Tips to improve Fuel Economy of your
vehicle
Here are some very good tips on improving your
vehicle's Fuel Economy / Increase Fuel Efficiency / Mileage. With increasing fuel prices it is becoming
more and more prudent to use them.
Use your gears wisely
Driving in the highest gear possible without laboring
the engine is a fuel-efficient way of driving. A vehicle traveling at 60kmph in third gear uses
25 percent more fuel than at the same speed in fifth gear.
Drive
smoothly
Think ahead! By applying light throttle and avoiding
heavy braking, you can reduce both fuel consumption and wear and tear. Try to predict traffic at junctions and when
in queuing to avoid accelerating and then braking. Research suggests driving techniques can
influence car fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent.
Switch off
your engine
There are two schools of thought on this one.
Switching your engine off for short periods of time can actually increase fuel
consumption, as it requires more fuel to get the engine started. Also your catalytic converter will no longer
be running at full temperature and so your car will be less efficient,
increasing the amount of pollution you cause. However if you are stopped for more than a few
minutes then your car will simply burn less fuel with the engine stopped.
Drive off
promptly to prevent wasting fuel
Don't leave your engine running when you first start
up. Drive off straight away if you can,
but drive gently until the engine has reached its normal operating temperature.
This doesn't increase fuel efficiency as
such, but it does mean your engine is switched on for less time.
Lighten
your load
Think carefully about what you need on a journey. If you
do not need something, do not pack it. Remove roof racks if not needed. The lighter the load, the lower the fuel
consumption and emissions, and the higher the fuel efficiency.
Tyres
effect fuel efficiency
It is estimated that about 50% of tyres on the road
are under inflated. Aside from
increasing the rate of wear, this wastes fuel and decrease your fuel
efficiency. Check your tyre pressures
every fortnight. Worn tyres will also decrease fuel efficiency (and your
safety!); so check the tread regularly. If
you are replacing tyres then consider some of the newer 'Eco' tyres that are designed
specifically to increase fuel efficiency.
Car Windows
Driving with your windows open drastically reduces
your fuel efficiency, far more so than putting the air conditioning on when
motorway driving. So in those hot
summers (?) preferably keep the windows shut, and the air conditioning on if
you want to keep cool. Of course the air
conditioning decreases fuel efficiency too, so try not to over use it.
Invest in a
new fuel efficient car
New cars come in all shapes and sizes, but it is
possible to pick a new car that can greatly reduce your fuel bill, and your
fuel emissions.
Size matters. Choose an economical car - small cars are
more fuel efficient and produce lower emissions than large cars.
Drive the most fuel-efficient car that meets your
needs. Compare models and classes. Even similarly sized cars can vary in fuel
efficiency by up to 45%.
Consider diesel engines (with a particulate trap),
and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) fuelled cars
- all have lower CO2 emissions than standard petrol cars.
Consider 'hybrid' vehicles - they combine a
conventional engine with an electric motor and battery. These offer reduced fuel consumption and CO2 with
potentially lower emissions of all pollutants.
Diesel
Engines
If you are going to buy a diesel engine car, ensure
it is a new 'common rail' type, as these are approximately 10% more efficient
than older diesels. Also replace (or
clean if applicable) air cleaner elements as often as is required by your
vehicles servicing schedule.
Regular
Maintenance maintains fuel efficiency.
Air Filter
One of the most common reasons for a drop in fuel
efficiency is a dirty intake filter. This
will decrease the amount of air entering the cylinders of the engine resulting
in incomplete combustion. Check the filter regularly to ensure that it is
clean.
Spark Plugs
Ensure your spark plugs are in good condition. Renew the plugs and wires at intervals
specified by the owner’s manual. This
will keep all cylinders firing properly resulting in higher efficiency.
Lube Oil
Change the lube oil at intervals specified by the
owner’s manual. Use the recommended oil
only especially in newer cars. Use of an
engine flush before changing the oil will help to get rid of a lot of the dirt that
collects in the engine that a normal oil change will not remove. On older engines it is advisable to use an oil
treatment agent. This basically thickens
the oil which creates a better seal between the piston and the liner,
preventing blow past and consequent loss of combustion pressure, resulting in
higher fuel efficiency.
Exhausts
alter fuel efficiency
Most cars have special sizes for the exhaust. When cars are reasonably old, the silencers have
to be changed. The garage people always
try to fit a size that they have in the garage itself. Which might not be the
exact size recommended for the car.
The wrong size, a bigger or smaller silencer size, has
an adverse effect on the MPG (Miles Per Gallon)of the car and the HP
(Horsepower) of the car. It may be cheaper to put another size than your
recommended size for your car, but on the long run it will cost you more in
many ways, especially on fuel consumption.
Always put the recommended size of the exhaust that
is indicated in your car manual because the car company knows how to optimize
the performance of your car.
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