After a short period, purchasing an occasional used economy car can leave one with a sour taste in their mouth.
The fuel consumption appears too high, transforming the purported deal into a very pricey business transaction.
Nevertheless, the driver possesses a wide variety of opportunities to cut down on maintenance costs in an environmentally responsible way.
In this article, we will discuss ways to reduce the amount of fuel used by your vehicle.
Saving fuel
To begin, you take an accurate reading of the vehicle’s fuel consumption. The steps that need to be taken are straightforward to understand.
You put the highest amount of gas in the tank possible and then drive for several hundred kilometers. After that, you do so once more.
On the other hand, when you are filling the tank with gas, you should only add fuel until the flow automatically stops.
If you shake the car in an attempt to add a couple of extra fuel, the tank will only become fuller.
This is a waste of resources and puts people in harm’s way. After you have finished refueling, multiply the answer obtained by dividing the amount of fuel added by the kilometers driven by one hundred.
The longer one drives, the more precise one’s results are likely. The more varied the driving, such as through the city, the countryside, and on the highway, the more conclusive the resulting value is for the overall operation costs.
A comparison is then made between the value obtained and the vehicle type’s typical fuel consumption.
However, you shouldn’t just rely on the data provided by the manufacturer; it’s also a good idea to talk to other people who have used the product. You can acquire helpful information for your vehicle in this way.
Initial actions to reduce fuel consumption
It is abundantly clear that fuel consumption is excessively high. In this scenario, three different approaches can be taken to intervene.
Different parts of the plan may have varying degrees of success. Nevertheless, when combined, they have the potential to cut consumption of gasoline or diesel by more than fifty percent. The following are the steps that need to be followed:
1. Reduce weight
2. General maintenance work
3. Change driving mode
Technical measures
Every gram needs energy.
Every gram that must be moved by car requires some fuel. As a result, the most straightforward and immediate step that can be taken to decrease fuel consumption is placing the order for the vehicle.
Everything that isn’t necessary is moved to the outside. This can be done with a comprehensive interior cleaning, making driving a more pleasurable experience overall.
Those interested in reducing fuel consumption as much as possible can go one step further. When they are not being used, the front passenger and tear seats contribute additional weight to the vehicle. In addition, the spare tire can be changed out for a significantly lighter repair set. If the tow hitch can be removed from the vehicle, it is not required to be fastened to the car at all times. Finally, intelligent tank management has the potential to contribute significantly to the overall reduction in vehicle weight.
The weight of one liter of diesel and gasoline ranges between 750 and 850 grams.
With a tank capacity of forty liters, the total weight of the fuel is approximately thirty to thirty-five kilograms. If only a third of the tank is filled, there will be a weight savings of twenty kilograms. However, you will need to fill up the fuel tank more frequently.
Using only a few easy strategies to reduce fuel consumption
Combustion engines can only function appropriately under ideal conditions. Air intake and internal lubrication are two aspects that have to be optimized for optimal performance.
In light of this, the following procedures ought to be carried out whenever a low-cost used automobile is acquired:
1. Get the oil changed
Changing the oil at the recommended interval places the vehicle in a predetermined state from which it can operate normally.
The internal friction of the engine can be reduced by using fresh oil of a high quality, which also has a significant impact on the amount of fuel that is consumed.
2. Replace the filter in the air conditioner
Changing things like the air filter, in particular, can significantly impact.
Simply doing this can reduce fuel consumption by 30 to 50 percent. Altering the air filter will also require changing the pollen filter, but this can be done in passing.
After only a few uncomplicated maneuvers, fresh air can again be supplied to the engine and cabin.
3. Have the spark plugs replaced
The spark plugs ensure that the combustion takes place correctly. After they have been changed out, the spark plugs that came out should be thoroughly inspected.
They can provide information about other problems in the engine depending on how they appear.
If you are going to replace the spark plugs, you should also check the ignition distributor cap simultaneously. Burnt contacts are another potential contributor to an increase in fuel consumption.
