Saving fuel is not just about cutting costs — it’s also about reducing our environmental footprint and conserving resources. These simple fuel-saving tips can help you save thousands of euros over a car’s lifetime and contribute to a greener planet. Learn how to save fuel by getting the most out of every litre.
1. Maintain your vehicle to improve fuel economy.
It’s easy to view regular car maintenance as a financial burden and a time-consuming hassle, but it’s crucial for fuel economy and an investment in your vehicle’s longevity. Here’s what to focus on:
Tune the engine regularly
A well-tuned engine can use up to 4% less fuel. Follow your car’s maintenance schedule and address any issues promptly.
Use the correct oil
Use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil and replace it regularly for optimal engine performance. A clean, correct type of oil reduces engine friction, prolongs the vehicle’s lifespan, and improves fuel efficiency by up to 2%.
Generally, getting an oil change every 10 to 15 thousand kilometres or every 6 – 12 months is recommended, but always refer to your owner’s manual for the most accurate information.
Check tyre pressure
Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and prevent you from saving fuel while driving. Check your car’s tyre pressure monthly against the recommended levels in your vehicle’s manual.
Keeping tyres inflated to the recommended level can reduce fuel consumption by up to 3%!
Proper tyre pressure can also reduce wear, ensure optimal traction and lower the risk of a blow-out.
Change air filters
Contrary to popular belief, a dirty air filter doesn’t necessarily make your car use more fuel.
This is true for older cars with carburettors but not modern electronically controlled fuel-injection motors.
A clean air filter may still improve the car’s performance and protect the engine. Replace it as recommended.
Clean spark plugs
Cleaning your spark plugs can reduce emissions and fuel costs by making your engine run more efficiently.
2. Drive efficiently to conserve fuel
Practising fuel-efficient driving techniques helps you save money, stay safe and reduce your car’s environmental impact.
Using cruise control to maintain a steady speed or adapting to road conditions to avoid stop-and-go driving can significantly minimise unnecessary fuel consumption.
Practise smooth acceleration and braking
Avoiding rapid starts and stops is the most fuel-efficient way to drive. Gradual acceleration and gentle braking can improve fuel economy by up to 15%–30% on the highway and 10%–40% in the city.
Press the accelerator pedal gently and take 5 seconds to reach 20 km/hfrom a stop to conserve fuel while driving. Keep a comfortable distance between your car and the one in front.
Keep a steady average speed
Use cruise control on flat highways to maintain a constant speed. Avoiding speed fluctuations helps save fuel by an average of 7-14% and thus reduce your environmental impact.
Avoid idling
Turn off the engine if you expect to be stopped for more than a minute to prevent unnecessary emissions and reduce fuel usage by roughly 1-2% per 10 minutes.
In fact, studies suggest idling for more than 10 seconds consumesmore fuel andproduces more emissions than restarting the engine!
For example, if you idled for 5 minutes daily, you could waste up to 5.7 litres of fuel per month.
Stick to the speed limit
Many cars are most fuel-efficient when driving between 50 and 80 km/h, with fuel consumption increasing rapidly at higher speeds. So, staying within the speed limit and reducing your speed when possible can help you save on fuel and cut emissions.
For instance, each 8 km/h you drive over 97 km/h can spend 7% more fuel, and moving at 120km/h instead of 100km/h uses about 20% more fuel!
Be mindful of your driving
Record your car’s kilometres coveredand fuel purchases to track fuel consumption and adjust your driving habits accordingly. Challenge yourself to refill the tank as seldom as possible.
3. Reduce load and drag to save fuel while driving
Extra weight and aerodynamic drag can make your car use more fuel. Do some ‘spring cleaning’ to reduce the load on those springs, and give your air conditioning a breather when possible.
Remove excess weight
Clear out unnecessary items from your car’s trunk and interior. Every extra 25 kg wastes about 1% more fuel, which can add up to several litres over a month.
Limit roof box use
Roof boxes, roof racks, and even small accessories increase wind resistance and make your car use more fuel. A basic roof box carrier increases fuel consumption by about 8% in the city and up to 25% at speeds over 100km/h.
A loaded cargo container adds weight to your car, further boosting fuel expenditure. Remove the roof box or roof bars when they’re not in use.
Close windows on highways
Open windows increase drag and make your car use extra fuel. Use air conditioning instead when driving at higher speeds. However, be mindful that using AC at full power can boost your fuel consumptionby 5 – 25%.
