Rajan Wilcox
Improving a car's fuel efficiency is not only good for your wallet but also beneficial for the environment. While some methods of improving fuel efficiency require costly modifications, there are also several simple ways to stretch each gallon of fuel a little further. For example, driving at slower speeds, removing unnecessary items from your car, and keeping your tires properly inflated can all help to improve fuel efficiency.
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What You'll Learn
Slowing down can improve fuel efficiency by up to 20%
Slowing down and maintaining a steady speed can improve fuel efficiency by up to 20%. This is because your vehicle uses more fuel to accelerate and gain speed than it does to maintain a constant speed. For example, a vehicle travelling at 120 km/h uses about 20% more fuel than one travelling at 100 km/h. Increasing your speed from 55 mph to 75 mph can increase fuel consumption by as much as 20%.
In addition to slowing down, driving at a constant speed can also improve fuel efficiency. Small variations in speed, such as bursts of acceleration, can increase fuel consumption by up to 20%. This is because your car's engine is most efficient at relatively low revs and high torque. Therefore, maintaining a steady speed can help improve fuel efficiency.
Another way to improve fuel efficiency is to remove any unnecessary items from your vehicle. A heavier vehicle requires more fuel to accelerate and maintain speed. By removing unnecessary items from your boot, trunk, or passenger seats, you can reduce the weight of your vehicle and improve fuel efficiency.
Finally, proper tyre maintenance is crucial for improving fuel efficiency. Underinflated tyres can increase fuel consumption and lead to safety issues such as blowouts and rollovers. Checking your tyre pressure regularly and ensuring they are properly inflated can help improve fuel efficiency and enhance the safety of your vehicle.
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Remove unnecessary items from your car to reduce weight
To improve fuel efficiency, it is important to reduce the weight of your car. Every extra pound in your vehicle requires more fuel to move, so clearing out unnecessary items is one of the easiest ways to improve fuel economy.
First, consider what you are carrying in your boot, trunk, or passenger seats. Items such as golf clubs, tools, or other heavy objects can add significant weight to your vehicle. If you don't need them for your trip, leave them at home. It is recommended that you do not remove safety items such as your spare wheel, as this could be dangerous if you suffer a puncture and may be against the law in some countries.
Next, think about any external additions to your car, such as roof racks, roof boxes, bull bars, or extended wing mirrors for towing. These items can affect your vehicle's aerodynamics and increase drag, reducing fuel efficiency. If you don't need them for a particular trip, remove them to improve fuel economy and reduce noise.
You can also reduce weight by considering the weight of your wheels. Lightweight rims and low rolling resistance (LRR) tires can help with efficiency and responsiveness. However, keep in mind that LRR tires may have worse traction.
Finally, for those willing to go further, consider removing spare seats, sound insulation, air conditioning, or the radio. These measures may be more extreme and may impact your comfort and safety, so carefully evaluate the trade-offs before making these changes.
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Keep tyres properly inflated to reduce resistance and improve mileage
Keeping your tyres properly inflated is one of the easiest ways to improve your car's fuel efficiency. Underinflated tyres can increase a vehicle's fuel consumption by up to 10% as they provide more resistance, causing your car to use more fuel to get going. This resistance is known as rolling resistance, which is how the tyre overcomes inertia. Underinflated tyres also cause the rubber to bulge where it meets the pavement, creating more driving friction. This means more of the tyre surface is in contact with the road, increasing the amount of fuel used. In addition, underinflated tyres can cause the engine to work harder, leading to reduced fuel efficiency.
Maintaining the correct tyre pressure can also help to improve the lifespan of your tyres. Underinflated tyres wear out faster and are estimated to cause 10 to 25% of blowouts. Overinflated tyres, on the other hand, can alter the contact patch, reducing the tyre's grip and performance. They can also place undue stress on the tyre, shortening its lifespan.
To ensure your tyres are properly inflated, it is important to check the tyre pressure regularly, ideally once a month or at least every few weeks. The recommended tyre pressure for your vehicle can usually be found on a sticker in the driver's side door jamb or glove box, in your owner's manual, or on the tyre's sidewall. It is important to note that the pressure listed on the tyre's sidewall is the maximum pressure and should not be used as the standard pressure.
