Suzette's Parenting and Breastfeeding Blog

Okay, after driving my car for a week since the last oil-fill, here is the interim ‘report’ on fuel efficiency.  Well, it was actually quite disappointing coz I was unable to apply most of the tips learnt.

I had a bad start, and it didn’t turn any better in the following days…

When I took over the car on Monday from DH, the reading was already bad at 12.8km/l (DH doesn’t bother with the tips).  Never mind, I thought I could improve that with the tips.  But then, it poured like end of the world on Monday.  Flash flood every where, heavy traffic jam along the way I went home.  I only managed to improve to 13.3km/l.

Then, on Tuesday, I wasn’t focusing and the traffic was bad too.  Only able to improve to 13.6km/l.  On Wed night, I had to go to Rama V (at Jalan U Thant) for a team dinner.  Along Jln Tun Razak, I managed to bring it up to 14.0km/l… and then, suddenly the traffic in front wasn’t moving.  Apparently it was jam all the way to Sungai Besi toll!  After stucked for 30min, I managed to use an alternative road.  But I was nearly an hour late and fuel efficiency went down to 13.5km/l.  #&$*(@#$&*@(

Okay, I thought I could still improve on the next day.  On Thursday, I woke up at 6am, left the house at 7:15am, heading for a meeting in downtown hotel scheduled at 8:30am.

Guess what?  I was stucked behind a traffic light, with a stupid police stopping us and let other traffics move.  I was behind that traffic light for 32 minutes!  If I had know that, perhaps I could have used other ways or even turn off my engine. 

I finally reached the hotel at 9:30am.  It took me 2+ hours from Kepong to pusat bandar!!!  Fuel efficiency dropped to 13.5km/l, down from 14.2km/l just before I reached that stupid police guarded traffic light.  Really feel like going down and scold the police and ask him to pay for my fuel cost.  Geram!

And today, Friday, finally I brought the efficiency up to 14.2km/l.  It could be better, if not because of the warehouse sales near my MIL’s place.  It caused massive jam to go into her house.  But with the events this week, I’m already glad with this reading.

I still have 1 week to go, to finish my 1 tank fuel (usually last 2 weeks).  Will update again by end next week.

Seriously, this is not a typical week of mine.  If this is a computer game that I can save, I’d have reload the saved game and ‘play’ it again.

I must admit that I am not calm at all when I drove this week, and the Taylors did mention that we need to be calm and patient…

Okay, as promised, these are the 10 tips shared by the Taylors on fuel efficiency.  Most of them are common sense and can be done by us.  But then, seriously, how many of us can follow 100%?  You need full concentration to achieve them.  I am serious about full concentration, coz on day 1 when I had full focus, I achieved 19km/l, then down to 15km/l when I slacked off!!

OK, here are the tips, just a summary notes only coz I don’t remember all the 10.  For official tips by them, google lah!

1. Use the right fuel
2. Use the right engine oil
3. Car properly tuned and serviced
4. Tyre pressure must be optimum (they checked everyday!)
5. Use momentum at the fullest (avoid stop and go)
6. Avoid speeding
7. Travel light - don’t bring excess weight
8. Go for the highest gear as soon as possible
9. Avoid idling for too long - turn off your engine if you need to
10. ??? can’t remember.  Relaxed, plan your jouney and timing, drive smoothly, etc.

Oh, they know it is hot in Malaysia so didn’t ask us to turn off the air conditioning.  But I read in other source, they also recommend turning off the air conditioning and keep the windows shut.  I do it in the morning and late night anyway - when children not onboard. 

Just learnt about this from MMB.

Moo’s, if you are still breastfeeding, please go and support this program.  I am quite excited about it.  If you are going, I’ll see you there.

At 1415, they are having mother and baby massage demonstration too.  Following that (at 3pm) is the breastfeed-thon.  I’ll try to be there for the massage demo too.

Isabel is very playful.  When Ian was at this age, I don’t remember he was this playful at all.

How do I play with such a small baby (3 months old)?  I just hold her hands, shake them a little, smile at her… or sometimes I just rock her a little while her little buttocks are still on the bed, etc.

She’d giggle and laugh!  Yes, LAUGH, so loud sound ‘Kekekeke’.  And she likes to scream happily.  I don’t know why she likes to scream a lot - not the annoying type, but very cute little screams that tells you that she is happy.

Maybe this is a girl, and girls/females like to scream?  I didn’t notice this in Ian before. 

Last Friday I attended a fuel efficiency clinic given by John and Helen Taylor.  Just in case you do not know who are the Taylors, they are the recent Guiness World Record holder to drive around the world with the least fuel consumed.

LONDON, April 4 — After 78 days and 18,467 miles, John and Helen Taylor have set a Guinness World Record for Fuel Efficiency after successfully driving around the globe using only 24.4 tanks of Shell gasoline and averaging an impressive 52.1 miles per gallon. The Taylors’ challenge began on January 17 in London and ended this morning in the same city after driving across 25 countries using Shell FuelStretch driving principles to help them maximize their fuel efficiency.

Initial estimates had the Taylors setting the Guinness World Record in 50 fill-ups or less; however, the estimate was lowered several times along the journey as the Taylor’s fuel economy improved. The first of its kind, the new “Shell Fuel Economy Challenge” Guinness World Record marks the achievement of the lowest fuel consumption during a circumnavigation of the globe by an unmodified standard car. To achieve the record, the journey had to cover no less than 18,467 miles. Shell fuelled the journey and shares credit for the record with the Taylors.

[Source: http://www.theautochannel.com/]

For more info about them and the record challenge, visit here and here.

It is so exciting knowing that it is possible to do so.  Come on!  Fuel prices have gone up so much.  If we can drive longer with the same amount of oil, wouldn’t it be great?

In fact, I’m not sure whether it is the new fuel from Shell, or is it because of the driving tips, I am getting a much better mileage now.

Before I delivered Isabel 3 months ago, my average fuel consumption was around 12km/l.  After 2 weeks at work, my average fuel consumption is now 16km/l.  At one point it even went up to 19km/l, but only on days when traffic was low.

Imagine!  Additional 4km every litre!  For 1 tank of 40L, I can stretch for additional 140km!  I’ve just refilled my tank this morning, and will ‘report’ again 2 weeks later, how much I can go. 

I will write separately on the tips learnt in the clinic.

Disclaimer: This is based on my personal driving experience.  I am not paid to write this, okay.  This is not a commercial advertisement.