Over the years, natural resource reserves, mainly fossil fuels have been rapidly depleted. The sad part is that it won't be like this forever; sooner or later, the resources will go to rock bottom. In fact resources today are already running low.
The ever-growing price of gas and fuel, no matter where one is in this world, should show that natural resources are dwindling at a growing rate.
When natural resources become scarce, demand increases automatically, and so does the price. This is the reason gas prices have reached an all-time high all over the world.
This is the time to start cutting those fuel costs if you have a gas-powered car. One of the easiest ways to achieve that would be through improving fuel economy.
Fuel economy, in general, is the miles that a vehicle is supposed to cover at an amount of fuel. In this blog, we aim to answer one of the most asked questions, “How to improve fuel economy?”
Driving Habits That Affect Fuel Economy
Most of the commercial vehicles usually come with average fuel efficiency. It's the driver who lets the vehicle consume more or less fuel.
Aggressive Acceleration and Braking
When you suddenly accelerate your vehicle the engine will abruptly have a surge of power in it. At that very moment, the extra fuel will compensate for the sudden power delivery of the engine. Furthermore, when you hit and release the brake, or we can say when you get the vehicle in motion, again it is bound to consume extra fuel.
Always accelerate and decelerate slowly and smoothly. It saves fuel apart from giving brake pads and tires less wear and tear.
The next time you fire up your car, take 5 seconds and ease into a speed of 15 mph, at that point, you can get up to speed. When slowing down on the brakes, do so smooth and slow - it'll save you the fuel it took to get up to speed in the first place.
Speed Driving
While driving on an open road, free from traffic, it becomes very tempting to drive at high speeds. No matter how experienced you might be, speed driving can get dangerous. You are also letting your vehicle consume more fuel.
Driving at high speed means that one is going against the wind, which results in air resistance. The engine will try hard to push against resistance, and in the process, it ends up consuming more fuel.
Hence, the ideal speed for a vehicle is 65 to 70 depending on the condition of the road. Anything above it just consumes more fuel. For instance, at 75 mph instead of 65 mph, it can lower fuel efficiency by as much as 15%.
Most drive at high speed because they believe it will save fuel, but it works the opposite way. An average speed of 60 to 65 is the best means since it does not have any high wind and engine strands.
Variable Speed and Absence of Cruise
Changing speed very often, that is speeding up and slowing in many instances requires the engine to readjust to the speed, hence consuming a lot of fuel.
In addition to driving at varying speeds, cruise control on flat terrain saves fuel. Cruise control is what most newer vehicles contain today. The system would allow the vehicle to drive at a constant speed without needing the accelerator pedal.
Carrying Extra Weight
Every person who owns a car has one or more items at the back of your car. Whether it be an extra pair of tires or repairing tools. Carrying these tools or items around might look normal but it’s not normal for your engine.
These items add weight to the car. And the heavier your car is the more fuel it needs to move. Unless the item is very important, it is better to just leave it in your home garage.
Idling for Extended Periods
Let's say you’re stuck in traffic or waiting for your kid outside the school. Do you switch off the engine? Most of you won’t do that. This is another small driving habit that is draining your fuel.
Anytime you plan to wait inside a car for more than 1 minute, it's better to switch off the engine. The amount of fuel it would take to restart your car is far less compared to the fuel lost from idling. Car manufacturing companies know this and that is why most modern cars have a start/stop feature.
Tips for Improvement in Fuel Efficiency
In a world where fuel prices are hitting the roof, wasting gas is not an option anymore. Here are a few tips to reduce your visit to the gas station.
Routine Engine Maintenance
Everything that is built here on earth needs to be maintained to perform better and last longer. The same goes for your car. A well-maintained car that has a top-notch engine will always have an improved fuel -economy.
If you want to see an improvement in fuel economy, you should take your vehicle for servicing every 6 months or as recommended by the company. If you have to replace any components, replace them without a second thought. It will cut your costs in the long run.
Intake System Optimization
The air intake system is basically the air filter. Its basic function is to filter dust, pollen, and other contaminations from the air entering the engine.
This clogs the filter and reduces the amount of air making its way into your engine. As a result, it will lower the oxygen supply to the combustion process. In such situations, the engine may start consuming much fuel instead of air, hence leading to poor fuel economy.
You can also opt for the installation of a cold air intake system to get higher fuel economy. Cold air intakes are types of aftermarket modifications that give significant improvements in the performance of the engine as well as improve fuel economy.
