Sylvie Willis
Owning a classic car has many benefits, but high fuel costs and low efficiency aren't among them. While it's unlikely that an old car will ever be as fuel-efficient as a modern vehicle, there are still many ways to improve its fuel economy. From regular engine check-ups and tune-ups to replacing old parts with more efficient alternatives, there are plenty of ways to save money at the pump and reduce your environmental impact.
How to improve an old car's fuel efficiency
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Regular engine check-up | Replace spark plugs, oxygen sensor, air filter, and fuel filter |
| Engine tune-up | Replace spark plugs early, replace every 30,000 miles |
| Properly inflated tires | Check tire pressure at least once a month |
| Air-ride suspension | Improves air displacement when traveling |
| Software updates | Optimize engine performance and fuel efficiency |
| Stick to a maintenance schedule | Replace ignition system, add fuel additives to the gas tank |
| Driving habits | Drive in the highest gear possible without laboring the engine, use cruise control |
| Trip planning | Combine multiple errands into one trip |
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What You'll Learn
Regularly check and replace spark plugs, oxygen sensors and filters
Regular maintenance of an old car's engine is essential for improving its fuel efficiency. Spark plugs, oxygen sensors, and filters are critical components that influence fuel combustion and engine performance. Here are some detailed instructions and insights to help you optimise these parts effectively:
Spark Plugs:
Spark plugs play a vital role in igniting the air-fuel mixture in your engine, and their condition directly impacts fuel efficiency. It is recommended to replace spark plugs regularly, with some sources suggesting an interval of 30,000 miles between replacements. However, it's important to refer to your car's owner's manual or manufacturer's recommendations for specific guidance. Replacing spark plugs early can be beneficial, as worn spark plugs can lead to more misfires and incomplete combustion, negatively affecting fuel efficiency. Additionally, consider choosing a spark plug suitable for your vehicle's specifications, as some engines may require replacements at different mileage intervals.
Oxygen Sensors:
Oxygen sensors, typically located in the exhaust system, are responsible for trimming fuel delivery, which has a significant impact on fuel economy. Over time, these sensors can become less accurate, leading to inefficient fuel usage. Therefore, it is essential to replace oxygen sensors following the manufacturer's recommendations to ensure optimal fuel efficiency.
Air Filters and Fuel Filters:
Air filters play a crucial role in engine performance and fuel efficiency. Older vehicles, in particular, can experience a significant increase in fuel usage if the air filter is dirty or clogged. Replacing the air filter ensures a consistent supply of clean air to the engine, improving fuel combustion. Similarly, replacing the fuel filter as part of a regular engine tune-up can help maintain optimal fuel flow and prevent any restrictions that could hinder fuel efficiency.
By regularly checking and replacing spark plugs, oxygen sensors, and filters, you can significantly improve the fuel efficiency of your old car. These maintenance practices will help ensure that your vehicle's engine is operating at its best, providing better fuel mileage and potentially saving you money on fuel costs.
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Ensure properly inflated tyres
Ensuring your tyres are properly inflated is one of the most important factors in improving fuel efficiency. Under-inflated tyres can lead to increased fuel consumption, as well as uneven tyre wear and poor handling. Lower tyre pressure causes the tyres to flex more, increasing rolling resistance and making your engine work harder to move the vehicle. This results in reduced fuel efficiency and more trips to the pump.
The rolling resistance of tyres increases by 5% if they are 8 pounds under-inflated, which is not an uncommon condition. By maintaining the correct tyre pressure, you can improve your fuel efficiency, enhance safety, and extend the life of your tyres. Properly inflated tyres are safer and last longer. On average, you can improve your gas mileage by 0.6%, and up to 3% in some cases, by keeping your tyres inflated to the proper pressure.
You can check your tyre pressure with a good-quality pressure gauge at least once a month and before long trips. The correct tyre pressure for your vehicle can usually be found on a sticker in the driver's side door jamb, in the glove box, or in your owner's manual. It is also important to note that not all tyres are created equal; high-quality tyres, often labelled as low rolling resistance (LRR) tyres, are specifically designed to improve fuel efficiency.
In addition to maintaining proper tyre pressure, you can also purchase tyres that reduce rolling resistance, which means less strain on the engine and, in turn, less fuel burned to maintain cruising speed. The tread design of your tyres also plays a role in rolling resistance and, consequently, fuel efficiency. For example, tyres with more aggressive treads, such as off-road or winter tyres, generally have higher rolling resistance due to their deeper grooves and blocks.
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Maintain a regular engine check-up schedule
Maintaining a regular engine check-up schedule is key to improving an old car's fuel efficiency. While older cars may never be as fuel-efficient as newer models, regular engine maintenance can help you save hundreds of dollars per year at the pump.
Firstly, you should check your owner's manual to find out what octane your engine needs. Octane ratings measure gasoline's ability to resist engine knock. Buying higher octane gas for "premium" performance is unnecessary and will cost you more.
Secondly, you should regularly inspect and replace spark plugs and other ignition components. Spark plugs should be changed out every 30,000 miles. Replacing them early can also improve fuel efficiency and engine combustion. Other ignition components to check include the oxygen sensor, the air and fuel filters, and the air and cabin air filters. Replacing the gas cap every couple of years will also ensure your car isn't losing fuel to evaporation.
