With fuel prices still being high, we list out certain measures that will help you achieve more kilometres per litre from your vehicle.
Despite the government’s recent excise duty cuts, petrol and diesel prices have remained high these past few months. One of the most effective ways to offset the rising fuel cost is to ensure that your vehicle goes further with every litre of fuel. Extracting more kilometres out of each litre calls for paying attention to a few simple efficient driving measures.
A vehicle’s fuel consumption is also linked to an individual’s driving style, and, irrespective of the vehicle type, you can improve fuel economy by following these simple measures.
1. Be gentle on the throttle
While driving, use the least amount of throttle possible. An engine uses most fuel in overcoming inertia and attaining speeds from stationary. So, to lessen this, you should accelerate in a smooth and steady manner, and push as softly on the accelerator as possible. Speed is not necessarily bad per se, but build the speed smoothly.
Think of it as running a marathon, where you need to plan your pace and keep some energy in reserve. Accelerating fast and driving at a higher speed will consume more fuel than driving in a gentle manner.
2. Anticipate and drive
Look at the road ahead and observe the flow of traffic. By anticipating the way traffic moves, you can plan your manoeuvres and avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking. Spot traffic signals early so that you can get off the throttle and allow the vehicle to coast to a stop rather than braking hard at the last minute.
By driving at a steady speed, you will save fuel and even catch up with faster vehicles. Likewise, there’s no point in charging past slower moving traffic only to get caught up in traffic ahead.
3. Switch off
Modern engines come equipped with a fair amount of technology and don’t complain if you restart them often. Prolonged idling not only wastes precious fuel, but also pollutes the environment. See the number of seconds left on the traffic light before the signal turns green. Switch off the engine if you are going to wait for a considerable amount of time.
4. Shed weight and drag
All manufacturers try to keep the vehicle’s weight as low as possible without affecting its safety. When the overall weight is low, there is less strain on the engine and the energy required is less. A lighter vehicle will consume less fuel than a heavier one powered by the same engine. Hence, it is vital to keep the vehicle light wherever possible. If there are any unnecessary bags, stray items or trash lying in the vehicle’s boot, then get rid of them right away.
Car manufacturers also design their vehicles in a way that they are as aerodynamic as possible and offer the least amount of drag. However, a roof rack on your car increases wind resistance. According to research, roof-mounted cargo boxes can reduce fuel efficiency by around two to five percent. Hence, if you aren’t using the roof rack, remove it.
5. Maintain your car
One common mistake that car owners make is skipping regular service thinking it will save cash. The general attitude is to fix the car only after it breaks down. But servicing your vehicle and replacing its components as per the manufacturer’s recommended intervals are vital to keep the car healthy. Only a healthy car will perform optimally and deliver good fuel efficiency. A poorly maintained engine cannot give you a good economy.
Certain consumables like the air and oil filter along with engine oil need to be regularly replaced or changed. An air filter prevents dust from entering the engine and owing to our dusty conditions, it gets clogged after a few thousand kilometres of running. A choked air filter will result in the engine producing less power which, in turn, makes you step on the accelerator more.
The engine oil lubricates various moving parts and ends up accumulating grime. It also loses its viscosity due to high operating temperatures, and not replacing it regularly will strain the engine more. A vehicle that is maintained well will consume a lot less fuel than a poorly kept one.
6. Increase tyre pressure
Vehicle owners underestimate the importance of tyres and their role in achieving good fuel economy. Tyres are the only contact patch between the vehicle and ground. Most of the engine’s power gets utilised in making the tyres roll as they create rolling resistance.
Low tyre pressure increases resistance, making the engine work more, which, in turn, increases its fuel usage. Hence, it is important to keep the tyres inflated at either the recommended air pressure or higher. Check the tyre pressure once every week and before going on a long drive. The vehicle’s correct tyre pressure information is usually mentioned on the driver’s side door. Get the wheels balanced and aligned at recommended intervals.
7. Fill your car with good quality fuel
Adulterated fuel not only lowers the fuel efficiency, but also harms the engine. Before tanking up your vehicle, always check the fuel quality. Today, you can check the volume and density of fuel being sold at any pump without being charged. It is also advisable to tank up from a big fuel pump in the city that is company owned. While travelling on the highway, avoid filling fuel from small and dodgy looking outlets.
The fuel consumption of a vehicle depends on a number of factors. Some of them like traffic congestion and road conditions will never be under your control. Improving your driving style and keeping your car in good shape will help you achieve better fuel economy irrespective of the conditions. Extracting more kilometres out of every litre of fuel isn’t difficult, and, on the contrary, can actually be fun. Just follow our step wise guide.
How To Increase Mileage Of Petrol Car
Individuals who need to drive regularly wish to own a car, either a new one or a used car and it is very necessary to maintain car fuel economy as it can take a big bite out of their monthly finances. By opting for a used car loan from Muthoot Capital, you can plan your finances well.
Improving fuel efficiency saves money and benefits the environment by reducing emission release. There are several ways to increase a car’s mileage and lower driving costs. Let us know how to get maximum mileage from a car and save money with increased mileage.
