Economical driving with mechanics. Economical driving or economical driving style. Driving techniques to reduce fuel consumption. Is it worth changing gears?
The sharp rise in fuel prices has forced many car owners to pay special attention to the “appetite” of their car, even if previously the fuel consumption suited them quite well. A natural question arises: how to increase efficiency?
or How to achieve lower fuel consumption
In the owner's manual for each vehicle, in the "technical specifications" section, information is always provided on average fuel consumption under various driving conditions - in the city, on the highway, and sometimes in the combined cycle. However, in real operating conditions, fuel consumption usually exceeds factory data. This is due to different measurement conditions during tests and during everyday operation of the machine. For example, car manufacturers determine highway consumption at a speed of 90 km/h, and only sometimes at 120 km/h. In reality, only drivers of USSR-made cars adhere to the speed limit of 90 km/h on the highway. Owners of foreign cars and the latest models of “Esengov” cars, despite traffic regulations, drive faster. And fuel consumption at high speeds increases not only due to the fact that the engine operates at higher speeds, but also due to a significant increase in air flow resistance, to overcome which more fuel must be burned in the cylinders. There are other “inconsistencies” in the city - car manufacturers do not always take into account multiple cold engine starts and driving conditions in traffic jams, as well as numerous intersections with traffic lights.
However, it is possible to reduce fuel consumption. To do this, it is worth improving your own driving skills and paying attention to the technical condition of the car.
Dynamics and speed
The first and basic rule of economical driving is to avoid high speeds and dynamic acceleration. In order not to waste fuel, you should get used to a smooth increase in speed and “force” the engine to work more in economical mode - at 2000 - 3000 rpm, when the specific fuel consumption of most engines is minimal.
When accelerating, you need to press the gas pedal as gently as possible. Any sudden acceleration is undesirable - you should maintain a constant speed on the highway. To engage the next gear, you do not need to spin the engine to high speeds - for smooth acceleration to a higher gear, it is enough to shift at medium speeds. To reduce fuel consumption when decelerating, you should drive in higher gears for as long as possible.
In the city, it is advisable to move between traffic lights, avoiding car stops. Starting from a standstill is the most uneconomical driving mode, which is recommended to be avoided if possible. You need to watch the traffic light from the moment it appears in your visibility zone. If the light is red, it makes sense to stop accelerating, and sometimes reduce the speed to a value that will allow you to approach the traffic light when it turns green - the intersection will be “taken” without stopping. After accelerating in such areas in carburetor cars, you can turn on “neutral” and coast to the intersection, braking if necessary. However, from a safety point of view, such a driving algorithm is not recommended. It’s safer, and sometimes even more economical in fuel-injected foreign cars, to “roll” with the gear engaged, using the engine braking effect if necessary.
In cars with an automatic transmission, it is important to avoid the “kickdown” and “sport” modes; moreover, if a winter mode (“winter”) is provided, you should switch to it - in this case, gears will shift at lower speeds, when fuel consumption is lower.
It is also important to remember that In warm-up mode, the engine consumes two to three times more fuel than at operating temperature. Thus, it is advisable to reduce the engine warm-up time when the car is stationary - it is advisable to start driving as soon as possible after starting.
According to research by automakers, parking a car for three minutes with the engine idling is equivalent to driving a distance of about 0.5-1 km. It follows from this that avoiding traffic jams is sometimes more profitable than standing in them for half an hour or an hour. And when parking in front of railroad crossings, it is better to turn off the engine. The validity of this statement is also proven by the fact that many automakers install a “Stop & Go” system on their new models, which automatically turns the engine off and on when driving in traffic jams and at traffic lights.
However, you need to use the rules of economical driving wisely so as not to interfere with other road users.
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Yuri Datsyk
Photo by Andrey Yatsulyak, Sergey Kuzmich
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There are techniques for driving a car that can significantly reduce your car, both during city trips and when driving long distances. Let's look at these techniques.
A driver who wants to save on fuel needs to master an economical driving style, which consists primarily of the ability to “work” the gas pedal. Just one “gentle” use of the gas pedal will save up to 40% of fuel.
