Tips for driving economically

[kalniel]

To go with the fuel economy thread, what are people's tips for driving economically?

Some ones I can think of:

1) Keep your tyres inflated correctly - rolling resistance is a major drag factor at lower speeds. Note it doesn't go away at higher speeds, air resistance just becomes much bigger.

2) Braking wastes energy. Lots of it. You get that energy back if you brake less by stopping accelerating sooner, and not having to accelerate afterwards. Anticipate corners and back off early, driving smoothly through them.

3) Don't carry more than you need to in the car. If you don't need that oil or toolkit on *every* journey, take it out and put it back when you think you'll need it.

4) Keep the speed down. I can't remember the figures, but driving at 80 compared to 70 uses a significantly higher amount of fuel - air resistance increases proportional to the square of your speed. Unless it's unsafe to do so, don't be too rigid about your speed - using more fuel to stick at 70 rigidly up a hill then having to brake on the way down isn't smart. If you're not in a rush and can do so without holding people up try dropping to 60 on dual carriage ways.

5) Use gears! Making the engine labour at low revs isn't always economic, but once you're at the desired speed change into a higher gear. You can still enjoy acceleration (within reason!) without it having too much of an effect on economy.

6) Car share Okay, slightly cheating here, but while carrying another passenger is a lot of weight, it's still far more efficient to do one journey in place of two.

Any others?

[Howard]

Drive less agressively. Accelerate more gently in first gear, and use less revs when pulling off. Learn at what speed the engine doesn't bog when you change up a gear, i.e into 3rd at 20mph or whatever. Obviously this isn't ideal in all circumstances, but if you're driving in the city and just want to get to work and not drive spiritedly, it all helps.

[chriswood_7]

A bit of a silly one here, but dont change gear when slowing down. If you keep coming down the gears as your slowing down, your obviously inducing more revs out of the car, and using the clutch more which will add to the wear of the clutch.

General slow acceleration, not using your aircon when its not required and leaving your windows up while driving above 30mph. Not carrying excessive stuff in the car if you dont need it.

Also taking short journeys you will use more fuel, as the more times you start the engine the more fuel you will use. Also, I heard this one and laughed out loud, keeping your car clean can also help the car to be more slippery.

Also, last but not least, dont give fat people a lift. Make them walk! Only kidding...

[schmunk]

2) Braking wastes energy. Lots of it. You get that energy back if you brake less by stopping accelerating sooner, and not having to accelerate afterwards. Anticipate corners and back off early, driving smoothly through them.

Use the racing line, then you don't need to slow down as much...

[Konan555]

A bit of a silly one here, but dont change gear when slowing down. If you keep coming down the gears as your slowing down, your obviously inducing more revs out of the car, and using the clutch more which will add to the wear of the clutch..

Tis a silly one

Broadly speaking (i.e. forgetting carbs and 500bhp twin turbos), the fuel is totally cut when you lift your foot untill the revs dip somewhere under 2K.

[jimbouk]

Slipstream - sit close behind a large lorry on motorways and enjoy the free ride

(please don't this is very dangerous...)

[badass]

Dont slow down for pedestrian crossings. Braking wastes energy and requires more fuel to get back up to speed. People produce CO2 so if you kill a couple, you're really helping the environment!

Also, run your car off firewood - its apparently carbon Neutral since the trees used to make it have absorbed CO2 within a persons lifetime. Interestingly, bullsh1t is also carbon neutral.

[dangel]

Look out the bloody windscreen - doing this allows you to anticipate and plan ahead. If I had a penny for every time I see the guy in front blast off a roundabout at full throttle only to have to slam his brakes on due to an upcoming traffic queue..

[arbitor]

I have tried driving economically and the fuel still goes down like normal bar maybe it will last 5 miles longer

[staffsMike]

The last mile or so to my house is downhill and you can simply leave the car in 5th and not accelerate. If you have a modern car and an instant MPG calculator..watch that sucker fly up to as high as it will go..uses no fuel what so ever afaik
Also only accelerating enough to get the car up a hill regardless of whether the car slows down or not. Annoys those behind you but that can be economic

[Taz]

- Plan your route carefully

- Listen to travel reports BEFORE you set off on your journey

- Avoid driving during the rush hour

- Make sure your car is serviced regularly

[99Flake]

Economy? I feel I need this word explainig to me. I find none of those make any damn difference to my cr. It still chews fuel as if it were going out of fasion.

[Bluecube]

Dont slow down for pedestrian crossings. Braking wastes energy and requires more fuel to get back up to speed. People produce CO2 so if you kill a couple, you're really helping the environment!

Best tip I've seen yet!

[this_is_gav]

Keep the windows closed. Disturbing the aerodynamics simply kills what was an efficient vehicle dead.

[J4MES]

1) Keep your tyres inflated correctly - this will help you corner quicker as there will be less deformation of the tyre sidewalls. Note you will also get better feedback and extended tyrelife.

2) Brake as late as you can. Later than that. You should aim to hit the apex and then nail the throttle. Anticipate corners and keep an eye on the vanishing point, driving smoothly but keenly through them.

3) Don't carry more than you need to in the car. If you don't need those seats or stereo/aircon etc on *every* journey, take it out and leave it out - it will help your PWR.

4) Keep the speed up. I can't remember the figures, but driving at 90 compared to 50 gets you there significantly quicker - distance and speed are proportional to the duration of your journey.

5) Use gears! Making the engine labour at low revs isn't always economic, so you should always aim to be in the best part of the power band. Blip the throttle on downchanges (dont bother DDC with synchro).

6) Don't Car share Carrying another passenger is a lot of weight, so it's far quicker on your own.

Any others?

[chriswood_7]

Tis a silly one

Broadly speaking (i.e. forgetting carbs and 500bhp twin turbos), the fuel is totally cut when you lift your foot untill the revs dip somewhere under 2K.

Well I suppose your right it was a bit silly, in my car the fuel is cut out when you brake.