In recent years, there has been a significant increase in fuel prices. This trend is especially painful for car owners, as increased costs significantly impact their daily lives and financial situations. This is why fuel economy is becoming increasingly important. While we cannot directly influence prices, there are various methods that can help us significantly reduce fuel consumption and save money.
One of the most effective ways to save fuel is to learn and use proper driving techniques. Refined driving skills directly affect fuel consumption. By using the correct technique, a driver can minimize excess fuel consumption caused by sharp acceleration, unexpected braking, non-optimal speeds, or other inefficient maneuvers.
In this blog, I’ll share practical tips on how you can change your driving style to significantly save fuel.
Gentle Acceleration and Maintaining Proper Speed
One important aspect of fuel saving is the acceleration technique. Gradual and gentle acceleration is much more efficient than sudden and sharp acceleration. When a driver accelerates gradually, the engine uses fuel more efficiently and therefore puts less strain on it. This is especially important when starting from a stop or in the process of increasing speed. In contrast, sudden and aggressive acceleration causes excessive fuel consumption and negatively affects the engine.
Besides acceleration, maintaining the right speed also plays an essential role in fuel saving. Moving at an optimal and steady speed reduces fuel consumption because the engine has a constant and stable load. To do this, the driver should select a speed that corresponds to road conditions, traffic, and weather. It’s also advisable to use cruise control, which automatically maintains the car’s speed and thus helps save fuel.
Correct Braking Technique for Fuel Saving
The braking technique while driving plays an equally important role. By using proper braking methods, a driver can minimize energy loss and reduce fuel consumption.
One key issue is maximizing the use of inertial energy before pressing the brake pedal. When a driver sees that slowing down will be necessary for an object ahead, they should first release the accelerator pedal and allow the car to slow down through air resistance and friction forces. During this time, the engine automatically switches to idle mode and stops supplying fuel, which significantly reduces fuel consumption when traveling in congested city traffic.
Some modern vehicles are equipped with regenerative braking systems, which further increase energy savings. The essence of this system is to store the kinetic energy released during braking in the battery and use it later. Consequently, regenerative braking reduces the load on the engine and saves fuel, especially in cities where the need for braking and stopping is frequent.
It’s also important to avoid sharp and unexpected maneuvers during the braking process. This requires correct assessment of the road situation and anticipation of traffic flow. If the driver can correctly determine when braking will be necessary, they will slow down the car in time and minimize the need for sharp braking.
Tire Pressure Control
Tires are the only component of the car that is in direct contact with the road surface and, therefore, their condition is crucial for both safety and efficient fuel consumption. Incorrect tire pressure leads to excessive fuel consumption.
When tire pressure is below normal, the contact area between the tire and the road surface increases, which increases friction and, consequently, resistance during movement. At this point, the engine needs more energy to travel at the same speed, which naturally increases fuel consumption. Conversely, when the pressure is too high, the elasticity of the tire surface decreases, wear and vibration increase, which also negatively affects fuel consumption.
Therefore, the driver should regularly check the tire pressure and ensure it is maintained within the range recommended by the car manufacturer. Information about optimal tire pressure is usually indicated on the car’s information panel, fuel valve cover, or user manual. It’s important to consider that this data varies according to tire type, size, and load.
In addition, tire pressure adjustment is necessary considering the season and the mass of the cargo being transported. For example, during winter, air pressure in the tires decreases with the drop in air temperature, so it needs to be periodically checked and adjusted. When transporting heavy loads, specialists advise increasing the pressure to the recommended limit to maintain shape and prevent tire overheating.
Air Conditioning and Other Energy Consumer Optimization
The quality and optimization of various auxiliary systems significantly impact energy efficiency while driving. For example, the air conditioning operation mode and electrical energy-consuming systems significantly change fuel consumption.
Using the air conditioner itself requires a sensible approach. While maintaining a comfortable temperature in the cabin is important for the driver and passengers’ comfort, intensive use of the air conditioner significantly increases the load on the engine and, consequently, fuel consumption. It is recommended to turn on the air conditioner at medium power and set the temperature 5-7 degrees lower than the outside air. Additionally, if the outside temperature is not very high, it’s preferable to use the car’s natural ventilation rather than turning on the air conditioner.
It’s also important to pay attention to the use of electrical devices that don’t directly affect fuel economy but represent an additional load on the car’s electrical network. These include, for example, heated seats, multimedia systems, navigation, and other electrical consumers. Turning them off when not in use will reduce the load on the generator and battery, which in turn will positively affect fuel consumption.
Traffic Conditions and Route Optimization
Fuel consumption efficiency is significantly affected not only by the car’s technical characteristics and driving manner but also by traffic conditions and proper route selection. City traffic, congested road sections, and non-optimal routes significantly increase fuel consumption, so avoiding or minimizing them directly reflects on the economy.
When moving in congested streets, the engine has to constantly accelerate and brake, which increases fuel consumption and wear on car components. If possible, it’s desirable to select alternative, less congested routes, such as bypass roads or parallel sections of central streets.
Choosing the right route is also crucial for efficient fuel use. Through GPS navigation and various transportation applications, it’s possible to plan routes in advance and optimize them in real-time, taking into account current traffic conditions. These tools provide drivers with information about expected traffic jams, accidents, or road construction work and offer alternative options.
Fuel Efficiency Monitoring and Analysis
In addition to using correct techniques while driving, it’s also important to constantly monitor and analyze your vehicle’s consumption dynamics. This will not only help you determine the optimal fuel consumption benchmark but also timely identify and eliminate problems that negatively affect the economy. First, actively use the car’s onboard computer, which provides detailed information about fuel consumption in real-time. Regularly monitor the data displayed on the screen regarding fuel consumption and distance traveled. Observe how consumption trends change when driving in different modes – in the city, on highways, on uphill or downhill roads. This will help you determine optimal combustion modes and, if necessary, make changes to your driving manner.
Besides real-time monitoring, it’s useful to periodically record and analyze fuel consumption. Note the amount of fuel added and the kilometers traveled at each refill. Based on this, calculate the average consumption per 100 kilometers under different conditions and record the dynamics. This will not only help you assess your own progress in the economy but also notice negative changes in time and determine their causes.
Finally, remember that besides individual benefits, fuel economy has a broader, social significance. Sensible consumption of petroleum products reduces negative environmental impact, promotes air cleanliness, and saves limited natural resources. Additionally, reducing fuel expenses positively affects the driver’s personal finances, which is particularly relevant in today’s economic reality.
