Katerina Swanson
With fuel prices at an all-time high, it's more important than ever to make the most of your car's fuel. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to improve your car's fuel efficiency, from simple maintenance checks to adjusting your driving habits. In this article, we'll explore a range of tips and tricks to help you get the most out of your fuel tank and keep your car running smoothly. We'll cover everything from tyre pressure and air conditioning to driving techniques and vehicle maintenance. So, whether you're looking to save money or reduce your environmental impact, read on to discover how to make your car more fuel-efficient.
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What You'll Learn
Keep your car light and clutter-free
Keeping your car light and clutter-free is a great way to improve fuel efficiency. The lighter the vehicle, the less fuel is required to keep it moving. Every 50kg of weight inside your car increases fuel consumption by around 2%. This is especially true in smaller vehicles, while you might not notice as much of a difference in larger ones.
Clutter in the boot, trunk, or passenger seats can make the vehicle heavier and reduce fuel economy. Items such as roof racks, roof boxes, bull bars, or extended wing mirrors for towing can also affect your vehicle's aerodynamics and increase drag. Removing them when not in use will improve fuel efficiency.
It's a good idea to consider what you are carrying and remove anything unnecessary. However, it is not recommended that you remove safety items such as your spare wheel. This could be dangerous if you suffer a puncture and may be against the law in some countries.
Tyre pressure also plays a role in keeping your car light and efficient. Underinflated tyres have higher rolling resistance, which reduces fuel economy and makes them wear out more quickly. On the other hand, overinflated tyres can lead to a stiffer ride, decreased traction, and a higher risk of blowouts. All tyres have an optimal tyre pressure that you can typically find on a sticker on the driver-side door frame. Check your tyre pressure regularly, especially before long journeys, to improve fuel efficiency and extend the life of your tyres.
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Maintain correct tyre pressure
Maintaining the correct tyre pressure is essential for improving your car's fuel efficiency. Underinflated tyres can increase rolling resistance on the road, leading to higher fuel consumption. If your tyres are underinflated by 10 psi, your fuel efficiency could decrease by up to 10%. Additionally, tyres with incorrect pressure can cause distortion, leading to added friction while driving. This misshapen tyre issue further reduces fuel efficiency.
To combat these issues, it is crucial to regularly check your tyre pressure and ensure it aligns with the manufacturer's recommendation. Modern tyres are designed with an economy rating that indicates their overall impact on fuel efficiency. By choosing tyres with the right pressure, you can achieve the best balance of grip, comfort, longevity, and fuel economy.
Tyres typically lose air naturally at a rate of up to 2 PSI every month, so it is recommended to check your tyre pressure at least once a month. You can find the optimal tyre pressure for your car on a sticker on the driver-side door frame. By maintaining the correct tyre pressure, you can also extend the life of your tyres and improve vehicle safety.
Furthermore, correct tyre pressure contributes to even tyre wear. This even wear adds up to 12,000 miles to the life of your tyre and reduces rolling resistance with the road, enhancing fuel efficiency. In summary, regularly checking and maintaining the correct tyre pressure in your car is a simple yet effective way to improve fuel efficiency and tyre longevity while also ensuring your safety on the road.
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Avoid idling and plan your route
Planning your route and avoiding idling are crucial for maximising fuel efficiency. By reducing idling, you can avoid wasting fuel and causing unnecessary emissions. Idling consumes 0.25 to 0.5 gallons of fuel per hour, depending on the engine size and whether the air conditioner is running. If you expect to be idling for more than a minute, it is better to turn off your engine. Restarting your engine only uses about 10 seconds worth of fuel.
You can reduce idling by investing in auxiliary power units (APUs) which power trucks during rest periods, allowing drivers to use the air conditioner without wasting fuel. Planning efficient routes is another effective way to reduce idling. Route optimisation software, such as Circuit for Teams, can help you find the fastest route from A to B and avoid traffic jams, construction sites and other common sources of idling.
Planning your route in advance can help you avoid congested areas and minimise unnecessary mileage, stops and detours. Modern GPS and navigation systems are invaluable for route planning. They offer real-time traffic updates and suggest alternative routes to avoid traffic jams, reducing idling and stop-and-go driving. Apps like Google Maps and Waze provide real-time traffic updates and suggest fuel-efficient routes. Built-in vehicle navigation systems can also offer fuel-saving tips based on your driving habits.
When planning your route, consider multiple route options and keep in mind that a slightly longer route with fewer stops and less traffic may be more fuel-efficient than the shortest route. Smooth acceleration and braking will also help you save fuel. Avoid sudden acceleration and hard braking as they consume more fuel. Accelerate gently and brake gradually to improve fuel economy and reduce vehicle wear and tear.
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Drive smoothly and avoid over-acceleration
Driving smoothly and avoiding over-acceleration is a key way to make your car more fuel-efficient. Aggressive driving behaviours, such as speeding and rapid acceleration, can lower fuel economy by 15-30% on highways and 10-40% in stop-and-go traffic.
When accelerating, your car uses more fuel, so limiting the rate at which you gain speed will increase the distance you travel for every litre of fuel used. Avoid hard acceleration by planning your journeys to minimise slowing down and speeding up, and by looking ahead to spot obstacles in advance. This will allow you to slow down gradually and accelerate slowly once the obstacle has been passed.
If you drive a manual car, you can improve fuel efficiency by changing up gears earlier. Many modern cars will indicate when you should change gear. However, do not let your car labour in a gear that is too high for the conditions, as this can reduce fuel economy.
In general, the lower the number of revolutions per minute (RPM), the more fuel-efficient your car will be. If you drive an automatic car, use cruise control to keep your speed constant.
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Use air conditioning sparingly
Using the air conditioning in your car can be a significant drain on fuel efficiency. The air conditioning in your car works similarly to a domestic refrigerator, consuming electricity produced by the engine to cool the air in the cabin. The more cooling you require, the more fuel your engine will consume to provide the necessary energy.
In slow-moving traffic, it is much more fuel-efficient to roll down the windows than to use the air conditioning. However, when driving at higher speeds, such as on the highway, it is more fuel-efficient to roll up the windows and use the air conditioning. This is because driving with the windows down at high speeds causes a lot of wind resistance, increasing fuel consumption.
If you are parked for a while in warm conditions, you can save fuel by switching off the engine and seeking comfort outside the vehicle. Additionally, many vehicles include an economy setting that allows you to turn off the air conditioning and simply recirculate fresh air from outside, conserving fuel.
To maintain a comfortable environment while saving fuel, consider adjusting your clothing rather than reaching for the temperature dial. For example, keeping a pair of gloves in the glovebox can help you stay warm when the weather cools down, and you can avoid using the air conditioning to cool down by wearing fewer layers.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to improve your car's fuel efficiency, including:
- Maintaining the correct tyre pressure.
- Removing unnecessary items from your car to reduce weight.
- Driving at a steady speed and avoiding excessive acceleration and braking.
- Using the air conditioning sparingly.
- Servicing your car regularly and taking care of its overall condition.
Some common mistakes that can reduce fuel efficiency include:
- Driving with underinflated tyres, which increases rolling resistance and fuel consumption.
- Keeping heavy or unnecessary items in the car, such as a roof rack or boot clutter, which increases weight and drag.
- Driving with the windows down at high speeds, which increases wind resistance.
- Idling the engine for extended periods, such as during stop-start trips or while waiting for someone.
Underinflated tyres have higher rolling resistance, while overinflated tyres can lead to decreased traction and increased risk of blowouts. Both situations can reduce fuel efficiency. It is recommended to check your tyre pressure at least once a month and ensure it aligns with the manufacturer's recommendation.