Techniques for economical driving
1. You need to understand that the most economical operating mode of a car engine is approximately 1.5 - 2 thousand revolutions per minute. Try to keep the engine operating within these limits, that is, change gears in time so as not to overload the engine and avoid sudden acceleration with the gas pedal to the floor, as well as sudden braking.
When accelerating, for example, when overtaking, do not “overclock” the engine, but switch briefly to a lower gear. In general, perform all accelerations gradually, smoothly pressing the gas pedal.
2. As for braking, by pressing the brake pedal, we force the car to slow down due to the fact that the brake pads begin to rub against the brake discs and convert the kinetic energy of the moving car into heat, in other words, with the fuel with which we accelerated the car, when braking we We warm the surrounding space, and at our own expense.
Remember - the more experienced and professional the driver, the less often he uses the brakes.
3. Oddly enough, the engine consumes relatively a lot of fuel at idle speed, so turn off the engine if it is not needed. You can follow the rule - if you have to park for more than thirty seconds, then you need to turn off the engine.
4. For the same reason, there is no need to warm up a cold engine for a long time before starting to drive, especially since modern cars do not need this. Start driving as soon as the engine starts running steadily. While driving, it will warm up to operating temperature faster, just don't load it too much for the first couple of kilometers.
5. If you want to drive economically, do not exceed the speed of 90 km/h, especially when driving long distances. At speeds above 90 km/h, fuel consumption increases significantly.
6. By the way, dynamic driving does not necessarily lead to overspending. For example, the smooth accelerations recommended above can be replaced with short and energetic accelerations, followed by a long “coast” of the car with the gas pedal released. Having mastered this method, you can also achieve economical fuel consumption.
7. Don't forget to regularly check your tire pressure. Reducing tire pressure by 0.5 atmospheres increases fuel consumption by up to 15%. Also monitor and regularly check the wheel alignment angles.
8. In general, the fight for minimum fuel consumption is impossible with a faulty car, so keep an eye on its technical condition. Use the appropriate engine oil recommended by the car manufacturer, change the air filter, spark plugs, etc. on time, free the car from unnecessary “ballast” in the form of unnecessary things in the trunk or interior. Every extra kilogram of car weight will require its share of fuel during trips.
9. Do not lower the windows when driving on the highway - they create additional resistance to air flow.
Video about smart driving:
Fuel becomes more expensive every year, which means you need to drive your car economically. Good luck!
The desire to save on gasoline is by no means an idle hobby for car enthusiasts, since the family budget literally disappears before the eyes of a “wasteful” model. Finding a universal solution that will magically affect consumption is quite difficult. The reason for this is a lot of factors that complicate the choice of the optimal solution: the technical condition of the car, weather conditions, driving technique, operating conditions, storage, road conditions. The easiest way to determine the cause of the “leakage” of the family budget is diagnostics iron friend and troubleshooting.
Technical condition of the car: search for the “risk zone”
- soot And incorrect gaps in spark plugs correspond to an overconsumption of 0.5 liters;
- clogged injectors correspond to 1.5 liters or 25% overflow, therefore unusable candles needs to be replaced;
- filter replacement equal to saving 1 liter, since a dirty filter is the main reason for increased consumption;
- at low tire pressure the overconsumption will be 0.5 liters, which often occurs in winter. Tires need to be inflated more, since even a slight increase in pressure will simplify movement and reduce fuel consumption;
- faulty suspension ;
- wrong wheel geometry .
Incorrect adjustment of valves equivalent to an overexpenditure of 8%, scale in the cooling system -15%, unregulated idling is the cause of 20% of overspending. Connoisseurs of aerodynamics, comfort, prestige and sports devices (wing, spoiler, fly swatters, air intakes, trims, body kits, etc.) should prepare for increased fuel costs. Poor quality installation “on your own” will worsen the situation. And after troubleshooting, car enthusiasts without flashy “add-ons” can learn the basics of economical driving and further reduce consumption.
Driving style: urban
Changing your driving style and making adjustments to your equipment is the key to saving fuel by 20%. The advantage of this method is that there are no additional costs for installing “miracle devices”. For a car enthusiast, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the experience of predecessors and save gasoline. Proven solutions to reduce consumption in urban areas are:
- avoid gas-brake mode in city traffic and eliminate heavy braking in front of traffic lights. In this case, the consumption is affected by the number of accelerations, so slow acceleration will only create inconvenience for other road users;
- driving technique must be smooth And uniform , and the maximum saving effect is achieved through short sharp acceleration and smooth deceleration . A popular experiment among car enthusiasts in the form of driving at low revs in high gears is not economical driving. In addition, such a driving style can have the opposite effect and negatively affect the life of the engine. Optimal speeds are in the range of 2.0 - 3.5 thousand.
