What Can Be Done to Save Fuel in a Vehicle?
Everyone wants to avoid hefty bills for petrol or diesel. However, with constantly increasing fuel costs in Turkey, the situation is becoming increasingly difficult.
As petrol prices reach an all-time high in the country, we’ll give you some of the best fuel-saving tips here.
Currently, a vehicle’s fuel efficiency is key to fuel savings. This is why people prefer vehicles with high fuel efficiency. In the following section, we will provide some tips on how to save fuel.
Ensure Your Vehicle Is Well-Maintained
If you rent your vehicle, rental companies will take these precautions for you. If you regularly maintain and service your vehicle, it will operate more efficiently, and fuel consumption will decrease significantly.
It is especially important to make sure your tires are inflated to the correct pressure as specified in the user manual. Both under-inflated and over-inflated tires negatively affect fuel economy. Tire pressure should vary according to your vehicle’s load. If you have four passengers and luggage, the tires should be inflated to the recommended maximum pressures.
Under-inflated tires lead to higher rolling resistance, meaning that your tires will produce more friction and rolling resistance, which will increase fuel consumption. If all your tires are 10 psi under-inflated, this can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 10%.
Avoid Excessive Speeding
Speeding is one of the most significant factors affecting fuel consumption. Therefore, having a light foot on the accelerator and ensuring that all acceleration is smooth is crucial for fuel-efficient driving.
When driving on the highway, your engine works harder to overcome wind resistance. At 100 km/h, you consume up to 15% more fuel, and at 110 km/h, you consume up to 25% more fuel. This might encourage you to drive slower, but if you drive slower than 50 km/h, your engine drops to a lower gear, causing higher fuel consumption. As a result, maintaining a steady speed of 50 – 90 km/h on the highway is optimal for fuel economy.
Evaluate the Weather Conditions
Adverse weather conditions are undoubtedly the biggest drain on fuel. Therefore, the best fuel-saving tip we can give you is to use the weather to your advantage. Doing so can reduce fuel consumption by 5-20%. Also, park your car in the shade to prevent fuel evaporation.
Don’t Leave the Vehicle Idling for Long Periods
A vehicle still consumes fuel while the engine is idling. Therefore, it makes sense to turn off the engine when at red lights, in traffic jams, or while waiting. Furthermore, restarting an engine uses the same amount of fuel as leaving it idling for 30 seconds. So, it’s better to turn off the engine to save fuel.
If you’re waiting for something or someone for more than three minutes, turn off the engine. Even if you're not moving, the engine is consuming fuel while it’s on.
Avoid Aggressive Driving
In congested streets where driving in a hurry isn’t possible, thank the traffic for helping you save fuel.
Sudden braking and then accelerating again increase fuel consumption, especially if you’re tailgating the car ahead.
Use the Higher Gear
If you’re driving an automatic car, use cruise control to maintain a steady speed. If you’re driving a manual car, use a higher gear when possible. In both situations, your engine will operate at lower RPMs (Revolutions Per Minute), reducing fuel consumption.
Try Cruise Control on Long Trips
Another method recommended by rental car companies is to avoid unnecessary speed changes on highways. Therefore, use cruise control. Also, when driving uphill, there’s no need to press the accelerator because the engine is already consuming a lot of fuel. Instead, maintain a constant speed.
One of the keys to fuel savings is to drive at a constant speed. Cruise control can do this effectively on flat surfaces. This makes your vehicle more efficient and helps reduce fuel consumption.
Enhance Your Vehicle’s Aerodynamics
One of the ways to save fuel while driving is to reduce wind resistance. When driving at highway speeds, keeping the windows down increases aerodynamic drag. This can result in a 10% decrease in fuel efficiency. Therefore, for better fuel efficiency, keep the windows up.
Don’t Overload the Trunk
Vehicles perform better in terms of mileage when they’re not overloaded. Excess weight in the trunk can reduce fuel efficiency. People who have the habit of storing everything and anything in the trunk will consume more fuel. So, next time, think twice before loading up your vehicle. Every extra 50 kg in your car increases fuel consumption by 2%.
Don’t Drive Your Vehicle at High RPM
Avoid driving your vehicle at high RPM (Revolutions Per Minute). Your engine uses less fuel when it operates at lower RPMs, making it more fuel-efficient.
Plan Your Route During Peak Hours
Stop-and-go traffic puts a lot of pressure on your engine, causing it to consume more fuel. If possible, carefully plan your commute to avoid the worst of the rush-hour traffic.
Practice Continuous Vehicle Use
Keep an eye on the road ahead and plan your next move. Instead of slamming the brakes to come to a complete stop, try to slow down when approaching a red light. Or, when approaching a hill, start accelerating as you approach, not when you’re near the top. Avoid harsh acceleration when coming to a stop or when climbing a hill, as this will increase fuel consumption.
The best advice we can give you on how to save fuel is to drive actively. Create a route with your friends and drive actively.
