After buying a car, one of the biggest expenses is fuel, and you can save a lot by reducing your fuel consumption. In addition, driving efficiently will not only be good for your vehicle, but also for your economy and the environment.
This can be achieved by adopting a driving method that minimizes fuel consumption. Here are 8 effective fuel-saving driving techniques.
- Maintain a constant speed
When you slow down and speed up, you consume more fuel and spend more money than necessary. Studies have shown that varying your speed between 75 and 85 km per hour every 18 seconds can increase your fuel consumption by 20%.
It is therefore advisable to use cruise control when driving on the highway, provided conditions are favorable. However, keep in mind that small variations in speed can be really good if gravity takes over.
If traffic permits, let your speed slow down when going uphill, then pick up momentum again when going downhill.
- Practice preventive driving
Watch carefully as you drive so you know what’s ahead. And keep a comfortable distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. If you pay attention to the movement of pedestrians and other cars, and try to anticipate what they will do next, you can keep your speed as steady as possible and use less fuel. It is also safer to drive this way.
- Avoid high speeds
Respecting the speed limit is one way to save on fuel. Most cars, vans, pickups and SUVs are most fuel efficient when traveling between 50 and 80 km per hour. Above that speed, vehicles tend to consume more and more fuel the faster they go.
- Don’t brake abruptly
Avoid accelerating and braking too quickly whenever possible. If traffic permits, take your foot off the accelerator and slow down. Hard acceleration and braking increase fuel consumption and can wear out the vehicle.
Rough braking can also cause brake pads to overheat and wear more quickly, as well as cause disc damage.
It may also activate your car’s anti-lock braking system (ABS) when it’s not necessary, which could worsen brake performance.
- Accelerate smoothly
Fuel consumption is related to the effort made by the engine, so it is likely that you will use more fuel if you accelerate too fast, since the engine has to work harder. With this in mind, a recommendation to reduce fuel consumption is to try to step on the accelerator less often.
- Reduce excess weight
The heavier your car is, the more fuel it needs to move. In recent years, automotive companies have improved materials and designs to reduce vehicle weight, but carrying heavy objects and equipment can still have a negative effect on fuel consumption.
In order to avoid this, check for items that you can remove from the interior or top of your car that you don’t need for any activity that day.
- Do not leave the vehicle running for a long time
A vehicle may not move as long as the engine is running, but it can consume some of the fuel during the time it is active. Many drivers leave their cars running when they have to get out of the car, for example, and perform a quick task.
To prevent this, turn off the engine if you are stopped for more than 3 minutes, except if you are stuck in traffic. This way, you will avoid wasting fuel and overheating your car’s engine more often.
- Choose a clearer route
Cars generally use more fuel on a busy road than on a clear one, so consider taking a smoother route to your destination, even if it is a little longer. The shortest trip is not always the most economical.
Changing the route to one that is more free-flowing can reduce consumption because you won’t have to step on and off the pedals as much.
So far we have seen 8 strategies to reduce fuel consumption. Are you determined to save money and reduce your ecological footprint? Remember that the way you drive influences the amount your vehicle consumes, so it is important that you do this efficiently. We hope this information has been very useful to you!