4. Plan and combine trips for fuel savings
Smart trip planning is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to save fuel and positively impact the environment while driving. This approach helps your wallet and cuts down on time spent on the road.
Consider carpooling or ride-hailing to reduce car-related expenses further and help alleviate traffic congestion and pollution.
Combine errands
Plan to combine errands into one trip. Multiple short trips from a cold start can usetwice as much fuel than a longer multi-stop trip covering the same distance!
Avoid traffic
Use navigation apps to find the fastest routes and avoid congestion, as sitting in traffic wastes fuel. Additionally, monitoring the road ahead while driving helps you anticipate traffic and road conditions, allowing you to maintain a steady speed, use less fuel, and improve road safety.
Try carpooling or ride-hailing
Sharing rides with others reduces the number of vehicles on the road, decreasing congestion and related air and noise pollution. Alternatively, preferring ride-hailing to owning a personal car can save you hundreds of euros each month on fuel, parking fees, insurance, and other hidden costs.
5. Choose fuel-efficient vehicles to reduce fuel consumption
If you’re in the market for a new car, choose one that’s kind to your wallet and the planet by prioritising fuel economy. And with ever-rising petrol and diesel prices and growing environmental issues, consider going electric.
Consider a hybrid or electric vehicle
Electric vehicles offer significant fuel savings and reduced emissions. If you’re not ready to go fully electric, hybrid cars can be a great middle ground.
Gentle braking is especially useful for electric vehicles, as it allows the car to recapture energy through regenerative braking and convert it back into electricity.
Maintaining a full charge for plug-in hybrids allows your car to rely more on electricity and less on petrol, saving you money.
Remember to use all the relevant tips mentioned above, such as fuel-efficient driving techniques, regular maintenance, and limiting roof rack use to maximise your savings.
Prefer fuel-efficient models
Look for vehicles with low litres per 100-kilometre (L/100km) ratings. Smaller, lighter vehicles typically use less fuel.
Cars that use 6 litres or less of fuel per 100 kilometres are generally considered fuel-efficient.
Take advantage of technology
Modern cars often have fuel-saving technologies like start-stop systems. These features automatically turn off the engine when the vehicle is stationary and restart it when needed, making the car up to 5% more economical.
Some cars provide feedback on driving habits or fuel consumption. Studies show features like these help consume up to 10% less fuel.
Another common feature is ‘economy mode’, which adjusts engine performance and other systems to minimise fuel consumption.
Look for these when buying a car and master these tools.
How to calculate fuel consumption
If your car doesn’t display fuel consumption, you can calculate it yourself:
Fill up your car’s fuel tank completely;
Reset your car’s trip odometer or write down the current number on the odometer;
Drive normally until the tank is nearly empty;
Refuel your car completely again;
Note the amount of fuel (in litres) filled or check your car’s fuel tank size in the owner’s manual;
Check the distance travelled (in kilometres) from the trip odometer.
THE FORMULA:
L/100km = (Litres of fuel used / Distance travelled in kilometres) * 100
6. Use the right fuel to save fuel
Using the correct fuel for your vehicle to achieve the best fuel efficiency ensures optimal engine performance and health and maximises your driving range. Sticking to the recommended fuel type prevents unnecessary wear and tear, prolonging the vehicle’s lifespan.
Check for octane level
Use the octane level recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer. Higher octane fuel doesn’t necessarily improve performance or efficiency unless the engine is designed for it.
Try fuel additives
While some additives claim to provide fuel economy improvements, it’s best to stick with reputable products and follow your car manufacturer’s recommendations.
By incorporating the fuel-saving tips you learned here into your driving habits, you can save money and contribute to a healthier environment.
Small changes can lead to significant savings over time, making it worth the effort to drive economically and maintain your vehicle properly.
Fuel efficiency FAQs
How to save fuel while driving?
Practise fuel-efficient driving: maintain a steady speed, avoid rapid acceleration and braking and use cruise control on highways.
What techniques can I use to save fuel?
Combine errands into one trip to avoid multiple cold starts, which use extra fuel. Use navigation apps to find the fastest routes, avoid congestion and stop-and-go driving. Track your car’s fuel consumption and aim to reduce it. Use carpooling or ride-sharing.
How to reduce fuel usage in a car?
Use air conditioning sparingly, as it can increase fuel consumption by 5 – 25%. At lower speeds, open windows instead, but on highways, keep windows closed to reduce drag.
In manual cars, shift to a higher gear as soon as possible. In automatic cars, avoid overusing the sport mode or low gears.
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Fuel your savings, drive your earnings
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