Fuel Saving Manual A-Z: Drive More Kilometres for Less Fuel

Cover more kilometres using less fuel: that is our aim this month.

Anyone who relies on a car to get around has been feeling rather gloomy. Rising fuel prices are to blame, and they show no sign of slowing down. Our patience has been shrinking along with it… Perhaps filling stations should offer psychological support to customers spending more than €20 on fuel. Just a thought!

Until that happens, Mais Superior and RazãoAutomóvel.com have a few remedies to ease the headaches and nausea that strike whenever the fuel gauge needle plunges towards empty. The approach is straightforward and effective, although it does require a little patience. It will be worthwhile in the end… more fuel left in the tank, more money in your pocket and more kilometres to travel. Ready to begin?

Fuel Saving Manual A-Z

Smoother driving and smarter braking

0,5l/100km saving
Anticipate braking and “early acceleration”

Did you study physics at school? Then you will know that setting a body in motion and overcoming its inertia requires a considerable amount of energy. The sooner you realise that you will need to brake, the sooner you can lift off the accelerator. We have all seen drivers in traffic accelerate like mad, only to brake 200m further ahead, just as we do. The outcome? They burn more fuel to spend exactly the same amount of time stationary, in the same queue as us.

0,6l/100km saving
Use the engine within its ideal rev range

Make the gearbox and rev counter your allies in the battle against fuel consumption. In petrol cars, the ideal operating range sits between 2000rpm’s and 3300rpm’s. Within this rev band, the balance between mechanical efficiency and consumption is most favourable for saving fuel. Taking the rev counter all the way to its limit will achieve very little and may double or triple the vehicle’s instantaneous consumption.

0,5l/100km saving
Do not exceed 110km/h

Did you know that, above 60km/h, the drag caused by moving through the air exceeds that created by the tyres? From that point onwards, aerodynamic drag begins to rise exponentially. That is why consumption increases as speed rises. Try to stay below 110km/h on motorways and 90km/h on national roads. You may arrive a few minutes later, but a few euros “richer”.

0,4l/100km saving
Be mindful of accelerator input

How you use the accelerator is directly linked to how eagerly that dreaded fuel needle drops. The lighter your accelerator inputs, the lower the instantaneous fuel consumption will be. Treat the pedal gently and it will become an excellent ally in the fight against waste.

Tyre pressure and fuel consumption

0,3l/100km saving
Check tyre pressure

Check your tyres’ recommended pressure regularly. Driving with tyres below the manufacturer’s specified pressure raises the car’s fuel consumption and reduces its performance, because there is greater friction between the tyre surface and the tarmac; consequently, more energy is needed to cover a given journey. It also shortens tyre life and compromises the vehicle’s safety. Consult the vehicle owner’s manual to find the correct pressure.

Expected overall saving: 2,5L/100km (+/-)

By following all of these recommendations, you can substantially reduce your fuel expenditure while also limiting mechanical wear on your car’s various components. As an added benefit, you will also help the environment.

Text: Guilherme Ferreira da Costa