- Among the “top” misconceptions is driving in neutral gear as a way to reduce consumption. In this case, gasoline will continue to be burned, and an effective way to save money is to release the pedal without changing gear and move by inertia ;
- exclude long warm-up engine as a proven way to increase consumption and burn fuel in vain. For a thrifty car enthusiast, two minutes of warming up at idle is enough, and at low speeds up to 2.5 thousand, the engine will warm up faster;
- optimal speed mode economical driving - 60-80 km/h on a flat road. Another misconception will be the invention of thrifty owners of automatic machines: move the selector to the positionN,P. In reality, the resource of an expensive box will decrease, but consumption will not decrease. It will be more useful to reduce the “electronic bells and whistles”: electric heating, powerful audio system, air conditioning, headlights and everything that creates a load on the generator.
- In a car with automatic transmission, you should avoid the “sport” and “kickdown” modes, and if you have “winter”, it is recommended to switch to this mode to save money. Thanks to mode " winter" gears are switched at lower speeds and fuel consumption is reduced;
- A simple way to reduce consumption would be route selection , since city traffic jams are the main cause of overspending. Research by car manufacturers has confirmed that 3 minutes of idling corresponds to a trip of up to 1 km. A longer route to bypass the traffic jam is a master class in saving fuel and nerves, but you need to choose a hard surface and a flat road;
- if being stuck in a traffic jam does not exceed 5 minutes, then It is not recommended to turn off the engine . Too frequent starts will cause excessive consumption and increased load on the battery.
Driving style: a master class in economy on the highway
For the route, you can save 50% using proven methods, or by simply changing your habit - close a window and reduce consumption by 1.5 liters. The peculiarity of moving along the highway leaves an imprint on the driving style, since it is necessary to take into account aerodynamics. Therefore, an economical option is presented in proven ways:
- empty the trunk will save 0.5 liters for every 80 kg of “necessary things”;
- remove cross rails , which will reduce 1 liter at a speed of 100 km/h. Making a car streamlined is the main task of the thrifty car enthusiast. It is necessary to remove as much as possible all elements that increase resistance: spoilers, external antenna, additional headlights, wipers, fold the rear view mirrors.
In real highway conditions - bad roads, the presence of reckless drivers, construction equipment that blocks the path, most proven ways to save money turn out to be ineffective. The modern highway is more of a struggle for survival, judging by the accident statistics, than a real opportunity to save money. The basic principles of economy are smooth acceleration, braking, and movement, but on the highway it is necessary to take into account the error for “interference”:
- smooth ride is a proven way to save money, but is accompanied by the desire to “cut off” slow-moving cars from other motorists. The best way to save money is to plan your trip early in the morning - 5.00;
- speed mode 100 km/h contains 2 ways to save: on fuel and on fines. At the same time, such a speed will allow you to calmly catch up with the “reckless driver” if you encounter areas with repairs. The secret to saving at a speed of 110 km/h is a satisfactory road surface;
- speed 90 km/h recommended in almost every saving brochure and is a proven method for a car enthusiast with a reserve of nerves. The essence of saving: acceleration, then release the gas to 80 km/h and smoothly press up to 90. If this driving style becomes a habit, then when moving through populated areas, it is recommended to save the algorithm with a different speed range.
The financial benefits of economical driving come with a number of disadvantages, including a negative reaction from inspectors to “strange” driving habits. Although in this case, doubts about the ability to manage are dispelled quickly and without financial losses in the form of a fine. The most inconvenient saving option would be to travel on a two-lane road. In this case, you need to be patient, since the car is driving slowly for the left lane, and too fast for the right lane. You should avoid economical driving on the highway in the dark, as “reckless drivers” will enthusiastically go around the “slow vehicle”, creating emergency situations with driving into the oncoming lane and dangerous maneuvers.