When checking the tyre pressure, make sure the tyres are cold to avoid inaccuracies as air expands when it is warm. Use a pressure gauge to measure the pressure in each tyre and compare it to the recommended pressure. If the pressure is lower than the recommended PSI, add air using an air pump. If the pressure is higher than recommended, slowly release air from the tyre until you reach the optimal pressure.
In addition to proper inflation, maintaining the correct tyre alignment and reducing the weight of the wheels can also improve fuel efficiency. Proper alignment can help minimise resistance, while lighter wheels can decrease the overall weight of the vehicle, making it more fuel-efficient.
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Use cruise control to maintain a constant speed
Cruise control is a feature in most modern vehicles that allows drivers to set a desired speed for the car to maintain automatically. This can be particularly useful on highways and multi-lane roads, where driving at a consistent speed is both fuel-efficient and safer.
When driving manually, small adjustments are often made to the speed without the driver necessarily noticing. Even minor fluctuations can impact fuel economy, as the vehicle uses more fuel to accelerate than to maintain a constant speed. Cruise control eliminates these fluctuations, keeping the vehicle operating at a steady speed and minimising unnecessary acceleration and deceleration that tend to waste fuel.
However, the effectiveness of cruise control in saving fuel depends on several factors. Firstly, the design quality of cruise control systems can vary, and some may struggle on hills, leading to reduced fuel efficiency. In addition, using cruise control in heavy traffic or on winding roads with multiple inclines and declines may not be beneficial, as the frequent acceleration and deceleration caused by changing traffic dynamics can result in increased fuel consumption.
To maximise fuel efficiency when using cruise control, it is important to consider the specific conditions and make adjustments as needed. For example, reducing speed manually when ascending hills and picking up speed when going downhill can help prevent downshifts and improve fuel economy. Additionally, using cruise control in conjunction with other fuel-saving techniques, such as maintaining proper tyre pressure and removing unnecessary weight from the vehicle, can further enhance fuel efficiency.
Overall, while cruise control can be a valuable tool for maintaining a constant speed and improving fuel efficiency, it should be used judiciously and combined with sensible driving habits to achieve the best results.
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Plan your route to cut down on backtracking and save fuel
Planning your route in advance is a great way to cut down on unnecessary mileage and save fuel. This is especially important for businesses, where rising fuel costs can eat into profit margins. By optimising your route, you can cut down on mileage, avoid backtracking, and save time and money.
When planning your route, consider road conditions such as traffic, road closures, weather, and speed limits. These factors can cause delays and inefficiencies, so it's important to plan accordingly. Use a GPS or map to find the most efficient and direct route, and try to avoid left turns whenever possible, as they can add time and increase fuel consumption.
If you have multiple stops to make, plan them in advance and sequence them in the most logical order. This will help you avoid random, inefficient routing and reduce the number of miles you drive. There are also smart route planners available, such as Zeo, that can help you find the shortest, most efficient route based on factors like delivery windows, vehicle capacity, and driver availability.
In addition to route planning, there are other ways to save fuel when driving. Maintaining a consistent speed, avoiding sudden accelerations or decelerations, and using cruise control can all help improve fuel efficiency. Keeping your tyres properly inflated is also important, as underinflated tyres can increase fuel consumption. Finally, consider the weight of your vehicle. Unnecessary items in your boot or trunk can make your vehicle heavier and reduce fuel economy, so remove anything that is not needed.
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Frequently asked questions
Driving at a slower speed can improve fuel efficiency. For example, slowing down from 75 mph to 65 mph can improve your fuel efficiency by up to 20%.
Your car uses the most fuel when accelerating. Your car requires more energy to increase speed than to maintain it. Therefore, limiting the rate at which you accelerate can increase the distance you travel for every litre or gallon of fuel used.
Underinflated tyres create more resistance, meaning your engine has to work harder and burn more fuel. Keeping your tyres properly inflated can improve your gas mileage by up to 3%.
Yes, every extra pound in your vehicle requires more fuel to move. Removing unnecessary items from your car can be one of the easiest ways to boost your fuel economy.
Yes, planning a route that cuts down on backtracking will help you save time and use less fuel.
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