The accelerated increase in fuel prices in recent weeks is causing many drivers to think about what methods they can apply to save. The car expert in defensive driving Titi Aur explained to “Adevărul” what they can do to take less money out of their pocket when fueling the car.
Drivers are advised to drive defensively to save fuel. Archive photo
“First, the drivers should drive defensivelybecause that way they will be safe, won't have an accident, save fuel and wear out the car less. Driving defensively means driving ecologically and economically. That is, drivers should drive more elegantly and thus save on fuel“, explained Titi Aur for “Adevărul”.
11 recommendations to optimize fuel consumption
Whether your car runs on petrol or diesel, fuel is expensive and it would certainly help to know how to optimize consumption. Here are 11 recommendations to optimize fuel consumption when you're behind the wheel.
Use the car only when necessary
The first question you must have in mind when you want to save fuel is whether all the trips you take by car are absolutely necessary. When you drive less than five kilometers, the car does not have time to fully warm up and thus, it will consume more. You will achieve good fuel consumption when the engine temperature is optimal, so not if you drive a short distance, especially when it is cold outside. For short trips, you can consider walking, using a bicycle or even public transport.
Get ready and only then start the engine
When preparing for a road trip, you can load your luggage, adjust your mirrors and seat, and set your GPS before starting the engine. The car will also consume fuel in that quarter of an hour that you can devote to preparation, and this waste can be avoided. It is ideal to start the engine just before leaving the parking lot, especially if you have a new car, in which case it is no longer necessary to warm up the engine before leaving the place.
Shift gears ahead of time
As a rule, at higher speeds you use less fuel. This also applies when going downhill, so it is advisable to change gears as early as possible. Driving slowly is not a problem for modern engines, i.e. those made after 1980. However, when driving at lower speed, there are other rules – when the engine starts to signal that you need to go into a lower gear, you should be careful to have about 30 km/h in third gear (city traffic), 40 km/h in fourth gear but anything over 50 km/h is recommended to be paired with fifth gear. In addition to fuel economy, this technique will also increase your driving comfort by reducing the noise level.
Elegant driving
A driving style that helps you save fuel also involves reducing the frequency with which you accelerate or brake. This means that if you have enough distance to the vehicle in front, you can operate the gear changes using the manual transmission.
Use the throttle correctly
If you want to go faster, accelerate and then shift to the next gear as fast as you can, at about 2000 rpm. Thus, the accelerator pedal can be pressed quite a lot. For example, if you accelerated up to 50 km/h while in third gear, you can immediately switch to fifth gear.
Don't speed on the highway
When you're on the highway, the possibility of very high speed might tempt you to overdo it. You should know that the lowest fuel consumption is when you go at speeds between 100 km/h and 130 km/h. Consumption increases proportionally with speed, especially in less aerodynamic cars such as vans. This is another example that proves that a smooth driving style, with as few brakes and as few acceleration forces as possible, will go a long way in saving fuel.
How we reduce fuel consumption. AIE recommendations: from low speed by 10 km/h to work from home
Use the engine brake
When you are driving the car on a downhill slope, you can use the engine brake, at which point the car does not consume fuel. However, shutting down the engine completely when going down a hill is not a very good idea, the reason being that in the case of many cars you can have the steering wheel locked in this situation.
Start-stop
Newer cars have an automated start-stop system that turns off the engine when you stop at a traffic light. Even if your car is not equipped with such a system, you can implement the principle when you are waiting longer at a traffic light or when you are stuck in traffic. When crossing with a barrier there are anyway, in many countries, legal provisions regarding the actual stopping of the engine. After turning off the engine completely, you can stay in the first position of the key, so that you can start more quickly when it is necessary to leave the place.
Don't use too much electricity in the car
The electricity used by any extra device in the car costs you fuel. Of course, there are types of consumption that you can't give up, but you can think twice before turning on the heating of the seats, the radio or other extra equipment of your car that consumes electricity. And air conditioning uses fuel. According to ADAC, it appears that using air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by between 0.1 and 2.1 liters per 100 kilometers, depending on the car manufacturer. Even open windows can affect aerodynamics and increase fuel consumption, especially when driving at higher speeds.
Empty your car of unnecessary weight on the road
100 kilograms of extra weight in the trunk or on the back seat will increase your consumption by about 0.3 percent of kilometers. To solve this waste, you should empty the car of all the weights you don't need, such as the bike rack or any other heavy objects you may have in the car.
Watch your tire pressure
The better the tire pressure, the lower the fuel consumption. Of course, you don't have to overdo it either, but you can make sure that the tire pressure is towards the upper limit specified by the manufacturer. You can find this information on the inside of the doors, on the fuel cap, in the car manual or, as a last resort, if you contact the manufacturer directly. You still have the possibility to go towards the purchase of light tires, with a lower rolling resistance than conventional tires.
Recommendations of the International Energy Agency
The International Energy Agency (IEA) recently outlined a number of demand-side actions that governments, businesses and households can take to mitigate the economic impact on consumers of oil market disruptions caused by the Middle East war.
What the Ordinance on capping the commercial fuel surcharge stipulates. How exports will be limited
Immediate actions to reduce demand:
1. Work from home where possible
It takes the fuel out of commuting, especially where jobs are suited to telecommuting.
2. Reduce highway speed limits by at least 10 km/h.
Lower speeds reduce fuel consumption for cars, vans and trucks.
3. Encouraging public transport
The shift from private cars to buses and trains can quickly reduce the demand for oil.
4. Alternative access of private cars to roads in big cities on different days.
Number plate rotation schemes can reduce traffic congestion and excessive fuel consumption.
5. Increasing carpooling and adopting efficient driving practices.
Higher car occupancy and green driving can quickly reduce fuel consumption.
6. Efficient driving of commercial road vehicles and delivery of goods.
Better driving practices, vehicle maintenance and load optimization can reduce diesel consumption.