Exhaust System Upgrade
The fuel economy in a vehicle starts right from the exhaust system. The better the exhaust, the better the performance, and the better the fuel efficiency.
Always try to keep the exhaust in good order. When at a service center, pay attention to leakage. More than any other component, an exhaust system is prone to leakage.
If you want to take the game up several notches, then you can even upgrade with after-market exhaust systems. However, do keep legal considerations in mind. Many jurisdictions have very strict noise regulations and emission standards.
Fuel System Upgrades
Speaking of fuel efficiency, the second important component is the fuel system. The two components that control fuel consumption in the fuel system are the fuel injectors and the fuel pump.
In other words, the injector is responsible for measuring how much fuel reaches the combustion chamber. The fuel pump refers to any sort of fuel delivery pump that forwards fuel to the engine at very high pressure.
Most modern cars have these features. If your car does not have one you can always upgrade the fuel system and these components for better fuel economy. Keep in mind, once you install these components you should give it a periodic checkup and maintenance.
Check the Cooling System
The cooling system takes responsibility for maintaining the temperature of the entire engine system at the appropriate level. Some of its parts are coolant, thermostat, and radiator.
Any damage, leak, or accumulation of debris in this component can hinder the engine and fuel economy. Therefore, you are supposed to check on the coolant, change the thermostat whenever advised, and take a look at the radiator where possible.
This will ensure that the old coolant and any contamination within the cooling system gets flushed out. Equally, the fan belt should be checked for wear.
Selection and Pressure of Tires
Another important factor is the type of tire and air pressure inside. Underinflated tires raise rolling resistance which makes the engine work a lot harder, while overinflated tires raise the traction which will make the ride bumpy.
The tire pressure must be checked whenever it is possible to do so. A pressure gauge could also be bought, and a quick and straightforward check can be made in an instant. If inflating a tire, the recommended pressure set by the manufacturer must be followed.
When it comes to tire selection, low-rolling tires are the best. These tires produce less rolling resistance and improve the overall riding experience.
Aerodynamics of Vehicles
Another important factor in fuel economy is that of the design of a vehicle. There are those vehicles that are specifically built to deal with air resistance, although, in later times, it is a trend that car manufacturers have adapted towards building aerodynamics into their vehicles. The more aerodynamic a vehicle is, the more it can move while not using up too much fuel.
Integrating Modern Technologies
Keeping the rapid depletion of natural resources in mind, manufacturers are now starting to combine traditional and modern engines. This type of vehicle has maximum fuel efficiency. On the other hand, electric vehicles solely rely on electric power.
Modern technologies that may offer better fuel efficiency, among others, include telematics and ECU tuning integrated into your vehicle for those who remain with their combustion engine cars and have no plans of shifting to EVs anytime soon.
Telematics provides data relating to driving behavior, fuel consumption, and vehicle performance. From there, you can optimize operations to full efficiency. Tuning the ECU on the other hand, is tampering with the brain of the vehicle. With this technology, you will be able to manage fuel injection and ignition time.
Quality Products Matter
Every time replacing any part of a vehicle, go for the best high-performance parts. If the after-market parts look more promising than they are worth, then the company's recommended parts.
Optimized components provide more fuel efficiency, more horsepower, and torque, and are durable compared to traditional parts.
Following is the list of products used to improve fuel economy.
- High-Flow Air Filter- As the name would suggest, this type of aftermarket filter allows more air to reach the engine combustion chamber.
- Performance Exhaust System - Installing an exhaust header reduces back pressure, improves engine breathing and enhances exhaust flow.
- Cold Air Intake - This replaces the restrictive factory air intake with a high-flow system.This would, in turn, permit cooler, denser air to reach the engine.
- Performance Ignition System - Higher-performance spark plugs ensure a more efficient burn which in turn will provide improved fuel economy.
- Fuel Injectors - Accurate delivery of fuel can provide increased fuel economy and engine performance.
- Fuel Pump - A high-flow fuel pump delivers adequate fuel supply to the engine, especially under high-demand conditions.
Drive More with Less Fuel
Each drop of fuel saved means less emissions and a lighter carbon footprint-you are contributing to cleaner air and a healthier environment for all.
First, analyze your driving and make the necessary adjustments. Second, some of the tips listed in this article will go a long way in ensuring that you do not run into problems. Be sure to catch any problems as early as possible and stick to scheduled maintenance times.
Of course, you can upgrade to aftermarket performance parts anytime, for which you can visit Flasharkracing for any kind of vehicle part.
