What Is Fuel Efficiency?

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

What Is Fuel Efficiency And How To Improve It

By definition, fuel efficiency means the proportion of energy released by a fuel combustion process which is converted into useful work. In other words, when your vehicle burns a certain amount of fuel, it only can go so far, depending on variables.

The Simplest Way To Improve Your Fuel Efficiency

It takes more consideration and planning to change something about your vehicle or driving habits. There is something you can do immediatelyand start saving. Here is a short video about this simple idea.

Simple, isn’t it? Just adjust your tires to the correct pressure. Now consider the fact that not all gauges show the same reading. It is best to add pressure 5-10 percent over the official recommendations in the tire sidewall.

Tire pressure is important but not commuting at all saves you the most fuel. Check how to do that here.

A little extra pressure will not break your tires, but low pressure can damage them and increase fuel consumption at the same time.

In the ancient days of motoring, tires used to be sensitive to high pressure. Don’t worry, not so anymore. They used to bulge out in the central part of the thread, causing the tire to wear out prematurely in that part.

Modern tires have more stability and do not bulge out from a little extra pressure. Just a little too low pressure, on the other hand, will cause the side wall to collapse measurably, even visibly.

That will reduce fuel efficiency as well as tire mileage.

New Mileage Standards Would Double Fuel Efficiency

There are always new rules and regulations on the drawing board of national and international authorities. Those regulations dictate what kind of vehicles the industry can produce.

New regulations towards cutting greenhouse gas emissions were finalized by the Obama administration. The new rules will require new trucks and cars to average 54.5 miles per gallon in 12 years from now, up from 28.6 mpg at the end of 2011.

Choosing A Fuel Efficient Vehicle Model

What we as motorists can do is choose more fuel efficient models. This is easy, now that there are very spacious and powerful, yet economical cars available. Reading motor magazines gives a good overall picture of the current reality in the marketplace.

Read another post about hybrid cars here.

What would be the most fuel efficient choice for a new car? Fortunately, some of the best you can buy second hand already. Here is a video with 10 best choices to choose from.

The World’s Top 10 Most Fuel Efficient Cars

Driving Habits And Fuel Efficiency

Last but not least, what you can do immediately to improve your fuel economy is to sit back and consider your driving habits. I am including a lengthy video with almost every possible economy tip imaginable.

Most of these tips are good in my opinion. There are a few typos and small mistakes, but the video is good overall. Tip #13 suggests that you wait until the engine warms up. Now I guess the author means you should pre-heat the engine with a heater device, not by idling.

Also, you should only run the engine at moderate load and revs when cold.

Tip #39 states that charged engines consume more fuel. Not necessarily true, especially with the modern turbos.

40 Fuel Economy Tips & Factors Affecting Your Car’s Fuel Efficiency

Now one tip that may surprise you. This tip is the most fuel efficient of them all. What if you could, instead of commuting every day, work from home? Check the best way to do that HERE.

We will get back to fuel efficiency tipsin the near future.

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