#9 Gear On or Roll On?
Many people coast along while driving, with the view of saving fuel, which is a great idea.
The trick is to let the car coast in a high gear instead of using neutral. When a car is coasting in neutral, the engine continues to idle and will consume more fuel.
Today, most cars will shut off the fuel supply to the engine completely if you coast in gear, saving you fuel while coasting. A great example is coasting in a high gear while going downhill.
#8 Skipping Gear Changes
Compared to an automatic gearbox, manual cars already enjoy the advantage of slightly better fuel economy. About gear changes, there is a technique called block gear changing that can assist drivers of manual cars to improve fuel consumption further. It may not be easy at the start, but with practice it will become easier and second nature. This technique is commonly used by motorcyclists.
What is Block Gear Changing?
Block gear changing is where you carefully skip gears when changing up through the gears. That is, you may go from 1st to 3rd to 5th, skipping 2nd and 4th gears. There is a trick to this. Make sure you don’t go too high up in the RPM range in the lower gear, or too low down in the upper gear. If you go too high in the lower gear, then excess petrol is consumed for marginal benefit. If you go too low in the higher and the engine will labour and consume more petrol.
#7 Higher Viscosity, Lower Friction
We have discussed friction and air,r and tyre resistance earlier. Generally, the less friction, the better. Even though it is unlikely there will be significant improvements in fuel economy, changing the car’s oil and oil filter helps to keep the engine well lubricated and minimise internal engine friction, resistance and the need for a costly car repair bill.
Refer to your car’s owner manual for details of the type of oil recommended for your car and the frequency for flushing and replacement. Most manufacturers recommend that the oil and oil filter be replaced every service or every second service.
#6 Keep Your Spark Fresh
Spark plugs delivering spark to the combustion chamber need to provide sufficient spark at the right time. Spark plugs are located within the engine, operating in a hostile environment that is extremely hot and pressurised. Carbon deposits and impurities build up through use and time, which reduce the effectiveness of the spark plugs and the effectiveness of engine to produce power.
There are a variety of spark plugs for a number of applications and vehicles. Standard spark plugs usually maintain their performance for 10,000km to 20,000km. These should be checked and replaced during a regular car service, which your car owner’s manual should have recommendations for. However, there are some premium (non-standard) spark plugs, like platinum spark plugs, that last longer, such as up to 100,000km.
#5 Clear the Lungs – Better Air is Better Mileage
Your car’s air filter is usually located within a plastic-mounted box in the engine bay. The car’s air filter filters and cleans the air that is used by the car’s engine during the process of combustion. The air filter plays a role in protecting your engine from dirt, dust, particles and other imperfections in the air, which can cause car engine problems.
Through normal use and over time, the air filter will collect these imperfections, and this buildup will lead to increased resistance to airflow, restricting the amount of airflow through to the engine. In most cars, the engine management system will make the mixture richer to compensate for the reduced amount of air flowing through, and hence uses more petrol to keep the engine running smoothly than would normally be needed.
You will improve the car’s fuel economy by having the air filter replaced regularly. Most car models recommend that the air filter be replaced at every car service or every other service.
#4 Air Resistance – Less Is More, Leave it all behind
Roof racks are usually great for creating more room for carrying more gear; however, for fuel efficiency, leave the roof rack, bike racks, ski racks and roof boxes off your car unless needed and being used.
Air resistance causes aerodynamic drag (friction), requiring more energy and therefore more fuel to be used to overcome the friction.
Despite how fancy or aerodynamic these additions may look, they add drag and decrease your fuel economy. You will be rewarded with better fuel economy for taking a little bit of time and effort to remove these additions from the car.
#3 Get Your Tyres Right to Drive You Further
Tyre Inflation: Something that is simple and easy is to check your tyre pressures. This should be part of a routine, such as once a week or as frequently as every time you fill your petrol tank, or every second or third time. Some service stations may offer this service for you.
Your tyre pressures need to be right. If your car has low tyre pressure, it will increase the rolling resistance of the tyre against the road surface, increasing the amount of energy the engine must produce to overcome the resistance. A separate issue of low tyre pressure is that it will also cause premature wear of the tyre and decrease its lifespan, adding further costs unnecessarily. The manufacturer’s recommended levels will be contained in the owner’s manual and many times on the vehicle. Ensure your tyre pressures are maintained to this level as a minimum.
Tyre Rolling Resistance: There are tyres that are designed for and feature low levels of rolling resistance. Tyre makers are able to produce low rolling resistance tyres via a combination of tyre design and material. This tyre feature is increasingly more common and has been proven to improve fuel economy.
#2 Find Low-Cost Petrol Stations
A simple way to be more cost-effective in managing your fuel costs and save money is to make yourself aware of the locations of lower-cost petrol stations. There is likely to be one or more internet sites that can provide information on petrol prices within your local or travelled area.
#1 Utilise the Internet and Information for Fuel
Petrol is considered a commodity product usually with a fairly standard quality across stations, but sticking with major brands will minimise any risk should this not be the case. On the internet, use your favourite search tool to find an information source suitable for you. There may be websites servicing your area that can regularly provide price information to you or on demand.
Some of the many other options include using loyalty cards or programs, discount vouchers or discount cards, with many major outlets providing discounts for using certain credit or debit cards at their outlets.