Experts’ top tips for saving fuel
We get the lowdown on thrifty driving from some people who have won 93 awards for saving fuel. By
Damien O’carroll.
Fuel is a grudge purchase. We need it, but we hate paying for it. More to the point: the more of it we use, the more we have to extract from the planet and the more nasty gasses we pump into the air we breathe. Using less of it is a very good thing indeed.
Ford recently hosted a media event in Australia to share a few fuel-saving tips from two experts: John and Helen Taylor, who between them hold a staggering 93 records for fuel economy and long distance driving.
So it’s safe to say they know what they’re talking about.
The Taylors also like to share: they’ve founded the Fuel Academy, a company dedicated to promoting and teaching others about fuel efficient driving.
They shared their top ecodriving ‘hacks’ with us, so that we could share them with you.
Plan ahead
It may sound simple and obvious, but planning ahead in order to cut down on the amount of time spent in your car is by far the easiest way to see big improvements in your fuel efficiency and conserve fuel.
Combining all your little trips and errands into a single journey will see you save a lot of fuel.
Keep your cool
No, this doesn’t mean crank up the air conditioning.
It means that when you are not calm, you are more likely to make errors in judgment and drive aggressively.
Fuel efficiency is all about smoothness.
Keeping clam is a big part of smoothness.
Keep the cap on
Fuel evaporates every time you open your fuel cap, so to limit the losses from this, fill your car completely, rather than topping up small amounts at a time and opening that cap more regularly. Make sure your cap fits properly and is always closed tight.
Rack off
If you are not using that roof rack then take it off. Leaving a roof rack on a car creates a massive amount of drag, seriously reducing the aerodynamic efficiency of your car and increasing fuel usage.
Gradually does it
Maintain consistent speeds wherever possible and accelerate gradually when moving off from rest.
This doesn’t mean a painfully slow crawl, but the more gentle, moderate and consistent you are on the throttle, the bigger your savings will be.
Keep your engine in shape
A well tuned engine will have far better fuel economy than a one not regularly serviced. Make sure you always follow the manufacturer’s recommendation on service intervals.
Be pressure sensitive
Properly inflated tyres not only last longer and are much safer, they also far more fuel efficient when at their proper pressures.
A tyre that is under inflated by just 1psi can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 3 per cent, meaning that if all your tyres are under by a tiny amount, you could be wasting a lot of fuel.
Gear up
The higher gear you drive in, the lower the engine speed, which can help improve fuel economy.
When using a manual transmission, change up whenever you can, without labouring the engine, while an automatic transmission will work most efficiently when accelerating gently and letting the car handle the shifting.
Conserve momentum
Instead of coasting when you reach a downward slope, keep you foot on the throttle and maintain steady engine revs.
This will mean you pick up speed, and if you’ve then got a hill to climb, it gives you considerable added momentum to help go up it, energy efficiently. Keep an eye on the speed though...
What’s hot
Air-conditioning places strain on the engine, increasing fuel usage, while winding down a window increases drag, with the same negative effect. So what to do?
The best approach is to just use the fan when the day isn’t too hot, or set the temperature to a comfortable, but not cold temperature.
Around 22 degrees is probably the most efficient.
Lose weight
Every kilogram matters when it comes to fuel efficiency: every extra 45kg uses 2 per cent more fuel.
Keep the clutter down in the boot and back seat and never carry around dead weight such as golf clubs, unless you actually need to.
The kids are all right
When driving with children and babies, it is important to have them settled before you can begin.
Ensuring they are happy and content will mean less distractions for the driver and make for a calmer and smoother journey, which is also a more fuel efficient journey.
Good oil
Always use the manufacturerrecommended grade of motor oil for your car. Using the proper lubricant can improve fuel efficiency and higher quality motor oils can help your engine operate more efficiently.
Don’t cheap out here and you will see the rewards at the pump.
Don’t be idle
Idling gets you nowhere but still burns fuel. Quite a lot of it, in fact. Turn the engine off when you’re in a queue, or waiting for someone, until you need it.