Economical driving: ready-made solutions
Saving fuel is not just about finding good roads, learning your driving habits and choosing weather conditions. The modern automotive industry supplies a sufficient number of ready-made solutions that can be used in addition to proven methods. The most attractive is the economical mode and modest appetites of the “from the manufacturer” model, but the cost of such a purchase may be an unbearable burden on the family budget.
If fuel consumption cannot be reduced using free methods of saving, then you can use alternative options. In addition to careful driving and satisfactory technical condition of the car, use ready-made solutions: engine MD-tuning, fuel tuning, chip tuning, LPG installation. An economical version of ready-made solutions is presented by manufacturers of fuel additives, electromagnetic fuel processing devices, and fuel cells. All budget options for ready-made solutions have in common the low efficiency of reducing fuel consumption.
In comparison with free methods (driving style or careful driving), consumption will decrease, and in comparison with, for example, tuning the fuel system, the changes will be insignificant. A review of ready-made solutions will help reduce fuel consumption, and studying the advantages and disadvantages will help you avoid mistakes:
- fuel system tuning corresponds to 25% fuel savings;
- engine tuning recognized as an effective way to reduce costs. To implement a ready-made solution, it is necessary to perform a simple modification of the “heart” - boring the carburetor or throttle assembly. As a result of this modification, a pressure difference is created, which leads to the formation of air seals. The result of engine tuning is the mixing of air and fuel until a homogeneous mass. In fact, engine tuning is the optimal choice of a ready-made solution in most cases. The advantage of the technology is a reduction in consumption by up to 25%, an additional increase in engine power (15%) and an affordable cost.
- MD- tuning will reduce consumption by 25% and is recognized as an effective technology. The advantage of Ford or Nissan owners is the successful results of testing this technology on models;
- Chip tuning recognized as an effective, expensive, but controversial pleasure for a number of models. This mistrust of a ready-made solution is due to the fact that the durability parameters of mechanical parts when choosing this technology have not been studied. In addition, it will not be possible to carry out such a solution on your own, since the durability of components and parts depends on the exact location and determination of the load location.
A significant disadvantage of chip tuning is the low efficiency of the technology for gasoline engines. Therefore, when choosing chip tuning, the owner of a gasoline model will have to additionally perform mechanical upgrades of the valves, intake manifold, camshaft, and pistons. This entire process can not only take some time, but also cost a significant amount of money. Therefore, chip tuning is an expensive and exclusive fuel saving solution for the car enthusiast.
The simplest and most successfully used saving option is installation of gas equipment . In fact, this type of saving is revolutionary, as it allows you to completely get rid of “gasoline-financial” dependence. The advantage of a ready-made solution is 50% savings, not on fuel, but on the car owner’s money. In addition, application practice has not revealed any violation of vehicle performance characteristics when installing LPG. The main condition for using a ready-made solution is the availability of free space in the trunk, and the type of equipment can be determined with the help of specialists.
After purchasing the LPG, firmware and installation will be required, but these are all the costs that the owner will bear to get rid of problems with excessive fuel consumption. Disputes about the payback of installing gas equipment do not provide a clear answer. With intensive use of the car, the payback is obvious, but for supporters of walking with trips to nature, it is a controversial pleasure.
During the eco-rally, specialists were able to achieve a consumption of 3.1 liters per 100 km using only special driving tactics. Therefore, even choosing proven methods will reduce the family budget. In any case, the list of proven methods and ready-made solutions available to reduce fuel consumption will significantly reduce the owner’s costs. When choosing a free method, you will need to adjust your driving technique, but when choosing ready-made solutions, it is enough to determine the optimal technology.
Is it possible to save on fuel without changing your driving habits? In conditions when we have to spend more and more on gasoline, this issue has become especially relevant for Belarusians. Specialists from one of the auto holdings agreed to teach the rules of driving with minimal fuel consumption. According to them, consumption is affected not only by the load on the car and driving style.
The Germans, who are famous for their pedantic attitude to spending, have built an entire fuel saving system. Dmitry Popov, a sales trainer for a Volkswagen importer, knows about it not only in theory. Over 23 years of driving experience, he tried all the methods on his cars.
