3 effective ways to improve fuel efficiency

A fuel efficient car consumes less fuel, making it both pocket- and eco-friendly. Fuel efficiency determines how far a car can travel per unit of fuel, and it is expressed as ‘kilometer/litre’ (km/l) in Saudi Arabia. Car manufacturers are on constant efforts to improve the fuel efficiencies by focusing on various design factors, such as different sizes of tires, shape, engine type, fuel size, intended purpose, etc. Apart from choosing such a fuel efficient car, you can also take certain measures to take care of your car and its fuel consumption. 3 such effective ways to improve your car’s fuel efficiency are:

1. Tire Pressure

Properly inflated and aligned tires saves fuel as it creates low rolling resistance for your engine to keep the car running smoothly. Deflated tires with huge tire size have high rolling resistance, resulting in burning of more fuel. Moreover, 10 percent reduction in rolling resistance can improve the fuel mileage by one to two percent. Keep an eye on the tire pressure every week to stay with what is recommended by the car manufacturers. Don’t just wait for the tire to be visually deflated. If the tire pressure falls below the recommended pressure, have additional air put into the tire. However, in an attempt to reduce rolling resistance, do not make the mistake of over inflating the tires. As per the tests conducted, over inflation of heavily sized tires don’t increase mileage; instead, it may cause some damages. So, maintain the recommended tire pressure, no higher or lower, and enjoy a smooth ride, save fuel, and prevent extra spends.

2. Weight Conscious

The recent developments in the auto industry indicate that heavier vehicles consume more fuel. Auto companies are, therefore, putting a lot of effort in shedding as much weight as possible from the vehicles. It has resulted in increased investment in the production of lightweight materials, such as carbon fiber and aluminum. Every ounce that is taken out of a car results in the improvement of the car’s performance and fuel efficiency. Apart from its factory make and weight, it is up to you to eliminate weight and lighten the load as much as possible. Remove items that you do not need, and the place to start is the trunk and the back seat. Remove roof racks as they create wind drag, burning more fuel. For every extra 100 pounds added to your vehicle, fuel efficiency decreases by 1 or 2 percent. Lighter the load, lower the fuel consumption and emission.

3. Gear Aware

Shifting to the highest gear while driving allows you to attain maximum speed with low RPM. Driving in the highest speed possible makes the driving fuel efficient. As compared to driving in a lower gear, driving in a higher gear at the same speed consumes less fuel and increases fuel efficiency. Driving in low gears at the highest speed burns 45 percent more fuel than required. For example, frequently changing gears from lower to higher or higher to lower also burns extra fuel due to the use of clutch. However, more fuel is used in the lower gear. In order to conserve fuel, it is recommended to drive in higher gear as much as possible and not drop the RPM below 1200 and avoid clutch use.

4. Close Windows

Air resistance also plays an important role in the fuel efficiency of your car, especially while driving on a highway. The resistance differs when the car windows are open or closed. Open windows create more air resistance as compared to closed windows. During a drive on the highway, as the speed exceeds 80 km/h, the air resistance also increases if the window is open. Keeping the windows closed improves your vehicle’s dynamics and reduces fuel consumption by 4 to 5%. Less fuel burnt is more fuel efficient. Therefore, when you drive on a highway at a speed exceeding 80 km/h, ensure that the windows are closed.