How to Save Fuel
Cleaner, Greener and More Cash in Your Pocket.
Tips to Save Fuel
1. Slow down, one of the easiest and most efficient ways to save fuel is to reduce your speed. Its simple really as the speed of the vehicle increases so does the fuel consumption.
2. Change gear earlier, ideally somewhere around 2000 to 2500rpm.You can save fuel by accelerating gradually and changing gears as smoothly as possible.
3. Drive steadily, avoiding harsh acceleration and hard braking. Anticipate stops to avoid sudden hard braking, take a long look ahead and use the vehicles momentum where possible. Aggressive driving can use as much as 20% more fuel than smooth driving.
4. Let the road help you by taking your foot of the accelerator on downward slopes and you will move whilst using hardly any fuel.
5. Use the highest possible gear. Cars are designed to start in low gear because that is where they have the most power, but driving at the right speed in the highest gear can improve fuel economy.
6. When getting in your vehicle do not start the engine until you have adjusted your seat, mirrors, set the radio and satellite navigation.
7. Use air conditioning selectively, the air conditioning unit is an extra burden for the car engine. Not using the air conditioning can save 3% of fuel.
8. Remove any unnecessary load, the heavier the vehicle is the less it does to the gallon. Remove any excess luggage you carry around in the vehicle and every mile will cost you less.
9. Use roof racks and roof luggage carriers wisely, as they can increase fuel consumption by as much as 5% as they increase the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle. Remember to remove these items when you are not using them.
10. Open windows also increase the aerodynamic drag of the vehicle, increase the fuel consumption by closing windows and sunroof.
11. Switch your engine off as soon as you park, idling uses fuel and you are travelling zero distance.
12. Maintain your vehicle in accordance with the manufacturers’ guidelines, a well maintained engine can improve fuel efficiency by up to 4%.
13. Check your tyres, underinflated tyres cause greater rolling resistance which causes higher fuel consumption. Keeping tyres correctly inflated can save you up to 5% of fuel, they are also safer and will last longer thereby saving you more costs in the long run.
14. When picking a new vehicle do not just compare rentals or on the road price, look at the whole life costs of the vehicle including MPG and CO2 levels.
Even if you do not pay for the fuel and therefore will not see a financial benefit personally, your company will save money and ultimately the better they do, the better you will do. However, you will help to get the maximum out of the worlds dwindling fuel reserves and you will also generate less pollution.
