Essential tips to keep fuel usage down
Let’s cover off the basics first…
- Drive smoothly
Avoid sharp acceleration and braking to reduce fuel consumption. Instead, maintain safe distances and react early and gradually. Use the incline of the road to move off where possible, rather than revving the engine.
- Avoid ‘idling’
Turn off the engine to save fuel when the vehicle is stopping for more than a minute, for example in traffic. In this situation, running the engine uses more fuel than restarting it.
- Plan routes efficiently
Most businesses will be doing this already but, if not, ensure you’re mapping out your journeys in the most efficient way to reduce travelling distances. This also saves time so you can do more business.
- Reduce speed
Even small reductions in speed can have a real impact on the amount of fuel consumed. It may seem more efficient to drive faster but smoother, slower driving can save costs and ultimately boost profits.
- Keep tyres pumped up
Maintaining correct tyre pressure is vital. Under inflated tyres mean the engine has to work harder to move the vehicle, thereby using more fuel and sending you back to the pump sooner than you’d like. Tyres should also be kept properly aligned.
- Look after the engines
Regular maintenance should include replacing the air and oil filters. An optimally functioning engine is far more efficient and does more work for less fuel.
Advanced tips to keep fuel usage down
Try some or all of these to get that extra edge…
- Park in the shade
Where possible, leave vehicles away from direct sunlight. Why? Doing so limits the amount of fuel evaporating away from your fuel tank. On hot days (when we get them!) it also means the car heats up less, reducing the need for air conditioning, which is a major gas guzzler.
- Keep windows closed
Air resistance, or drag, is a major drain on fuel. Open windows can reduce mileage achieved by as much as 10%. Make life easier for your engine by closing the windows and reducing the forces it has to work against to keep the vehicle moving.
- Dump excess weight
Many of us are driving around with cargo we don’t need, whether an empty roof rack or items stored in the boot and long since forgotten about. If possible, discarding or unloading whatever isn’t required will reduce fuel consumption, although for some van drivers this maybe more difficult!
- Consider synthetic engine oil
Compared to traditional mineral oils, synthetics are typically more robust and deliver greater engine protection, fuel economy and longer engine life – meaning savings on maintenance as well as on fuel.
- Don’t drive in neutral
You may think you’re being efficient by coasting in neutral downhill or up to red lights, but for most modern vehicles this is the same as idling – fuel is still being used up. Keep it in gear.
- Follow lorries
At a safe distance, we hasten to add! But driving behind an HGV reduces air resistance by putting you in the slipstream. This is the tunnel of low resistance created when the larger vehicle has already pushed through the air ahead of you.
- Ditch thick-soled shoes
Finally, one for the really keen fuel economy fiends. Thick-soled boots, shoes and heels all make your feet less sensitive to the pedals, which translates into harsher braking and accelerating. So for a slightly smoother drive and more efficient fuel use, whip out the ballet pumps!
