5 Simple Strategies For Reducing Your Fuel Consumption
Fuel is an expensive but essential resource for anyone running a vehicle. With that in mind, making sure you use it in the most economical way makes sense. Fortunately, there are some relatively simple things you can do to minimize your fuel consumption. Keep reading to find out what they are.
Picture found at Pixabay – License CC0
Remove excess weight and drag
The amount of fuel your car will use is directly related to how heavy it is. That means, by getting rid of any weight you do not need, you will use less.
With that in mind, take the time to regularly clean out your boot of things you don’t immediately need. Such as blankets and snow gear that are not necessary to carry around in the summer, as well as chairs that you only use at weekends. Additionally, do not forget that add-ons such roof racks and bike racks will add extra weight to your choice. Therefore it’s best to remove these unless you know that you will need to use them 100%.
Picture sourced at Pixabay – License CC0
There is also another reason why removing roof and bike racks is a good idea if you want to reduce fuel consumption – drag. That is air resistance caused by a lack of aerodynamics. In fact, you can take a variety of actions to improve the aerodynamics of your car.
The first is to remove anything that is not necessary and not in line with the bodywork of your vehicle. Such as the racks mentioned above.
However, there is another tactic that can help here, which not too many people know. It is that you are using the wrong type of air cooling for the speed you are going.
Yes, that’s right, either having your windows open or using your aircon can cause excess drag depending on your speed. The reason for this is that at higher speeds opening the window will create significant drag, which will slow the car and require more fuel to drive it.
Picture located at Pixabay – License CC0
While at low speeds, running the air conditioning will use up more fuel than it saves. To that end, be sure to have the air con on at high speeds, and vice versa if you want to effectively minimize your fuel consumption.
Invest in the right tyres
When it comes to fuel economy, tyres are one of the most important things to get right. In fact, there are two things to be concerned about here. The first is that you have the right kind of tyres in the first place. In fact, you can get special fuel efficient tyres fitted to your vehicle that will help you save on your consumption. This is because such tyres have a lower rolling resistance. That is, they create less drag and so need less fuel to drive them forwards.
However, fitting the right tyres is not the only thing that you can do to reduce your fuel consumption. The other action is to check that the tyres you are using have the correct pressure.
In fact, this is another issue of drag because when your tyres are not inflated enough, more of them make contact with the road surface—the more the contact, the bigger the drag. With that in mind, be sure to get your tire pressure checked regularly. Some vehicles even have electronic systems that allow you to do this from the control panel these days.
Picture sourced at Pixabay – License CC0
Fill your tank, correctly
You may be used to thinking that buying in bulk is always the best way to get more for your money. However, the opposite is true when it comes to filling up your fuel tank. In fact, if you have a tank with a large capacity and fill it up each time, you will carry around lost more weight. Something that we already know will make your fuel consumption higher. Using a bulk fuel delivery service may be the answer providing you the ultimate efficiency solution.
Of course, to fill your tank effectively in this way, you must get good at estimating how much fuel you will need for a journey. To that end, you can start to make a note of how much you use on regular trips. However, your notes need to be in the litre amount and not the cost, as fuel prices go up and down all the time.
Plan your journey
You can also get good at saving on fuel by planning the journeys you take well. Don’t just plan how much you will need to traverse the entire distance, though. Instead, work out where you can stop to refuel, therefore carrying less around with you and so keeping your vehicle’s weight to a minimum.
Additionally, by planning where you fill up, you can find fuel that is the best value for money. Something that means you won’t be stuck having to pay through the nose because you have no other option.
Choose the best fuel
While we are on the subject of fuel, the type you use will also make a difference. Now, it can be very tempting to opt for premium fuel with a high octane rating, usually known as high-performance fuels. After all, they are designed to get the best performance from your vehicle, aren’t they?
Picture located at Pixabay – License CC0
Well, yes and no, as this will depend on the type of car you have. To that end, you need to choose a fuel recommended by the manufacturer for the kind of car you drive. If you want to ensure that consumption is kept as low as possible, that is.
Adjust your driving
Finally, when it comes to reducing your fuel consumption, changing the way you drive your car can have a significant impact.
In particular, you must avoid rapid acceleration. Also, be sure to pick the highest gear that is safe when you do need to increase your speed.
Additionally, driving defensively, that is, thinking one step ahead can really help as well. The reason for this is that you will be giving yourself and enough time to better adjust your course when needed. Something that means there will be less of a strain on your fuel consumption because the movements will be less urgent.
