How to Improve Car's Fuel Efficiency: Practical 10 Tips And Techniques

 Overview

In today's world, where environmental concerns and rising fuel costs are major issues and our forefront of our minds, improving your car's fuel efficiency can benefit both you and the planet. By adopting some practical tips and techniques, you can significantly reduce your fuel consumption and emissions. Here are some actionable steps that you can take to help you improve your car's fuel efficiency, save your money, and reduce your carbon footprint.

Here Are Some Points We will be discussing In This Blog

• Vehicle Maintenance 
• Eco-Friendly Driving Style
• Fuel Quality
• Grade Of Engine Oil
• Weight Load
• Tire Pressure
• Tire Size
• Aerodynamics
• Role of Idle Stop
• Role of Cruise Control
• Role of Car Transmission

Let's Start With The Vehicle Maintenance

1. Air Filter

Many people believe that air filters only prevent engine oil from external dirt and particles, but this is wrong. Every part of a car has its main role in its performance. Now come to its role in car fuel efficiency.

Basically, an air filter ensures that only clean air enters the engine's combustion chamber. A clean air filter allows for proper air-flow mixture and optimal air-to-fuel ratio. When it is clogged it leads to an imbalance in the car's fuel ratio. Results in reducing car fuel efficiency and performance.

It is recommended to clean it from the air pressure blower regularly (Once a month or depending on your car usage per day or on the environment) and replace it with every engine oil change.

 2- Spark Plugs

They play a vital role in ensuring efficiency and complete combustion. Over time, spark plugs can become worn and dirty, which may lead to misfires or incomplete combustion. Resulting in reduced fuel efficiency and engine performance

Indications that your spark plugs are in poor health are: 

• Sudden drop in fuel efficiency
• Sudden loss of power of engine during acceleration
• Lacks power and take longer to accelerate
• Increased emission of harmful pollutants
• Difficulty in starting the engine
  

Rule of thumb, Sparks should be replaced every 30k to 100k Mileage of car, Depending on the type of spark plugs and the manufacturer's recommendation.

3- Throttle Body

Regulates the amount of air entering the engine. Works with fuel injector to maintain the correct air-to-fuel ratio. With time it becomes dirty and results in its malfunctioning. Disrupts the air-to-fuel ratio for combustion and reduces fuel efficiency. Get it cleaned on every tune-up.

 4- Fuel Injectors

Fuel injectors play a vital role in maximizing fuel efficiency by precisely delivering fuel to the engine combustion chamber. Like any other component fuel injectors become dirty, blocked, or malfunctioning over time including overspray of fuel, leading to reduced fuel efficiency. 

Periodic cleaning of fuel injectors is essential. Replace them according to manufacturer's recommendation

4- CAT ( Catalytic Converter )

 

The catalytic converter reduces harmful emissions by converting pollutants in the exhaust into less harmful chemicals. Over time its filter gets blocked resulting in increased struggle of the engine during gas emission and reduced fuel efficiency of the engine.

Periodic cleaning of it through car CAT cleaner plays an important role in increasing fuel efficiency.

5- Sensors

• Oxygen sensor
• Mass airflow sensor
•  Throttle Position sensor
• Temperature sensor
• Knock sensors
• VSS Vehicle Speed Sensor
• MAP sensor 

These sensors provide real-time data to a car's ECU system, enabling it to make adjustments to optimize fuel delivery and engine operation. Proper maintenance and inspection of these sensors are essential for optimal fuel efficiency.

1-Eco-Friendly Driving Style

Rapid acceleration, excessive speeding, speed below 40km/h in naturally aspirated engines, and frequent breaking can decrease fuel efficiency

• Drive smoothly, avoid rapid acceleration
• Maintain your car RPM in between 1-3 for maximum fuel efficiency
• Speed between 60-80 km/h gives maximum fuel efficiency in short tours
• 110 km/h is recommended for highways to get maximum fuel efficiency
  

NOTE: Please make sure to adhere to the speed limits as per the traffic laws of your country.

2-Fuel Quality

Using fuel that meets the manufacturer's specifications and adhering to recommended fuel grades and formulations can help optimize engine performance and maximize fuel efficiency.

Fuels with higher octane numbers allow higher compression ratios and more efficient engine operation.

BUT

Don't waste your money higher octane number than required does not improve performance. Always use the manufacturer-recommended fuel grade.

3-Right Engine Oil Grade

Use engine oil as recommended by the manufacturer.

High-quality synthetic oils reduce friction in the engine and result in increased fuel efficiency.

For engine oils please read: https://knowledgelogics.blogspot.com/2024/05/car-engine-oils-role-of-viscosity-and.html

4-Weight Load

Extra weight in your vehicle can reduce the fuel efficiency of your car.

Always follow the passenger capacity of your car to avoid overloading it with passengers or heavy equipment. Remove unnecessary items from your car trunk.

According to a study, every extra 100 pounds can decrease fuel efficiency by up to 2%

5-Tire Pressure

Make it a habit to check your tire pressure regularly and keep them inflated to the recommended levels.

6-Tire Size

Larger tires have a larger contact patch with the road surface, resulting in increased resistance and friction leading to higher fuel consumption. Additionally, larger tires than recommended will be harmful for car suspension.

Tire size plays an important role in a car's fuel efficiency by affecting rolling resistance, weight, gear ratios, RPM, and overall performance. Choosing the right tire size that balances performance needs with fuel economy considerations can help increase fuel efficiency. 

7-Aerodynamics (Open Windows)

Open windows can increase aerodynamic drag ( Resistance to airflow ), especially at higher speeds.

Close windows when driving on highways to improve fuel efficiency.

8-Role Of Idle Stop

Idling stop and turning off the Air Conditioning AC are two effective strategies for improving fuel efficiency. It is a simple yet impactful strategy. 

Eco-Idle System: Automatically shut off the engine when the vehicles come to a stop such as on traffic signals or in heavy traffic and restart it when the driver releases the brake pedal in an automatic transmission or engages the clutch in the manual transmission.

So if your car has this system then keep the eco-idle system on for maximum fuel efficiency.

Keep the AC off when car is in idle position. It increases the fuel efficiency and also improves the engine health.

9-Cruise Control

Using cruise control on long highways can help maintain a consistent speed and improve fuel efficiency. It prevents unnecessary speed fluctuations.

10-Role Of Transmission

Higher Gears

   In manual cars when driving, using higher gears (lower numerical gear ratios) allows the engine to operate at lower RPMs (revolutions per minute) for a given vehicle speed. This reduces the engine's workload and decreases fuel consumption.

    Higher gears are most effective when driving at constant speeds on highways or smooth roads with minimal changes in elevation. They help maintain a steady pace while keeping engine RPMs low, resulting in improved fuel efficiency

Modern transmissions, such as manual, automatic, continuously variable transmissions (CVT), and dual-clutch transmissions (DCT), play a vital role in managing engine power and optimizing fuel efficiency.