How To Increase The Mileage Of A Car
1. Maintain The Right Tyre Pressure
There is a direct link between tyre pressure and mileage. Low tyre pressure means the contact area between tyres and the road is beyond the usual limit. It increases the friction between the tyre and the road. Similarly, over-inflation in tyres reduces the grip. Therefore, keeping proper tyre pressure as recommended by the manufacturer is inevitable. Improper tyre pressure can reduce almost 10-15% fuel efficiency. Drive with the correct air pressure to increase car mileage a car’s fuel efficiency and, thus, greater mileage.
2. Reduced Use Of AC Means 30% More Mileage
Constant use of the air conditioner (AC) at its maximum can decrease your car’s fuel efficiency by up to 30%. Where a full fuel tank can run a car 500 km with the AC on, it can go 600-625 km when the AC is switched off. If your pure intention is to increase a car’s mileage, you have to forget the comfort of AC. Excessive usage of AC can strain the engine and reduce mileage. Thus, unless really needed, it is good to turn off the AC.
3. Use Gears Correctly
Wondering how to increase car mileage increase a car’s mileage with the correct usage of gears? Changing gears correctly helps increase mileage, whether it is manual or automatic transmission cars. Sudden acceleration can reduce an engine’s efficiency quite drastically. Linear acceleration is necessary. Ideally, driving at around 80 kmph in fifth gear is good to increase a car’s fuel efficiency.
4. Plan Route Beforehand
Planning things in your head before taking action is always good. It is true for increasing the mileage of a car too. A car stuck in traffic can drain fuel. Plan your journey and find a route with fewer traffic signals to improve your car’s mileage. Spend less time pressing the brake and clutch. Lesser stops will increase the average mileage. You may not mind taking a few extra kilometres than being stuck on a congested city road. You can check the available route navigations and take the one with fewer stoppages. You can avoid driving during rush hours.
5. Keep It Shut When Idle
Idling your car means stopping it with its engine on, which is bad for fuel efficiency. You are not moving an inch and still burning fuel pointlessly. Why waste precious fuel when we are not even moving? If your stoppage at a traffic signal is above 45 seconds, it is best to turn the ignition off.
6. Good Maintenance – Regular Servicing
Take care of your car to improve its mileage. The engine’s performance will decrease with restricted airflow caused by clogged pores and more fuel use than required. It would produce more power to drive at the same speed as it could with a clean filter. Clogged filters of your car cause increased consumption of fuel.
7. A Half-Full Tank May Increase Mileage
Fill up your car’s fuel tank halfway. It is good to keep a car’s tank above one-quarter full. A half-full tank may increase its mileage. A half-full tank reduces the weight on the engine and increases mileage.
8. Roll Up Car’s Windows
The wind blow coming into the car from open windows can hamper a car’s aerodynamics and cause more stress on the engine, especially at high speed. A speed over 50 kmph and fully open windows can cause low fuel efficiency. You can use the car’s air blower at the ‘fresh air setting’.
9. Keep Your Vehicle Light
Avoid putting extra items in your car; it can improve your car’s fuel efficiency. Leave excess weight at home. You will notice top mileage cars with improved efficiency which are ideal for daily commutes.
Thus, these are the easy ways to answer ‘how to increase the mileage of a car.’ The car’s fuel efficiency can be increased with only a few thoughtful steps and being patient, whenever required, for a few moments.
FAQs
1. How To Improve Car Mileage?
Tips to Improve or maintain the Mileage of Car:
- Keep the Engine in Good Health.
- Reduce the Load Inside the Car.
- Use Accurate Engine Oil.
- Be Easy on the clutch.
- Maintain the Right Air Pressure, try to avoid opening windows at high speeds.
- Check Wheel Alignment.
2. Does AC Reduce Mileage?
As a general answer, a study found that running the AC does reduce car mileage. Generally, the air conditioner uses fuel, so use it wisely.
3. How Can I Increase My Mileage By 10%?
The 10% Rule to improve mileage simply states that you should only increase mileage in increments of 10. So if you are running 20 miles a week and want to increase mileage, you should only run 2 more miles.
4. How To Increase Mileage Of Petrol Car?
Read the points to know how to improve mileage of petrol car:
- Proper tire pressure: Maintaining proper tire pressure can improve fuel efficiency.
- Avoid aggressive driving: Hard acceleration and braking can lower gas mileage.
- Regular maintenance: Regular maintenance, such as oil changes and engine tune-ups, can improve fuel efficiency.
- Reduce weight: Removing unnecessary items from your vehicle can reduce weight and improve fuel efficiency.
- Use cruise control: Using cruise control on highways can help maintain a steady speed and improve fuel efficiency.
- Avoid idling: Idling for long periods can waste fuel and lower fuel efficiency.
- Plan trips: Combining errands into one trip can reduce the number of times you have to start and stop your engine, improving fuel efficiency.
