10 Tips to Save Fuel behind the Wheel

With the price of fuel skyrocketing in the UAE now is the time to look at fuel saving tips.

As the price of Diesel and petrol increases, it is possible to save 10 to 20% of fuel by adopting a few very simple steps. And less consumption also means less pollution. These 10 little-known things can help you.

Fuel Saving Tips

  1. Avoid sudden acceleration

Fully depressing the accelerator gives off a good burst of adrenaline, but sporty driving involves high and expensive fuel consumption.

Thus, it’s necessary to moderate the speed so as not to throw your money at gas stations.

That’s not all. Pressing too much on the accelerator also causes wear to your car’s tires, brakes, and mechanical components, leading to a huge change in the car value. Plus, it makes you use more gasoline.

You must limit and avoid these behaviors as much as possible.

  1. Change the gears at the right time

To reduce fuel consumption, it is advisable to upshift from 2,500 rpm (gasoline engine) and up to 2,000 rpm for diesel vehicles.

For the latter, you can make the towers go up a little between second and third gear and then switch almost immediately to fourth.

At a start-up, it is necessary to change to the second gear as quickly as possible.

When you are in town, and you do not exceed 50 km / h, and if you have a manual transmission try to drive in fourth, even in fifth but never stay in third.

  1. Anticipate braking

Many drivers still tend to accelerate sharply when they see a green light, even if it’s about turning red. This generates unnecessary overconsumption.

Many municipalities have adopted a “moderating green wave” system so that reducing your speed to 35 km / h or 40 km / h makes it possible to pass all the green lights without stopping.

Likewise, there is no need to “stick” the car in front of you in a traffic jam as soon as the line advances a little. You can simply let your car roll by taking your foot off the accelerator, which consumes zero fuel.

  1. Limit small trips

40% of car trips are less than two kilometers. However, it is precisely these first two kilometers which are the most polluting and the most expensive: overconsumption reaches 45% on the first kilometer, 25% on the second. Since catalytic converters do not work optimally when cold, their emissions of CO2 and nitrogen oxides increase.

  1. Park in the shade

Even when stationary, your car can make you consume more! Indeed, a vehicle parked in direct sunlight will take longer to cool and we will tend to turn on the air conditioning when starting.

In addition, some of the fuel may evaporate under the effect of heat. In principle, an activated carbon canister is supposed to catch gasoline vapor, but some of it can escape through the tank vent, piping, or plastic parts of the fuel system.

On start-up, cold gasoline entering an engine that has been heated in the sun will also evaporate more quickly and lead to overconsumption

  1. Use the air conditioning only on the highway

Almost all cars today have air conditioning, and it has become almost a reflex when the weather is hot. However, air conditioning consumes up to an additional liter per 100 km / h.

At low speed, open the windows to cool off. But when you pass a certain speed, the aerodynamic drag of the open windows has more consumption than that of the air conditioning.

  1. Moderate your cruising speed

On the highway, if you drive 120 km / h instead of 130, it will save you 1 liter every 100 km. Don’t think this will set you back much. On a journey of 100 km, you will only take 4 minutes more.

In addition to the comfort and peace of mind that cruise control provides (no fear of being flashed by a radar), cruise control makes it possible to avoid unnecessary acceleration and deceleration and therefore to reduce fuel consumption. It also increases safety, since the driver no longer has his eye on the speedometer.

  1. Choose the right tires and check the pressure

Under-inflated tires not only hold the danger of exploding but also lead to an increase in rolling resistance and therefore an excess fuel consumption of 2.4% per 0.5 bar.

For long journeys, you can overinflate your tires by 0.2 bar, especially if the car is loaded. Namely, there are “low consumption” tires that reduce rolling resistance that saves one liter of fuel every 200 kilometers.

However, if you’re thinking of cashing your car, don’t change the tires as it’s too late to make a change.

  1. Lighten the vehicle and do not refuel

Fuel consumption increases by 7% when the vehicle is heavier by 100 kg. Even if your car is light, you should get rid of all unnecessary items.

Another tip, do not refuel if you don’t need to. Each liter of fuel adds more kilograms to the car’s weight.

Also, get rid of roof boxes and roof racks, bicycle racks, and ski racks when they are not in use: they lead to overconsumption of 10 to 20% due to the loss of aerodynamics.

  1. Stop the engine

Many new vehicles now use “The Stop and Start” system, which orders the ignition to be cut off as soon as the speed drops below 5 km / h.

According to the manufacturers, it allows savings of up to 8%. This figure is only valid if you drive mainly in town with a lot of traffic jams. In other conditions, it is rather around 3%.

The bill at the pump does not only depend on taxes and the price of oil: it also comes from you! Indeed, eco-driving reduces fuel consumption by 10 to 20%.

Following these tips, you will be reducing the gasoline bill and limiting pollution.

Article supplied by Omar of GTA Car Buyers & author: Dafta Khan Jamal Husain

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