Thirdly, if your car is a manual transmission, master when to shift gears at the optimal RPMs. Shifting early or late overloads the engine, and higher RPMs cause the car to use more fuel. Driving in the highest gear possible without labouring the engine is a fuel-efficient way of driving.
Finally, newer vehicles often need software updates to optimise engine performance and fuel efficiency. Ensuring your car's software is current can help you get the most miles out of every gallon.
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Replace the carburettor with a fuel-saving fuel injection system
Carburettors and fuel injection systems are the primary ways to deliver fuel to a car engine. Carburettors are mechanical devices that mix air and fuel without relying on electronics. They were the most common fuel delivery method until fuel injection systems replaced them in the 1980s and 1990s.
Fuel injection systems use an electronically-controlled system to regulate the fuel-air mixture, achieving the correct stoichiometric ratio. This ratio is the ideal ratio of air to fuel for maximum engine efficiency. For gasoline, the stoichiometric air-fuel mixture is about 14.7:1.
Fuel injection systems offer several advantages over carburettors:
- Better fuel efficiency: Fuel injection systems can more precisely control the air-to-fuel ratio, resulting in reduced fuel consumption and fewer emissions. The electronic system can constantly tweak the balance depending on the engine's needs, leading to less wasted energy and better fuel efficiency.
- Higher power and torque: Engines equipped with fuel injection provide higher power and torque than carburetted versions of the same engine.
- Reduced maintenance: Fuel injection systems do not need to be tuned like carburettors, requiring less maintenance.
- Improved starting performance: Fuel injection systems account for cold and hot starting performance by calculating the optimum air-fuel mixture based on the exact conditions.
- Ease of use: Fuel injection systems do not require manual adjustments, and the computer can make changes as needed while driving.
- Reliability: Fuel injection systems offer better reliability and improved drivability in all types of weather and elevations.
When planning a conversion to fuel injection, you have two main options: throttle body injection (TBI) or multi-port fuel injection (MPFI). TBI is the easiest and least expensive way to switch, but it lacks some of the capabilities of MPFI. TBI units serve as carburettor replacements without requiring changes to the intake manifold, simplifying the process and keeping costs down. However, they may have distribution inefficiencies due to the intake manifold distributing both fuel and air. On the other hand, MPFI is a better approach for EFI conversion in most applications, offering more capabilities and precision.
To further improve fuel efficiency in older cars, consider the following:
- Replace spark plugs, oxygen sensors, and air and fuel filters.
- Ensure proper tire inflation to reduce rolling resistance and drag.
- Replace the gas cap every few years to ensure a tight seal and prevent fuel loss due to evaporation.
- Use the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil to improve gas mileage.
- Drive in the highest gear possible without labouring the engine to improve fuel efficiency.
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Plan trips to avoid multiple cold starts
Planning your trips to avoid multiple cold starts is a great way to improve the fuel efficiency of your old car. Cold starts are when the engine is cold, and the vehicle uses extra power to warm up, causing short trips to use more fuel. In fact, studies have shown that several short trips taken from a cold start can use up to twice as much fuel as a longer, multi-purpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
To avoid this, combine multiple errands into one trip. This will not only save you time but also money. For example, instead of making multiple short journeys, allow the engine to stay warm and run more efficiently by planning a longer, multi-purpose trip that covers the same distance. This will also reduce the amount of time you drive with a cold engine and the distance you travel.
Planning your routes ahead of time will also help you avoid traffic, stop-and-go driving, and unnecessary detours, all of which increase fuel consumption. Additionally, try to anticipate traffic flow to reduce the need for sudden stops or starts, and consider staggering your work hours to avoid peak rush hours.
By planning your trips efficiently and avoiding multiple cold starts, you can significantly improve the fuel efficiency of your old car and save money at the pump.
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Frequently asked questions
There are several ways to improve the fuel efficiency of an old car. Firstly, ensure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure. Under-inflated tyres can burn more fuel, so check your tyre pressure at least once a month. Secondly, remove any unnecessary items from your car. The heavier the vehicle, the more fuel it requires. Thirdly, drive slower and accelerate slowly. Cars use the most fuel when accelerating, so limiting the rate at which you gain speed can increase fuel efficiency. Finally, check your owner's manual for the recommended grade of motor oil and fuel. Using the manufacturer's recommended grade can improve fuel mileage.
Tyres that are under-inflated increase the rolling resistance of the tyres, which in turn increases fuel consumption. Tyres may naturally lose pressure every month, so it is important to check and adjust your tyre pressure regularly. However, do not over-inflate your tyres as this can reduce driving comfort and cause damage to your tyres and car.
Driving at higher speeds can dramatically reduce fuel efficiency, especially if your vehicle is large or has a small engine. Driving at a slower and steady speed can improve fuel economy. Additionally, driving in a higher gear can also improve fuel efficiency.
The weight of a vehicle affects its fuel efficiency. The heavier the vehicle, the more fuel it requires to maintain speed. This includes the weight of the vehicle itself as well as any additional weight, such as items in the boot or roof racks. Removing unnecessary items can help improve fuel efficiency.
