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Wed 13 07 2022
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You can do all this to consume less petrol or diesel

by bernt & torsten

Fuel prices have reached new record highs as a result, people who (have to) drive a car lose considerably more money. Of course, you can search for the cheapest gas station in your area to save with apps. But how much petrol or diesel you use also depends on how you drive your car.

Here is a list of how you can reduce your consumption, driving behaviour can make a big difference in fuel consumption. Here are all the tips:

  • Combine multiple small rides on different days into one big ride. A car needs about fifteen minutes to reach operating temperature and then it is the most economical. So don’t drive to the supermarket one day, to pick up a package at the post office the next day and to the pharmacy the next day. Those are the most expensive trips because the engine stays cold. The consumption is about double that when the engine is up to temperature.
  • Drive slowly. If you drive 100 instead of 130, that saves about 14 percent in fuel and 80 is even more economical.
  • On the highway, you can consider driving behind a truck , but at a safe distance. A kind of shelter is created behind a large truck with relatively little wind resistance.
  • Use cruise control as much as possible. If you don’t have cruise control, drive as much as possible at a constant speed, because then you consume less than when you go a little harder and softer.
  • Drive-in anticipation, letting the car roll out as much as possible and having to brake as little as possible. If you see in the distance that the traffic light is turning red, release the accelerator immediately. 
  • Shift to a higher gear as early as possible, at about 2000 rpm. Follow the shift indicator, if you have one.

Use less gas? 

  • Can you decide for yourself what time you will drive? Then avoid the rush hour. Because the busier it is, the less you can drive on and constantly stopping and accelerating costs a lot of fuel.
  • Do you have an automatic? Avoid sports mode. Because in that position, the car only shifts to a higher gear later. And are you up to speed? Then let the accelerator pedal slightly. Then the automatic transmission shifts to a higher gear faster.
  • Turn on the start-stop system if your car has one. As a result, the engine switches off if you stop at a red light.
  • Check your tire pressure regularly, every two months. And top up if necessary. Do not rely on the sensor that indicates that a tire is too soft, because then you are actually too late.
  • Make the car as light as possible. Because the heavier, the more fuel. Also, remove your roof box or bicycle carrier if you are not using it. Because they also make your car less aerodynamic.
  • Use as few internal systems as possible such as the air conditioning, fan, heating, seat heating and rear window heating. “They all use electricity, so the engine has to work harder,” says Van der Drift. “The ventilation on position 1 or 2 will not consume much, but an air conditioner does.”
  • Also, don’t try to open your windows as an alternative to the air conditioning. Because this makes your car less aerodynamic and costs more energy than switched-on air conditioning. If your car is very hot in the summer, it is wise to first open all the windows to let the heat escape. Only then turn on the air conditioning.
  • If you can take several routes, choose the most economical route . That may be the shortest route, but it doesn’t have to be. A slightly longer route on which it is better to continue driving can still be more economical.
  • Consider whether that car ride is really necessary and whether it is not possible with the (electric) bicycle. That is always cheaper. It can also be cheaper to go by public transport.

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