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8 tips for saving fuel the easy way
It’s a tradition every year, just as the summer is about to begin: people do everything they can to save at the pump, and the price of fuel once again starts to make headlines. Of course, the type of vehicle you drive is a major factor in determining your fuel consumption, but so are your driving habits. In fact, you can reduce your fuel costs by as much as 20% if you just change a few simple things. Here are my top 8 tips for saving fuel the easy way.
1- Drive more slowly
When you accelerate, the forces your vehicle must struggle against to move forward increase relatively more quickly than your speed. This means that if you reduce your speed on the highway, your vehicle works less and consumes less fuel. It’s the simplest way to save at the pump. Slowing down may sound a bit boring, but you’ll be surprised at your ability to adapt. In no time at all, this reduced speed will seem perfectly normal.
2- Take the scenic route
On holiday? Instead of taking the boring old highway, why not take the time to see a bit of the world and go the scenic route? In general, if you drive where there’s less traffic, you give yourself the flexibility to use a wider variety of fuel-saving techniques. Secondary roads usually have lesser speed limits, and their curves make it more fun to drive!
3- Inflate your tires at the proper pressure
Easy and requires no effort. The more a tire is inflated, the less its rolling resistance will be. It’s therefore a good idea to make sure tires are inflated at the ideal pressure. The recommended pressure is determined based on a number of factors: handling, wear and tear, noise, and comfort. It is important to know that comfort is given more importance than the other factors. An exhaustive study conducted by the Dutch ministry of Housing, Planning and Environment concluded that inflating tires 10% more than the recommended pressure had no significant impact on grip or comfort. Given the environmental benefits it offers, the practice is now recommended. Furthermore, the greater pressure generally means less wear, in addition to reducing fuel consumption.
4- Avoid idling
You have to park to wait for a friend? He’ll only be coming in a minute? Then turn off that engine! An idling engine is completely useless. More or less 15% of fuel is completely wasted in the city due to people letting their engines idle. Note that it’s more economical to turn off the engine if you have to wait more than 10 seconds. This is even less for a direct injection engine like the TDI. Those with an automatic transmission should at least shift to neutral if they don’t want to turn the engine off. You’ll still save on fuel.
5- Avoid using the air conditioning
As a general rule, it’s best to lower the windows rather than turning on the air conditioner when you’re driving at less than 70 km/h. In the city, using air can increase your fuel consumption by as much as 20%. On the highway, its use has less impact, but if you can be satisfied with just ventilation, here’s a tip: ensure that air recirculation isn’t turned on, turn ventilation on to minimum, and crack open the rear window. The high pressure of air ventilation intake and the low pressure created by the open window will make for better ventilation throughout the vehicle with no additional fuel consumption.
6- Keep track of your fuel consumption
If you want to improve something, you have to be able to compare. Make a habit of noting your distances travelled and the amount of fuel you purchase every time you stop at the pump. You’ll thus be able to see any improvement and even calculate how much you save at the end of the year.
7- Your car goes in the garage, not the other way around!
Any excess cargo you carry around in your car doesn’t travel free. All that extra weight increases fuel consumption. So clear out the trunk and just keep what you really need.
8- Relax
Stress is the biggest enemy of efficient driving. It makes you accelerate suddenly and drive too fast. It can also make you brake too abruptly and too frequently. Stress is not good for you, and it’s not good for your fuel consumption. Always keep a good distance between you and the car ahead. Come to terms with the fact that people are going to cut you off. And at the end of the month you’ll be able to enjoy your savings at the pump.
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