11 Techniques For Reducing Fuel Consumption

Driving more fuel-efficiently can save you thousands of naira each year, increase road safety, and extend the life of your car.

You can reduce your vehicle’s fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by up to 25% by using these 11 fuel-efficient driving practices stated below.

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Gradually increase the speed

The more you accelerate the more fuel you use. In the city, you may save money on fuel by slowly easing onto the accelerator pedal. Take 5 seconds to accelerate your vehicle up to 20 km/h from a standstill to be as fuel-efficient as possible.

 

Maintain a constant speed

You consume more fuel and spend more money than you need to when your speed dips and explodes. According to tests, altering your speed between 75 and 85 miles per hour every 18 seconds can raise your petrol consumption by 20%.

If the road conditions allow, use cruise control on the highway. However, keep in mind that when gravity is at work, little differences in speed might actually be beneficial. Allow your speed to decline as you drive upward when traffic patterns allow, then regain momentum as you roll downhill.

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Plan ahead for traffic

While driving, keep an eye out for what’s coming up. When possible, plan your commute to and from work carefully to help you avoid the worst of peak traffic. You can keep your speed as stable as possible and use less fuel by paying attention to what pedestrians and other automobiles are doing and imagining what they’ll do next. Driving this manner is also safer.

 

Avoid excessive speeds

Stick to the speed limit to save fuel costs! The most fuel-efficient speed for most vehicles, vans, pickup trucks, and SUVs is between 50 and 80 kilometers per hour. The faster a car travels above this speed limit, the more fuel it consumes.

For example, at 120 km per hour, a vehicle uses about 20% more fuel than at 100 km per hour. On a 25-km trip, this spike in speed – and fuel consumption – would cut just two minutes from your travel time.

 

Decelerate by coasting

You waste forward momentum every time you apply your brakes. When you look ahead at how traffic is behaving, you can often tell when it’s time to slow down far in advance. Taking your foot off the accelerator and coasting to slow down instead of using the brakes will save you money and fuel.

 

Idle your car as little as possible

Unless you’re stuck in traffic, turn off your engine if you’re stationary for more than 60 seconds. Every 10 minutes, the average vehicle with a 3-litre engine wastes 300 milliliters (almost 1 cup) of fuel.

 

Check your tyre pressure

Driving a car with 56 kilopascals (8 pounds per square inch) under-inflated tyres can increase fuel consumption by up to 4%. It can also cut your tyre’s lifespan by more than 10,000 kilometers. On the tyre information placard, find the correct tyre pressure for your vehicle. It’s commonly on the driver’s door or doorpost’s edge.

 

Use manual transmission properly

Keep an eye on the tachometer, which displays engine speed. It can be used to determine when to shift a manual transmission for maximum fuel efficiency. The more fuel the engine burns, the higher the rpm. So shift smoothly and swiftly in the lower speeds, then accelerate in the upper gears.

 

Carry as little load as possible

Salt, sand, and sports equipment and other heavy load should all be removed from your vehicle. Your vehicle will use less fuel if it weighs less. A mid-size car’s fuel consumption increases by around 1% for every 25 kg of weight it carries.

 

Use air conditioning only when absolutely necessary

The use of air conditioning can raise a vehicle’s fuel usage by up to 20%. When driving in the city, open the windows, and on the highway, use the flow-through ventilation system with the windows up. Use the re-circulate option if you have air conditioning. It will have the least amount of impact.

 

Keep track of your fuel usage

How long do you think you can go without filling up your fuel tank? Is it really two weeks? Is it really a month?

Reduce your monthly spending by challenging yourself to refill as infrequently as possible.

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