5. How To Increase Mileage Of Diesel Car?
Below are the points to know how to increase average of car:
- Proper tire pressure
- Avoid aggressive driving
- Regular maintenance
- Reduce weight
- Use cruise control
- Avoid idling
- Plan trips
6. How To Increase Mileage Of Gas (CNG) Car?
Below are the points to know how to improve car gas mileage:
- Reduce weight
- Use cruise control
- Avoid idling
- Plan trips
- Proper tire pressure
- Avoid aggressive driving
- Regular maintenance
How to get maximum mileage from your petrol car?
A country obsessed with ‘kitna deti hai’ drives with only one thing in their minds – achieving the best possible mileage. But when it comes to petrol cars, achieving maximum fuel mileage is always a challenge. Compared to a diesel-powered engine, petrol variants are not that efficient. Even the on-road mileage of a petrol engine is not on par with the claimed ARAI mileage of the manufacturer. Today, when petrol prices are skyrocketing every day, maintaining the fuel economy is the need of the hour.
To help you with the task, we share some tips that will help you squeeze the best possible mileage out of your car. Read on!
Go easy with the accelerator
To reach the higher torque range, drivers of petrol cars tend to go rough with their accelerators-resulting in more fuel consumption. To gain maximum fuel efficiency, one needs to be very gentle with their car. Drive with just about 20% accelerator input at the most, and don’t put much effort into pressing the accelerators if not necessary. Instead, use the gears to gain momentum.
Pick the optimal torque range
Maximum fuel economy comes at peak torque – This is a popular myth about mileage believed by many. It is partially correct when driving at cruising speed. Instead, keep the speed constant when driving in a city or highway. Doing so will help the engine put less effort to accelerate or decelerate unnecessarily and reduce fuel consumption.
Be careful with the braking
Avoid braking hard and quickly because it consumes a lot of fuel. Instead, anticipate your stops early and free the accelerator. Doing this will activate the fuel overrun cut-off function, and fuel will be saved.
Use quality engine oil and lubricants
If the engine experiences the presence of contaminants and friction, it will use more fuel to keep itself functioning. Using the best engine oil and Lubricants will ensure that the engine is free from contaminants and friction, and uses optimum fuel to function. Also, make sure that you only use the manufacturer-recommended engine oil grade and nothing else.
Stop the engine at long idle
It is wise to switch off the engine to save fuel if you face an idle time longer than a minute. Petrol cars can easily be switched off when they come to an idle state. However, if the stop is less than a minute, you should not do the same since the energy it takes to start the engine will consume more than you can save.
Keep your engine tuned
It goes without saying that an ill-maintained car will not give good fuel economy. Ensure that your car is maintained regularly – get the lubricants, air filter, fuel filter and spark plugs checked regularly and replace if necessary.
Keep your tyres inflated
Tyres with low pressure put pressure on the car’s engine, which in turn consumes fuel to keep the engine running as desired. Keep the tyre inflated with recommended PSI to save fuel.
Maintaining the car well and using proper driving techniques go a long way in helping you achieve good mileage and save up on the fuel cost.
Next-gen BMW M5 hybrid to get 700hp-plus V8
The next-gen M5 will go on sale globally by 2024 and gets a petrol-hybrid powertrain for the first time.
BMW will give the seventh-generation M5 a new petrol-hybrid powertrain as the M performance car division moves towards electrification for all its products.
The upcoming M2 will be BMW M’s last pure internal combustion model, while the XM full-size performance SUV will be the first BMW M model to feature electrification.
- Next-gen BMW M5 to have more than 700hp
- Will come with a petrol hybrid V8
- Upcoming BMW M2 will be the last pure petrol M car
Next-gen M5: to have 700hp-plus on tap
Due to go on sale globally by 2024, the new M5 super-sedan is among a series of M models that will switch from a conventional petrol engine to plug-in hybrid power in a move that will hike its power and performance. The new hybrid drivetrain is set to boost its reserves to “over 700hp” and offer “limited electric drive compatibility”, a source close to the German carmaker has confirmed it to our sister publication, Autocar UK.
Details remain scarce, but, as per Autocar UK, it will adopt a rear-mounted electric motor among a raft of major engineering changes. The synchronous unit, produced in-house, is claimed to operate in combination with a further developed version of BMW’s twin-turbocharged 4.4-litre V8 engine used by today’s sixth-generation BMW M5 and codenamed the S63. The adoption of the electric motor is set to increase the M5’s reserves by more than 200hp to somewhere in the region of 790hp.
As with today’s BMW M5, drive will be channelled through an eight-speed torque-converter automatic gearbox with steering-wheel-mounted shift paddles, while a fully variable xDrive four-wheel drive system will bring a distinctive rear-biased apportioning of power in the car’s more performance-focused driving modes.
Next-gen BMW M5: to get unique M styling tweaks
Key features on the next M5 that will distinguish it from the upcoming new 5-series sedan will include widened front and rear tracks, performance brake system and quad tailpipes like the outgoing model. The super-sedan will have unique front and rear bumpers with a meaner-looking design, different alloy wheel options and M-badging all around including the interior that will also feature carbon-fibre bits and other unique M performance treatment.
The new 5-series will go on sale before the next-gen BMW M5. Expect more details in the coming months for both the models.
