Sylvie Willis
Fuel consumption is a measure of how efficiently a vehicle uses fuel, often referred to as fuel economy or fuel efficiency. There are several factors that influence the amount of fuel a vehicle consumes, including the type of vehicle, the distance travelled, the fuel price, and driving habits. Fuel consumption can be calculated by dividing the amount of fuel used by the distance travelled, and this value can be used to estimate fuel costs for a trip. Understanding fuel consumption and the factors that affect it can help individuals budget for travel expenses and make more informed choices when selecting a vehicle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fuel consumption calculation | Fuel used/Distance traveled |
| Fuel cost calculation | Fuel consumption x Fuel price |
| Factors that increase fuel consumption | Driving at higher speeds, Aggressive acceleration or braking, Ragged stop-and-go city driving, Driving with AC on, Taking multiple short trips instead of one long trip, Driving a heavier car, Using the wrong engine oil, Driving with windows down at higher speeds |
| Factors that decrease fuel consumption | Driving at a steady speed, Cruise control, Reading the road ahead, Driving with windows down at lower speeds, Driving a smaller car, Using a properly tuned engine, Using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil, Driving on highways instead of local routes |
| Fuel cost influencers | Global oil price fluctuations, Geopolitical instability affecting the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Taxes (federal, state, local, sales), State-specific fuel prices |
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Driving a smaller car
When it comes to fuel efficiency, there are a number of factors to consider beyond just the size of the car. The engine size and power play a crucial role in determining how much fuel a vehicle consumes.
In general, a smaller engine will need to be operated at a higher RPM and closer to full throttle, which can lead to wasted fuel. This is because a smaller engine has to work harder to achieve the same output as a larger engine. For example, the Toyota Yaris, which has a 1.5-litre engine, has lower fuel consumption and emissions than its previous 1.33-litre version. Similarly, the Toyota Prius, which upgraded from a 1.5-litre to a 1.8-litre engine, experienced reduced fuel consumption.
However, it's important to note that this relationship between engine size and fuel efficiency holds true only for reasonably sized engines. If you have an extremely large engine, such as a 5-litre V8 in a passenger car, you cannot expect low fuel consumption. Additionally, larger engines weigh more, and despite having more power, they may need to produce even more power to achieve the same rate of acceleration due to the increased weight of the vehicle.
Another factor to consider is the driving conditions. For instance, in mountainous areas, a smaller engine may use more fuel to pull a truck uphill compared to a larger engine, as it has to work harder to generate the required power. On the other hand, if the load is constant and the goal is to maintain the same speed, a larger engine might be able to achieve that while consuming less fuel due to its ability to produce power more efficiently.
In summary, while driving a smaller car might be expected to reduce fuel consumption, it's not a straightforward relationship. The engine size, power, driving conditions, and other factors all play a role in determining fuel efficiency. To optimize fuel efficiency in a smaller car, it's important to maintain the engine and consider driving techniques that minimize fuel waste.
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Driving style
Aggressive driving, including speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking, wastes fuel. It can lower your gas mileage by 15-30% at highway speeds and 10-40% in stop-and-go traffic.
Maintain a steady speed
Aggressive driving behaviours like speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking can increase fuel consumption by up to 40%. Driving above the speed limit wastes fuel and can also be dangerous. It is more fuel-efficient to maintain a steady speed and to accelerate smoothly when passing or merging with faster-moving traffic.
Plan your route
Planning your route can help you avoid traffic jams, steep hills, and road construction, all of which can increase fuel consumption. Combining multiple short trips into one longer trip allows your engine to reach its peak operating temperature, reducing unnecessary idling.
Avoid excessive idling
Idling can use a quarter to half a gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner use. Turning off your engine when parked can save fuel and money. If you need to idle, limit engine starts to about 10 times per day and avoid idling for more than 10 seconds, as restarting your engine uses less fuel.
Use cruise control
Using cruise control on the highway helps maintain a constant speed and will usually save fuel. Newer cars with cruise control also have additional safety features to maintain a safe distance from other vehicles and be aware of speed limits.
Check tyre pressure
Check your tyre pressure at least once a month when your tyres are cold (after the vehicle has been stationary for at least three hours or has not been driven more than 2 km). Properly inflated tyres reduce rolling resistance, making your engine work less hard and improving fuel efficiency.
Regular maintenance
Regular maintenance, such as oil and filter changes, keeps your vehicle operating at its most fuel-efficient level. A clogged air filter can increase fuel consumption by up to 10%.
