What Are 10 Ways to Save Fuel?

The cost of fuel is a regular concern for many vehicle owners, especially with fuel prices fluctuating numerous times. Planning for this cost has come with some challenges which have made it hard to keep fuel costs low. Many vehicle owners are feeling the pinch and eagerly looking for different ways to save on fuel.

In this article, let’s explore ten simple ways you can start saving on fuel and how Cartrack can help you keep track of your fuel consumption.

Let’s dive in.

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10 Ways to Help You Save Fuel

Changing your approach to how you care for your vehicle is an effective way to save on fuel, these can range from adopting new driving behaviours to regular vehicle checkups. Learn these ways to make fuel wastage a thing of the past.

Here are ten effective ways to save fuel:

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1. Adopt Efficient Driving Habits

Saving fuel starts with how you drive your vehicle. When a vehicle’s speed increases, the car experiences more drag (air resistance). This occurs when the force from the resistance causes the engine to work harder to accelerate which burns more fuel. By incorporating a more moderate driving speed, which is normally between 65-90 km/h, your vehicle will experience less drag as it moves.

Other practices include avoiding congested roads that lead to idling and keeping your rev per minute constantly around 3000rpm while driving. Another efficient driving habit to adopt is avoiding frequent lane changes and abrupt stops in stop-and-go traffic.

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2. Use engine braking and drive in higher gears

Engine braking and driving in high gear is an underutilised method for driving that many drivers don’t consider when trying to save fuel. Engine braking is when you take your foot off the accelerator pedal and allow the engine to slow the vehicle down. This can be incorporated instead of using the brake pedal when you’re getting close to a traffic light or stop sign. Less fuel is consumed because the engine is allowed to slow the vehicle down, using less brake power to stop it.

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3. Opt for fuel-efficient vehicles

If you are thinking of buying a new car, it is best to choose the type that is fuel efficient, such as vehicles with small engines or hybrid cars. These vehicles were designed to provide an excellent driving experience while using less fuel.

There are a few things to consider when looking for a fuel-efficient vehicle, such as fuel consumption rate, engine size and weight. Lighter cars and smaller engines burn less fuel and can maximise your fuel savings over time.

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4. Maintain Optimal Tyre Pressure

Optimal tyre pressure plays an important role in a vehicle’s performance and fuel efficiency. Keeping your tyres at the appropriate pressure recommended by your manufacturer will greatly benefit you down the line.

Let’s discuss how:

• Underinflated tyres increase the rolling resistance of a car and force the engine to work harder and burn more fuel. It also causes uneven tread wear on the edges of the tyres which leads to the tyres degrading faster.
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• Overinflated tyres negatively affect the handling of the vehicle, they make the drive bumpy, create uneven tread wear and burn more fuel. Furthermore, the uneven tread wear reduces the tyre’s ability to maintain contact with the road which can be dangerous at high speeds.

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To make sure that you save on fuel and reduce wear and tear on your vehicle, it’s suggested that you check your tyre pressure at least once a month.

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5. Keep windows closed at high speeds

I know what you’re thinking, driving with your window open while cruising at a high speed feels refreshing, however, this significantly affects fuel efficiency. This normally occurs when a vehicle travels above 80 km/h, where the air resistance is at its greatest. To save on fuel consider keeping your windows closed and use the vehicle’s ventilation system instead.

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6. Avoid heavy loads

Unnecessary weight in your vehicle makes the engine work harder which increases fuel consumption. This is especially true when driving long distances. Another load that adds extra weight and consumes more fuel are roof racks. Roof racks increase air resistance and reduce your vehicle’s aerodynamics when driving at high speeds.

To enjoy better fuel efficiency and a smoother drive consider packing light or keeping heavy items inside the vehicle.

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7. Use quality fuel

There are three different fuels used in Nigeria, PMS (Premium Motor Spirit), CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) and diesel fuels. Each fuel impacts a vehicle’s performance and fuel efficiency differently. PMS (Premium Motor Spirit) commonly known as petrol, is the most widely used fuel for regular cars. It’s affordable and available at nearly every station. CNG is a cleaner alternative to traditional fuels and is often used in vehicles designed for lower emissions. It’s cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Diesel is used in heavy-duty vehicles like trucks and buses. It’s known for its efficiency in long-distance travel.
Using a lower octane fuel can decrease these vehicles’ fuel efficiency and can damage their engine or emission control systems.

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8: Use cruise control on highways

Cruise control is an added feature that comes with most modern vehicles today. Not only do cruise control systems offer comfort and convenient driving, but they also help you save fuel. Cruise control helps the driver maintain a steady speed enabling them to only concentrate on steering. This allows for a smooth trip with fewer manoeuvres. Cruise control minimises how much fuel is used by removing the need to constantly accelerate and decelerate which burns more fuel.

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9: Take advantage of loyalty programs

A great option to save on fuel costs these days is to join loyalty programs, these are offered at petrol stations, banks as well as through retailers. Whenever you refuel petrol you receive a certain amount of points. You can accumulate points over time and use them to purchase fuel or receive discounted prices. Consider choosing a program that is best for your needs and that allows you to fill up at a petrol station near you.

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10. Combine trips

To save on fuel day to day, consider combining errands and driving fewer trips. Plan all the tasks you need to do ahead of time and do them all in one trip. By doing this you reduce the distance you drive that not only saves you valuable time but reduces fuel consumption.
Another effective way you can cut down on trips is by starting a lift club. Each person in the lift club can take turns driving one week a month, saving up to three weeks of fuel that you would have used if you were driving alone.

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By implementing these ten ways, you can significantly reduce fuel wastage and save on fuel costs.

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How Cartrack’s mobile app can help save fuel

Now that you know the 10 ways to save fuel, let’s discuss how Cartrack’s Mobile app can help keep track of your fuel usage.

Here are some reports from the app that will help save fuel:

• Monitoring vehicle speeds
  Constant increases in speed require the engine to work harder to maintain the higher speed. The Cartrack mobile app map indicates every point where you were speeding and how fast you were going. This insight helps you identify this behaviour so that you adjust your driving behaviour to use less fuel.
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• Reducing harsh braking
  Harsh braking from high speeds causes your vehicle to use more fuel than necessary. This happens because after you have slowed down the vehicle transmission needs to shift to a lower gear to regain lost momentum. The Cartrack app records every harsh braking event, this informs the driver on how frequently this mistake is made.
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• Avoiding idle time
  Long periods of idle time in congested traffic consume fuel unnecessarily. The Cartrack app tracks your idle time during a trip, this data provides you with a wealth of information that shows you where the most traffic congestion is and when it occurs. This allows you can identify less congested routes that enable you to plan less congested routes.

• Planning efficient routes
  Every time you drive your vehicle, the trip information is saved on your app history. This trip history provides insights into the route you took which shows the distance and how much fuel was used. This is an effective way to plan every route you take.

  You may use different routes to work and would like to know which route uses the least fuel. You can use the report history of the different routes to see your past trips. This will tell you how long the trip took as well as the speeds you were able to travel, so you can compare them against each other to see which one is the most fuel-efficient.

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Start saving fuel with Cartrack Today!

Fuel costs do not have to be a burden. By taking advantage of Cartrack’s advanced mobile app technology you can reduce fuel consumption and save costs in no time.
Cartrack is committed to helping motorists drive smarter and efficiently. Our mobile app is not only for tracking your vehicle, it provides actionable insights that empower you to make fuel-saving decisions every day.

Why wait? Start applying these tips and let Cartrack help you save on fuel costs. Contact us today to find out more.