How To Improve Fuel Economy – 3 FREE Ways
Before answering “how to improve fuel economy” I think it’s helpful to first understand what are the two main things that affect fuel consumption.
Fuel Economy – The Two Killers
Number 1 – Changing Speed (Acceleration)
Accelerating a car from one speed to another takes energy. The bigger the change, the greater the energy required, the greater the fuel used.
Acceleration can be light and over a long time, or strong over a short time. Net result should be the same energy used.
Number 2 – Moving Air
Riding a bike at higher speeds to takes much more energy. Same goes for vehicles. The faster the vehicle travels, it moves the air out of the way faster, leading to more energy used, and the energy consumption increases with the square of speed.
How to Improve Fuel Economy
Obvious Solutions
Don’t drive so fast. Slower speeds means less acceleration done and less air moved.
More Advanced Solutions.
How to drive at the same speed and improve fuel economy?
Acceleration
Acceleration consumes energy because we are increasing the momentum of a mass. To do the same acceleration but use less energy we need to reduce mass.
Free Method 1
Reduce the weight of the vehicle.
Remove anything unnecessary. This will be different for everyone. Do you carry golf clubs around? Have you fitted heavier wheels and tyres? Have you installed a heavy ICE system? Rear seats you never use? Removing/reducing mass will improve fuel economy.
Free Method 2
Accelerate using optimum engine efficiency. Generally petrol IC engines are most efficient at full throttle. At which RPM the engine is most efficient will be different depending on the engine. But I think if you look where peak torque is produced by the engine, this RPM is going to be in the ball park of max efficiency.
In short, full throttle acceleration around the RPM where engine produces peak torque should be more fuel efficient than accelerating with less throttle and/or at different RPM range. Once speed is achieved use the lowest possible RPM.
Moving Air
Coming back to aerodynamics.
Getting air to do something that it wouldn’t normally do take energy. On a still day, air wants to stay where it is, if we move it, it takes energy.
Driving a vehicle will move air but if we can reduce the distance we are moving that air energy use will reduce and fuel economy will be improved.
Assuming we are not changing vehicle for something smaller.
Free Method 3
Improve Aerodynamics
Remove extras, wider mirrors, roof racks, roof boxes, close windows, remove aftermarket spoilers. Anything that causes air to move more is consuming fuel.
Replace underbody panels. Splitters can get damaged, removing panels can make maintenance easier but not replacing them will result in more air being moved increasing fuel consumption.
In short. Replace factory splitters and underbody panels.