4. Make sure to check the pressure in the tires
The general rule in this situation is very straightforward: the higher the rolling resistance, the more fuel is used.
Therefore, checking the tire pressure should be the first step in taking corrective action. This should always respect the manufacturer’s indications or be at most one bar higher.
If it is higher, it should not exceed two bars. The air pressure in the tires must never be lowered below what the manufacturer recommends.
Not only does this increase the amount of fuel consumed, but it also accelerates the wear on the tires and makes the vehicle less safe.
As a result of their more aggressive tread patterns, winter tires have a higher rolling resistance than summer tires. Even though you can drive during the summer with winter tires, it is always best to change them to something more appropriate for the season.
Because of this, the fuel used could be cut by one or two liters. This is especially true if the recommended level of tire pressure is consistently maintained.
Defensive driving can result in significant fuel consumption reductions
A car uses the most fuel when it is accelerating. Once the vehicle has been up to speed, maintaining a constant rate for the trip is the key to driving efficiency and saving money.
Rapid acceleration, constant stop-and-go acceleration, or continuous overtaking maneuvers on the freeway can all significantly increase fuel consumption.
Always select the highest gear possible because this is the one in which the engine operates at its peak efficiency.
It is essential to emphasize the significance of air resistance in this context. To overcome the air resistance, the car needs more power as its speed increases.
When traveling at speeds between 60 and 75 miles per hour, the aerodynamic resistance, and consequently the fuel used, increases significantly.
In contrast to continuously raising your speed in the passing lane, you can drive much farther if you let go of the wheel in the right amounts.
Anyone with the guts to try it can also try hiding from the wind by putting themselves behind a truck.
The following can also save a significant amount of fuel, making the trip incredibly dull.
The driving style also incorporates the use of electric consumers in various capacities. It makes no difference to the vehicle what kind of fuel it consumes.
Diesel or fuel is necessary for anything that incurs an energy cost. Because of this, it is essential to turn on only those necessary appliances: Along with the seat heater and the rest of the car’s electrical components, the automobile’s air conditioning system is responsible for a significant amount of fuel consumption.
A vehicle’s fuel consumption increase by a factor of two if it has a high-quality music system installed.
Not only do prominent speakers and amplifiers add extra weight to the vehicle, but they also consume a significant amount of electricity.
Is the level of consumption still a problem? The workshop is where we’ll go after that.
If the measures described above do not help reduce the fuel consumed, the problem may be technical. The following four factors are pretty common in cases like this one:
1. Leaky fuel system
2. Inaccurate readings from the thermal sensor
3. Defective lambda sensor
4. The brake caliper is stuck in its position
The first sign of a fuel system leak, such as when there is a hole in the tank or a porous hose, is often an overwhelming gasoline odor. In addition to this, a pool of gasoline will frequently form beneath the vehicle.
The control unit is informed by a malfunctioning temperature sensor that the outside temperature is -20 degrees Celsius.
The following is always true as a consequence: The control unit lubricates the air-fuel mixture in such a way that it causes a significant increase in the amount of fuel consumed.
Fortunately, replacing damaged sensors is a simple and affordable process. Leaking fuel hoses are another common problem that can be easily remedied without requiring a significant financial investment.
On the other hand, if there is a hole in the tank, you will typically have to replace it because a faulty tank must be replaced by law. This will result in a rather pricey repair.
The lining will keep rubbing against the brake disc if the brake caliper gets jammed. This not only significantly raises the amount of fuel that is consumed.
The wheel becomes extremely heated when braking to one side, which causes the car to pull to that side. A workshop must be arranged as soon as feasible in such a situation.
What doesn’t help
Unfortunately, none of the several strategies or tools created to conserve gasoline were adequate.
It has been proven that adding obscure electronic components, magnets, or remedies to the fuel tank is nothing more than quackery.
It is possible to get a new air filter and an oil change with the same amount of money spent on a miraculous cure.
This is a much more efficient method, preventing you from becoming frustrated due to the loss of money.
