The base factors of improved fuel mileage are:
- Weight, something that is difficult to change
- Energy, The type fuel burned
- Distance, easy to control with planning
- Engine design, all but impossible to change
- Speed, something the driver has total control over
Vehicle speed is not only the speed that is driven, but acceleration to that speed
Speed and acceleration consume energy. If a person walks a mile they burn much less energy than if they run a mile. Running the same mile in competition and at some higher speed burns even more energy. A great deal of fuel mileage can be saved by reducing speed and acceleration.
Fuel mileage savings are easy to calculate. Most vehicles can enjoy up to five additional miles per gallon, changing from an aggressive style of driving to fuel-mileage driving. That could mean going from 15 MPG to 20 MPG.
Driving 68 MPH instead of 70 MPH can increase fuel mileage considerably. Two miles per hour difference will add about 15 minutes to a 500-mile trip, yet could save the equivalent of $1.00 per gallon in fuel cost.
Every time the accelerator is pressed; the vehicle attempts to make power, and burns fuel. Allowing a vehicle to coast will burn almost no energy at all. A good deal of fuel can be saved by anticipating traffic flow and coasting when possible. For instance, look ahead when driving. If the traffic is slowing, or if you see a traffic light that is about to change, coast.
Allowing the vehicle to coast will reduce the amount of fuel burned, and also drastically reduces wear on brakes and rotors. Major fuel savings can be achieved by this one simple change.
This series of photos illustrates aggressive driving and the lack of progress actually achieved.
The driver of the green van passes and weaves between two vehicles.
Almost immediately they apply brakes to avoid slower traffic
Again they speed up, only to arrive at a traffic signal that has just changed.
Speeding up again they arrive at the next signal.
Finally, three miles down the road waiting for another signal. In the same drive I never used my brakes, maintained a steady speed and arrived at the same place, right behind this driver.
Aids to better fuel mileage
Many vehicles have a fuel mileage meter. If so the selection should be set on “instant mileage.” Aftermarket gauges are also available for many vehicles at a modest cost.
Watching the gauge and maintaining the highest mileage will teach a lot about driving for mileage. Fuel mileage quickly drops any time the accelerator is pressed.
Learning to watch the road ahead can also help. When a red traffic signal is ahead, coasting will increase fuel mileage and may avoid the need to stop. A vehicle sitting stopped at a traffic signal, it is getting zero miles per gallon.
Watching traffic, for brake lights can also help avoid the need to stop. Little sense is made by rushing to a stop.
All modern vehicles “learn” the way they are driven
Hard acceleration causes the computer to command higher shift points. The engine will race higher before it shifts, burning more fuel. This is because transmissions adapt to the way they are driven. Drive easily and they maximize mileage. Drive aggressively and they maximize power output. Driving a vehicle aggressively one time, may affect fuel mileage for several days.
Planning trips to avoid needless driving and high-traffic times also saves a good deal of additional fuel. With a few simple changes, most folks can gain four to five miles per gallon. That sort of savings can have a serious impact on the budget.
