How To Save Fuel By Being A Better Driver In Pakistan

In 2007, a report generated by Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan according to which, about 50 percent of oil in Pakistan is used for transportation. From which, about half of the oil is consumed by passenger cars and small trucks. Due to improvements in aerodynamics, material, stability and controls, the overall efficiency of vehicles has appreciably increased. However, the average fuel consumption of new vehicles has not reduced much from about 14 liters per 100 kilometers because of increase in the sale of larger and less-fuel-efficient cars, trucks and SUVs.

For saving fuel, it is not only required to drive sensibly, but it also involves buying the right car, maintaining it responsibly and using it appropriately. The fuel consumption of car depends on many factors, for example, the type of the vehicle (sports, SUV, sedan, etc.), the weight, the transmission type (automatic or manual), the size and efficiency of the engine.

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Most of the fuel at higher speeds is used to overcome aerodynamic drag, which is the force applied by the engine, needed to overcome this drag. This resistance force is directly proportional to aerodynamic drag and the frontal area. Therefore, a sleek-looking, aerodynamically designed vehicle with contoured lines that coincide with the streamlines of air flow has a smaller drag coefficient and therefore, better fuel economy than a boxlike vehicle with sharp corners. The box design is the talk of the past, but many old cars are still in use in Pakistan. For the same overall shape, a compact car has a smaller frontal area and thus better fuel economy compared to a large car.

For the given engine size, extra weight requires more power and hence causes reduced efficiency. For that matter, a car with the proper power-to-weight ratio is fuel efficient.

Good Driving Habits for Less Fuel Consumption

Driving habits can make a significant impact on fuel consumption. Some of them are discussed briefly below that can improve fuel economy by ~10 percent:

Avoid Quick Starts and Sudden Stops

Most common during bumper-to-bumper traffic, the abrupt and aggressive starts waste fuel, wear tires and increase stresses on components of vehicles. The sudden stops wear the brake shoes and may cause the driver to lose control. Using less braking means using less fuel to accelerate to the speed back again. Smooth starts and stops save fuel, reduce pollution and are more courteous to other people also.

Do Not Tailgate

Tailgating is quite common in Pakistan and perhaps, the main reason behind traffic pile-ups. Drivers, unable to maintain a safe distance have to do abrupt stops and starts, which they could avoid by using the three-second rule to keep a safe distance. In Germany, tailgating is a punishable motoring offence.

Drive at Moderate Speeds

For safer driving and better fuel economy, a driver should avoid high speeds on open roads. A research was done by EPA and US Department of Energy that states, “Aerodynamic Drag and thus, fuel consumption increase rapidly at speeds above 55 mph (or 88 km/h)”.

Aerodynamic drag increases and thus fuel economy decreases rapidly at speeds above 55 mph.
(Courtesy: EPA and US Department of Energy)

From above chart, it is clear that driving slow does not mean good fuel economy. Below 30 mph (or 50 km/h), the fuel economy decreases as the car is being driven at slower speeds.

Also Read: 8 Things That Can Hurt Your Car’s Fuel Economy Here

Therefore from above discussion, it is evident that a moderate speed of 88 km/h leads to greater fuel economy.

Maintain a Constant Speed

Cruising, meaning driving at a consistent speed without any fluctuation will result in better fuel consumption. It should be understood that every time the accelerator pedal is pressed, more fuel will be pumped into the engine. Therefore, for a better economy, the vehicle should be accelerated gradually and smoothly. Steady driving is easier on the nerves and better for the heart.

Use Highest Gear (Overdrive) During Highway Driving

Since we understand that higher the RPM speed means higher the engine speed. Lower engine speeds reduce fuel consumption as well as engine wear. Therefore, using overdrive (fifth gear in a manual transmission) should be utilized.

Use the Air Conditioner Sparingly

The air conditioner uses considerable power and thus increases fuel consumption about 3 to 4 percent at highway speeds and about 10 percent during city driving. The best method to save fuel from air-conditioning is by running the air conditioner on economy mode. New paints and ways are being tested to keep the car cool on its own, so it decrease the use of air-conditioning to create an impact on not just fuel economy, but emissions as well.