There are many unavoidable expenses associated with driving and maintaining a car. One of the expenses you cannot eliminate is the fuel cost. Aside from the fluctuating fuel prices, there are other factors that affect how much you spend on fuel. Some of these factors are in your control. No matter the fuel efficiency rating of the car you drive, there is still a lot you can do to save car fuel.
Through this guide, we will help you learn all the ways you can save car fuel and minimize fuel expense.
How to save fuel in cars
Driving habits and practices have an impact on a car’s fuel economy. Small changes can make a huge difference and will let you save a good amount of money every year. Using fuel saving devices also helps. Let’s take a look at things you can do to save fuel.
1. Avoid idling
Leaving your car idle as you make a quick run to the supermarket is a common practice. As long as the engine is on, it will consume fuel. You can simply save car fuel by turning off the engine before stepping out. Now, restarting the car engine uses the same amount of fuel as it would if the car is idling for 30 seconds – but we rarely return within 30 seconds. When you are idling for longer durations, it’s best to shut the engine off.
Keep in mind turning off the engine will disable all vehicle functions, including air conditioning. So if you’ve stopped at the supermarket to buy a few items while your family waits in the car, keeping the engine running for the AC to work makes sense. But if you’ll take an hour to shop, it’s best you take them with you and turn off your car to save fuel.
2. Remove unnecessary weight
Some people load unnecessary items in the trunk not realizing how it negatively affects the fuel economy. The more weight your car carries, the more fuel it has to burn. It is why cleaning the trunk and removing excess weight is a good way of saving car fuel. Your car gives extra mileage when it’s not loaded with heavy items. Every 90 kg of extra weight reduces the fuel efficiency of your vehicle by 1.6 kg.
3. Monitor tyre pressure
Tyre pressure can also have an impact on the fuel economy of a car. Keep your tires inflated to the level recommended by your car manufacturer. An underinflated tire can cut the fuel economy by about 2% per 0.5 kg. Often drivers ignore the importance of tyre inflation up to the required level and drive with underinflated tires. Naturally, this increases the car fuel consumption and also reduces the tyre’s useful life.
4. Use appropriate fuel
Don’t buy high premium fuel unless it is recommended for the vehicle you drive. For most cars, regular fuel works just fine and costs much less than premium fuel. Premium fuel is usually recommended for higher-end luxury cars only because their engines are designed to perform their best on that fuel. Using premium fuel for a regular car won’t have any impact on performance.
5. Observe speed limits
Driving under the speed limit can save life and fuel. According to research, the fuel economy increases by about 10 to 15% when driving at 88 kmph instead of 105 kmph. In the UAE, speeding can get you into a lot of trouble. You have to face fines and penalties. Still, if you are tempted to go faster, think of the money you are wasting just to save a few minutes.
6. Limit AC usage
When it’s pleasant outside try to avoid using the air conditioner. Car AC puts more load on the engine resulting in excessive use of fuel. Typically, air conditioners are the biggest drains of engine power and car fuel economy.
Keeping the car parked in a shade also helps in this regard, generally, one tends to use the ac to cool down the extra heated interior of a vehicle parked under the sun. Conversely, parking your car in a shade will keep the interior cool and you wouldn’t need to turn on the AC all the time.
7. Minimize drag
Aerodynamics don’t just make your car faster, they also improve fuel consumption. More drag means the engine has to work harder to push the car forward, which in turn burns more fuel.
To get optimum fuel economy you should keep the wind drag at a minimum by rolling up the car’s windows when driving on a highway. This enables the air to flow on the vehicle’s body instead of drawing inside the cabin and slowing the car down. As contradictory as it sounds, it is better to use the air conditioner at higher speeds, especially above 56 kmph. You should also reduce the use of roof racks to improve aerodynamics and save car fuel.
8. Anticipate traffic flow
Your car has to stop and start too frequently when driving in a high traffic area. The trick here is to look at the road ahead and anticipate the traffic conditions. You can plan your manoeuvres and avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking by anticipating how the traffic moves.
Anticipating a change in a traffic light or the need to slow down your car for a curve beforehand also enables drivers to reduce sudden braking. Also, keep in mind that driving at a steady speed in traffic conditions is better to save car fuel instead of burning more fuel to overtake only to get stuck in the traffic ahead.
9. Use cruise control on highways
When driving on long stretch highways using cruise control helps save car fuel by helping your vehicle maintain a steady speed.
10. Keep Your Vehicle Maintained
Don’t try to save cash by skipping car maintenance services. It doesn’t help to delay maintenance till a major fault appears. Maintaining your car regularly and replacing car parts according to the manufacturer’s suggestion only keeps your car healthy.
We explained all the useful ways to save fuel cost. Implement these suggestions in your daily routine and your car will be perfectly healthy resulting in improved fuel economy.
Remember, a car that is well-maintained will have better fuel economy instead of a car that only got repairs after breaking down. However, there are some vehicles that consume more fuel than others. In such a scenario, switching to fuel-saving cars will be wise, you can check out some economical used car options on dubizzle:
- Used cars for sale in Dubai
- Used cars for sale in Abu Dhabi
- Second-hand cars for sale in Sharjah
- Buy used cars in Ajman
Stay tuned to UAE’s favourite auto blog for more tips on keeping your car healthy, saving fuel, a car’s anatomy, tips and fixes and much more.
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