and will not need further addressing in this thread but honestly to save gas I just ride in a friend's car. If we go to lunch it is usually 4 people so I don't get to drive. Neither of my MINIs get 30mpg so i don't brag but I don't whine. I tell people I get the most "smiles per gallon".

 

I am amazed, with gas being as expensive as it is, at how many people I see driving around with underinflated tires. Maintaining appropriate tire pressure is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to maximize your fuel efficiency.

 

 

I employed some very basic hypermiling techniques and saw great mpg improvements in my manual Cooper.

A friend of mine switched from his runflats (once they wore out) to Bridgestone Ecopias and had a huge leap in his Cooper's (also manual) mpg.

 

I Googled the slippery wax tip - it's true they say - my Father-inlaw is right, go figure.

And switching to the Michelin green X low rolling resistance non-runflats in my sig did gain several MPG's on trips........

 

Not that it makes much difference, but I think you're forgetting the different size of the gallon, 1 imperial Gallon is about 08.US gallons. So your price is probably only about $8.43. (About what I payed for it last year over there.)

 

All the manuals I've ever read say 91 is "highly recommended". It doesn't say it'll run perfectly on 89/87, just that you could use it.

Both of my gas caps say 91 minimum.

 

I had a long conversation with my service advisor and a JCW owner (all three of us at the same time) about this and that info is only for the 2011's. Before 2011, they all should be on no lower than 91. I cringed in early Febuary when they hadn't plowed the streets well enough for me to get to the BP station I had been going to and had to chance it at the ritzy establishment of "Git 'n Go". this particular station only sold 87 octane and diesel. After that tank of gas even with a whole bottle of Techron, my gas mileage went from 27mpg to 19mpg. But after some serious 0-60-0's once the streets were clear, I go it back up to 23ish-mpg. Now I'm back in Shell country with 93 octane and back up to 40+mpg on the highway, 29mpg street. So it really does make a difference. I find that having my sport button on only in town seems to help since i don't have to romp on it to get going and when I'm not in traffic, press hard on my brake for a second and then let it coast to a stop. Also, every once in awhile, you have to let the car go.

 

I have driven my R53 20,000 miles and have a few observations, I always run 35lbs.in the GO19 grid tires, fresh oil & filters,a lot of great country roads here, I'm a fast but smooth driver, rarely sit in traffic, keep it under 100 mph.

cheap fuel, bad mileage
drive it like grandma 30 mpg
drive it like a stolen car 28 mpg

 

Make sure the air pressure is up on your tires. All tires will lose air over a period of time - sometimes 1 - 2 psi per month. Your tires can look "normal" but could be low by 5 psi or so. Will also make a big difference in handling. If you can stand the harsher ride, run a couple of psi extra and your mileage will increase even more. Don't over do it though.

 

All very good info, folks, keep it coming! As far as fuel goes, stands to reason, better gas = better performance. If, for a few days I feed myself nothing but crappy food, I feel like crap. The healthier my diet, the better I feel!

Thanks!

 

Firstly, Happy Fathers Day to all us Dads out there.


Don't wash ...
Sports button on...
rarely check tire pressure...
no name gas @87 octane....
windows down and A/C running during summer...
stomp on gas peddle at green light...
Driving with loaded vehicle...

All in all I'm doing it right.

 

 

My experience confirms this, but I realize that many will never accept this.

I live in the mountains of Western NC (about an hour from the Dragon) with lots of twisty roads. I have averaged 37.5 MPG since buying last July and that's with an MC automatic. Sometimes I push it hard and sometimes I try not to be the "fool in that little car". I have topped 39 MPG on a tank when driven sanely and gone as low as 35 MPG on a tank that included some really fun drives.

These numbers are derived by calculating: miles/gallons, not the onboard computer which is for entertainment only.

However, nothing beats a good nights sleep, so use nothing but 93 octane if it helps you.

 

While this might save you a couple of bucks at the pump, it WILL NOT boost your mpg, so the savings will be moot.

However, running ethanol free gas will net 1-2 higher mpg than 10% ethanol gas.

 

Ok, so this weekend we check my Michelin run-flat tires pressure. 3 of them were about 4psi over, let out some of the air to get recommended reading. Get in my MINI to come to work, and get the low tire warning So I guess the recommended psi is the lowest that should be in the tires? Gonna put air in them when I get home from my 22 mile commute, hope it's ok. It rode fine, and they look ok...

 

New to this, but it sounds like you need to reinitialize the tire pressure monitoring system so the low tire warning doesn't go off when they're at the correct pressure.

Turn car on, before you drive home, press and hold the TPM button (mine is on the passenger side of the e-brake handle) roughly 5 seconds or until the low pressure warning comes on. Then as you drive, it'll set that pressure to the new monitoring value.

 

Thanks, but I don't believe my 2010 Clubman has that button, but I will look. Pretty sure I've discovered everything there is to be discovered in my MINI. I'm more concerned that our tire pressure monitor is off...

 

Ahh, see I just got my mini and was under the impression everyone else's minis were JUST like mine. Because, you know, everyone else's minis are compared to mine

Surely there is some way for your TPM to be reset/reinitialized...

 

I believe the sport button is on S models only.

 

Who mentioned anything about the sport button?

I was referring to the Tire Pressure Monitoring reinitialization button...

But to stay on topic, resisting the urge to press the sport button I'm sure would help boost MPGs...

 

My Justa automatic has the sport button!!! LOVE that button

 

seriously just have fun with it. If you want a Mini and don't enjoy driving it hard, get a regular Mini or Prius.

 

1. I HAVE a "regular" MINI
2. I ENJOY driving her, period
3. PREFER to spend money on other things for her other than gas
4. Don't feel the need to drive her HARD

Love my MINI and have found we all adopt MINI's for different reasons and am having TONS of fun driving her the way I most enjoy.

 

You need to reset your TPMS. On 2nd Gens it is accessed through the OBC using the button on the end of the stalk. Look through your owner's manual to find the instructions.