Fuel Saving
Tips |
Richard Oliver |
The surest way you can improve
your fuel cost problem is to change your motoring habits. Listed below under
four categories are effective methods of doing so...
Engine Warm-up
1. Avoid prolonged warming
up of engine, even on cold mornings - 30 to 45 seconds is plenty of time.
2. In older cars, be sure the automatic choke is disengaged after engine
warms up... chokes often get stuck, resulting in bad fuel/air mixture.
3. Don't start and stop engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute
consumes the fuel amount equivalent to when you start the engine.
4. Avoid "revving" the engine, especially just before you switch the engine
off; this wastes fuel needlessly and washes oil down from the inside cylinder
walls, owing to loss of oil pressure.
5. Eliminate fast starts. Accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop.
Don't push pedal down more than ¼ of the total foot travel. This allows
engine to function at peak efficiency.
How to buy petrol
6. Buy petrol during coolest
time of day - early morning or late evening is best. During these times petrol
is densest. Keep in mind - pumps measure volumes of petrol, not densities
of fuel concentration. You are charged according to "volume of measurement".
7. Choose type and brand of petrol carefully. Certain brands provide you
with greater economy because of better quality. Use the brands that "seem"
most beneficial.
8. Avoid filling the tank to the top. Overfilling results in sloshing over
and out of tank. Never fill the tank past the first "click" of fuel nozzle,
if nozzle is automatic.
How to drive
economically
9. Exceeding 80 kph forces
your vehicle to overcome tremendous wind resistance.
10. Never exceed legal speed limit. Primarily they are set for your travelling
safety, however better fuel efficiency also occurs. Travelling at 80 kph
gives you up to 21% better mileage when compared to legal speed limits of
100 and 110kph.
11. Travelling at fast rates in low gears can consume up to 45% more fuel
than is needed.
12. Manual shift driven cars allow you to change to highest gear as soon
as possible, thereby letting you save fuel if you "nurse it along". However,
if you cause the engine to "bog down", premature wearing of engine parts
occurs.
13. Keep windows closed when travelling at highway speeds. Open windows cause
air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.
14. Drive steadily. Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Also avoid
tailgating - the driver in front of you is unpredictable. Not only is it
unsafe, but if affects your economy, if he slows down unexpectedly.
15.Think ahead when approaching hills. If you accelerate, do it before you
reach the hill, not while you're on it.
General Advice
16. Do not rest left foot on
floorboard pedals while driving. The slightest pressure puts "mechanical
drag" on components, wearing them down prematurely. This "dragging" also
demands additional fuel usage.
17. Avoid rough roads whenever possible, because dirt or gravel rob you of
up to 30% of your fuel mileage.
18. Use alternate roads when safer, shorter, and straighter. Compare travelling
distance differences - remember that corners, curves and lane jumping require
extra fuel. The shortest distance between two points is always straight.
19. Stoplights are usually timed for your motoring advantage. By travelling
steadily at the legal speed limit you boost your chances of having the "green
light" all the way.
20. Automatic transmissions should be allowed to cool down when your car
is idling at a standstill, e.g. railway crossings, long traffic lights, etc.
Place gear into neutral position. This reduces transmission strain and allows
transmission to cool.
21. Park car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear; avoid
reverse gear manoeuvres to save fuel
22. Regular tune-ups ensure best economy; check owner's manual for recommended
maintenance intervals. Special attention should be given to maintaining clean
air filters... diminished airflow increases fuel waste.
23. Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment. Bent
wheels, axles, bad shocks, broken springs, etc. create engine drag and are
unsafe at high travelling speeds.
24. Remove mud tyres during good weather seasons; travelling on deep tyre
treads really robs fuel! 25. Inflate all tyres to maximum limit. Each tyre
should be periodically spun, balanced and checked for out-of-round. Radial
designs are the recognized fuel-savers; check manufacturer's specifications
for maximum tire pressures.
26. Auto air conditioners can reduce fuel economy by 10% to 20%. Heater fan,
power windows and seats increase engine load; the more load on your engine,
the greater the fuel consumption.
27. Remove excess weight from vehicle - extra tyres, back seats, and unnecessary
heavy parts. Extra weight reduces mileage, especially when driving up
inclines.
28. Purchase a Hiclone Engine Management device.
Hiclone
Information page
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