We don't know if there is any greater desire than to have a high-performance car that consumes zero fuel. This is a platonic guilty pleasure probably. Until we get to see the prototype of a car that does not consume fuel, all we have to do is find solutions to optimize gas consumption. And just as gas prices do not tend to decrease, it's great to all the possible techniques with which our 4-wheel friend becomes "less gas-hungry".
The beautiful part of things is that there are quite a few methods to optimize gas mileage. Some of them depend on your tires, others depend on the style in which you usually drive. Either way, it's good to know them all to know which one to apply in certain circumstances. So fasten your seat belt and test each of the following techniques. I hope you have as much fun as I did.
Tires In Gas Mileage
Unbelievable for many, but tires are one of the essential factors in the car's fuel consumption. Your car will require more or less energy depending on the performance of your tires. If they are suitable for the season and the type of road, the tires will not be capricious in terms of fuel consumption. If, on the contrary, you have unsuitable, worn, and poorly maintained tires, they will be demanding fuel to cope with the effort. So, they will generate an imposing fuel consumption.
If you think that the condition of the tires is all that matters, you are wrong. The pressure in them is an equally important aspect, maybe even more so. Neither over nor underinflated tires are beneficial for fuel consumption, no matter what your neighbors whisper to you. For example, tires with insufficient pressure affect gas consumption by about 2.5%, according to statistical data.
Another aspect of influence is the type of tire you buy. Each tire comes with a certain fuel efficiency standard. This is preset by the manufacturer. If you opt for a set of tires with the A standard, consumption will a priori be lower than that of a set with the G standard.
So, as you can see, there are many aspects that you have to take into account regarding tires. It is important to always keep them at the correct pressure because this always ensures optimal fuel consumption.
Acceleration And Deceleration: Quick Or Smooth?
How do you behave when the traffic light turns green? If you suddenly press the accelerator pedal, you may feel an adrenaline increase in your veins. That's great actually, but be sure that the car will not refrain from fuel consumption. If your goal is to reduce gas mileage, then you must adopt a brisk but smooth acceleration. Let the vehicle gradually build up speed in a reasonable amount of time. Braking must also be gentle before a stop.
Try to anticipate what is going to happen on the road so that you can take action early. Give the car enough time for braking and acceleration for efficient gas consumption.
Keep the appropriate distance between your car and the one in front of you to have a smooth reaction time, and not an aggressive one. If you notice a flashing traffic light far away, start braking gradually and smoothly, rolling softly in front of the traffic light. Each gradual and smooth movement is a pleasant bonus for fuel consumption.
Excess Weight Is Not Fuel-Friendly
If you think that the load of your vehicle has nothing to do with gas consumption, you are sorely mistaken. Everything that complicates the work of the tires equates to additional gas consumption. Heavy load generates more pressure on the tires. They must cope with the additional effort. For this, they will request more energy. And energy is only provided with additional gas consumption.
Sometimes, the excess load is unavoidable. In such cases, you just have to accept reality and be cautious about the maximum load limit that your tires can withstand.
In other cases, make sure you don't carry unnecessary stuff in the trunk, which only adds to the load without a specific purpose.
Use Cruise Control When Possible
The importance of road speed is crucial. Drivers must respect the speed recommendations first of all for their sake. Respecting the speed limit also comes with a nice bonus. It's about reasonable fuel consumption. The higher the speed, the more gas consumption is in certain circumstances, especially when you speed up and down frequently.
Sometimes (when we are talking about long trips) you might want to turn the cruise control on in order to keep fuel consumption under control. The alternation between speed acceleration and deceleration is directly proportional to higher fuel consumption. So, keeping the speed at a stable limit for the same distance is only in favor of reasonable consumption. Keep in mind that cruise control cannot be applied wherever you like. You can turn it on certain road areas.
Is The Car Idling Really Necessary?
You may have thought that the car only consumes fuel when it is moving. It's not exactly like that. Once you turn the engine on and the car is idling, it is already consuming gas. You must know how to differentiate between when this idling is necessary and when it is just a waste of money.
When standing in line for an MCDrive, turn the engine off if the line is too long. Similarly, avoid any situation when there is no sense in idling your car.
If you're lucky enough to have a Stop/Start car that starts the engine remotely, it's great because it also has a fuel consumption rationing system. Alternatively, any idling equals consumption, so be rational about it.
Avoid The Coast
If you ask your father or grandfather, they will surely tell you that putting your vehicle in neutral is a great way to reduce fuel consumption. It is possible that this rule was valid for the old cars from the 60s and 80s. But it ain't true for these modern ones. Modern cars are equipped with different systems. In modern industry, the engine uses the driveline to turn itself over rather than any gas. Due to the computerized programs, the car will block fuel injection into the engine. Therefore, leaving the vehicle in gear and coming to a stop, without laboring the engine, is a safe and fuel-friendly practice.
Prepare The Itinerary Ahead of Time
A wonderful option to save fuel is to have a planned trip ahead of time. Even if you think you know the roads, sometimes you can get them confused and all you do is turn around and consume fuel irrationally. Modern cars are equipped with digital systems that you can connect to your smartphone to have the itinerary right on the car screen.
In this context, these navigation systems show you much shorter itineraries to destinations that you probably didn't even know about. So embrace technology and let it help you to consume less fuel.
A Hybrid Car: Why Not?
With the goal of fuel reduction in mind, a hybrid or an electric vehicle could solve many questions. They partially or totally use electric power instead of fuel, which significantly reduces the engine workload. Regardless of whether you opt for a plug-in, mild, or full hybrid, the reduction in fuel consumption will be extremely considerable.
Bottom Line
It is possible that the steps listed here do not seem to have a considerable influence on fuel consumption. But believe me, small steps make big changes. Maybe for a day, you won't feel much difference. But if you keep these rules consistent and disciplined, consumption will be significantly reduced. It is important to take into account all the recommendations, and not just one or two of them. Also, you might want some fuel-efficient tires to benefit from the lowest rolling resistance possible. Thus, you will have both a fuel-efficient ride and a safe one.