Understanding which driving techniques can help you save fuel starts with understanding how fuel is wasted. Most people know that lots of hard acceleration uses more fuel but there are plenty of other factors that could cost you money at the pumps. Below, we have compiled a list of the most common ways people could save fuel.
Maintenance
Before we even look at which driving techniques can help you save fuel, we have to address one problem that could be costing you money no matter how you drive. This is basic vehicle maintenance. That includes checking your tire pressure, getting your oil changed and making sure that your fuel system is in good working order.
If your car is running poorly, you are going to get worse mileage no matter how you drive. That means you pay more and get less. To prevent this, you should make sure you regularly service your car.
Once your car is in good working order, you can look at which driving techniques can help you save fuel. The most common of these is to use gentle acceleration and the highest gear possible.
Accelerate slowly
The harder you accelerate, the more fuel your car has to burn. That means pulling away quickly will cost you. Rather than putting your foot hard down each time, you need to go faster, try a more gentle approach. Once you get used to accelerating a bit slower, make sure to shift up as soon as you can. You will have to listen to your engine to make sure you are not shifting too early but if you can keep your car in the highest gear possible, you will use less fuel per mile covered.
Keep up momentum
Another driving technique that can help you save fuel is to keep up your momentum. The more you have to speed up and slow down, the more fuel you will use. Therefore, the smoother you can drive, the better your fuel efficiency. Now obviously you have to take into account traffic conditions but there are a few tricks.
When you approach a hill, speed up slightly and let that extra momentum help carry you over the hill. When you are going downhill, pull off the accelerator and let gravity do some of the work.
Cut wind resistance
Along with keeping your driving smooth, it is important to cut down on wind resistance. That means removing things like roof bars and roof boxes. These items may be great for carrying your things but when they are not in use, they just reduce your fuel efficiency. In fact, the Energy Saving Trust found that empty roof racks add approximately 16% more drag to your car at 75 mph.
Cut back on AC
Now that you have removed drag, we can look into accessories that might be sucking up extra fuel. In particular, air conditioning can affect your fuel efficiency. AC uses engine power to function which means your car has to work harder to keep you cool. While AC is sometimes necessary, turn it off when you can to save some extra money.
Keep your engine warm
When your car first starts, the engine is cold. A cold engine is less efficient than a warm one. To take advantage of this efficiency, try to avoid short trips and instead, combined your errands into a single drive. This means the engine stays warm and you get better fuel efficiency.
Get that junk out of your trunk
If you are carrying around lots of things you do not need in your car, it is time for a tidy up. Removing extra weight means your engine has to do less work. That means better fuel economy on every trip you take.
By using the above driving techniques, you can save fuel and money. Plus, avoiding excessive acceleration and maintaining your car will help cut down on maintenance and other driving costs. That means you get where you are going with more money in your pocket.