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Engine tuning
While modifications to increase engine power may also improve fuel economy, this is not always the case. For example, a stiffer suspension can improve fuel economy by producing faster weight transfer, resulting in less tire drift. Additionally, a better exhaust design or a less restrictive intake can allow the engine to breathe easier, improving volumetric efficiency and aiding fuel economy.
Tuning techniques such as altering the car's mapping to provide a flatter torque curve can help the driver control fuel usage and manage gear shifts. Correct maintenance is also important, especially ensuring that the oxygen sensor is working correctly. It is worth measuring fuel consumption versus vehicle speed to find the optimum cruising speed, which is generally anywhere from 45-65 mph for a modern vehicle.
It is important to keep in mind that many factors affect fuel economy, including vehicle size, shape, drag, rolling resistance, engine efficiency, engine size, gasoline composition, driving patterns, and driving style. As such, ECU tuning may not be a silver bullet for improving fuel consumption, but small efficiencies can add up.
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Route planning
Traffic and Idling
Avoid routes with heavy traffic as time spent idling uses just as much fuel as time spent driving. This means you may be in the car longer while stuck in traffic than if you were to take a longer, less congested route. Tools like FarEye and Upper Route Planner can help you choose the most fuel-efficient route by taking into account traffic conditions and reducing idling time.
Speed Optimization
According to the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, light-duty trucks are most efficient at between 40 and 50 miles per hour, with a significant drop in efficiency after 60 mph. While going faster may mean less time on the road, it does not necessarily mean you are burning less fuel, as your engine will be less efficient. Choose routes that allow your vehicles to cruise smoothly at their ideal cruising speed.
Directness
While shorter routes generally use less fuel, longer routes that are more direct and have fewer turns can be more fuel-efficient. This is because vehicles are most efficient when they can build up momentum and coast along at a steady speed.
Vehicle Right-Sizing
Instead of sending out half-empty trucks to shorten delivery times, consider completing more deliveries in a single trip by using a larger vehicle. This is more fuel-efficient as it reduces the overall number of shipments.
Load Weight
The more items you have in your vehicle, the more fuel it will use. Assess which items are necessary to have on each trip and only bring what is needed to reduce fuel consumption.
Fuel Stops
Before you set off on a trip, look for filling stations along your route and factor them into your journey. This will help you avoid driving extra miles in search of fuel.
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Air conditioning
The amount of fuel used by air conditioning depends on a number of factors. The make and model of the car, for example, can make a difference. Smaller engines may feel the strain of air conditioning more than larger ones. The temperature is also a factor, with the system drawing more power on hot days or when the AC temperature is set very low. The speed at which you are travelling also makes a difference. Driving with the windows open at speeds of 45mph or more creates extra drag, making it more economical to use the air conditioning system. However, at low speeds, it is more efficient to open the windows.
There are ways to reduce the amount of fuel your air conditioning uses. Firstly, regular maintenance of the system is critical. This includes regassing the system every two years, checking and replacing the air filter, checking for leaks, and topping up the refrigerant. Secondly, it is possible to minimise the use of the air conditioning, such as by parking in shaded areas, opening the windows when travelling at low speeds, or only using the air conditioning during the hottest parts of the day.
Estimates of the impact of air conditioning on fuel efficiency vary. A study by the Society of Automotive Engineers suggested it could reduce efficiency by up to 25%, while a 2019 study by the Transportation Research Record found an average penalty of 2%, ranging from 1.3% to 7.5%. Another source suggests an increase in fuel consumption of 8-10%. A study by Emissions Analytics found that air conditioning impacted hybrid cars the most, with fuel efficiency dropping 6.1% in a hybrid car on average, compared to 3.8% for a standard petrol car and 4.6% for a diesel.
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Frequently asked questions
You can calculate the fuel consumption of your vehicle by dividing the fuel used by the distance traveled. For example, if a vehicle traveled 45 miles and used 1.75 US gallons of fuel, the fuel consumption would be 0.03889 gal/mi (US).
The heavier your car, the harder it has to work, and therefore the more fuel it consumes. On average, every 50 kg will increase your fuel consumption by 2%.
Using the wrong engine oil can cause your car to work harder to pump thicker oils around the engine, increasing fuel consumption. Using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil can improve gas mileage by 1-2%.
Fuel usage increases as driving speed increases due to increased air resistance. For example, driving at 70 mph uses up to 9% more fuel than driving at 60 mph, and up to 15% more fuel than at 50 mph.