Method 1. Reduce aerodynamic drag
According to Dmitry Popov, when speed increases from 50 to 100 km/h, air resistance increases 8 times. From 90 km/h and above, aerodynamics are the main factor in gas mileage. It's easy to shorten it. To begin with, it is enough not to leave the windows, hatch and trunk open while driving. The roof rails and roof rack make it difficult to overcome the air barrier (“extra” half a liter of gasoline per 100 kilometers, according to experts). Due to the installation of additional elements (wing, protection on the edge of the hood, etc.), the car will also encounter additional air resistance, which means the engine will consume more fuel to maintain the desired speed.
Method 2: Distribute the weight
If you do not load one part or side of the car, while leaving the other free, you can reduce rolling on potholes and uneven roads. The straight-line movement of the car will make acceleration and braking more efficient. “At the same time, transmission and suspension parts wear out less,” notes Dmitry Popov. “This rule is most relevant for heavy-duty, capacious vehicles.”
This means that to save money, you just need to unload everything unnecessary from the passenger compartment and trunk: from a spare battery to containers with antifreeze (which you may forget to put out after winter). This will eliminate slipping at start (of which there are many in the urban cycle) and will generally make the car lighter. Naturally, the motor will move the loaded car. True, it will “eat” more fuel.
Method 4. Battery monitoring
A bad battery increases the load on the generator, which results in unnecessary fuel consumption. Loud music, a stove, heated seats, windows and mirrors, the operation of unnecessary lighting equipment - all this, quite obviously, promises costs. Dmitry Popov claims that using air conditioning increases fuel consumption by 0.3 liters per 100 kilometers. Cruise control “pulls” an additional 0.2 l/100 km. Headlights will cost 0.1 l/100 km. And music lovers will have to put up with 0.2 l/100 km spent on a CD receiver and radio.
Method 5. Perform timely maintenance
From the point of view of economy, it is primarily important to replace lubricants - this way you can reduce friction losses in the engine and transmission. A dirty air filter prevents airflow from entering the engine. This does not have the best effect on the latter’s work. The filter should be periodically shaken out and blown out, even between annual maintenance. You can save on fuel by maintaining normal wheel alignment, checking the battery charge and tire pressure. If you pump them up by 0.5 atm, the rolling friction of the tires is reduced. As a result, savings of 0.3-0.5 l/100 km. Requirements for “tires” are a separate item. Radial tires are considered the most economical. After five years of use, they expire and need to be replaced. You should do the same with a tire whose tread has worn off.
Method 6. Play on external factors
Even the weather can help reduce consumption. For example, at low temperatures the air density is greater, which means the engine is saturated with it faster. External factors include the quality of the road surface, traffic, and road landscape (for every hundred meters above sea level, the driver pays an extra two liters of fuel per 100 km). That’s why it’s so important to plan your route in advance, taking into account possible traffic jams and bumps on the road.
Method 7. Reconsider your driving style
Movement, if possible, should be smooth, without sudden acceleration or braking. That is, it makes no sense to rush to the traffic light and then press the brake pedal, burning gasoline and wearing out the pads. Each stop affects the consumption (it is maximum when the car starts moving). The time loss is negligible if you keep a normal distance. You can brake with the engine. For example, on a gentle descent it is more economical to drive by switching to fifth gear and releasing the gas - fuel consumption during such driving is zero. A useless option is to switch to neutral gear. Injection engines consume even more fuel when coasting than when braking. The tachometer will also help you save: the least amount of fuel is spent when choosing the highest gear at minimum but stable speeds (2400 - 3000 for gasoline units and 1500 - 2500 for diesel engines). Experts advise skipping a gear when accelerating: shifting from first to third, from third to fifth. And during long stops (for example, in traffic jams or at railroad crossings), it is recommended to turn off the engine.
Practice
To verify the effectiveness of all the listed rules, we decided to conduct a test - drive about one kilometer, first in the usual urban, that is, aggressive, style, and then in a calm mode. The Volkswagen Polo, the personal car of our consultant Dmitry Popov, was chosen for testing. The sedan is equipped with a 1.6-liter gasoline engine producing 105 hp. With. The choice fell on this car also because there is a sensor on the panel board for average fuel consumption per 100 km. The track has a surface of average quality.
“We ride elephants!” — this is how one ecologist once put it about personal transport. An adult Indian elephant, however, weighs about 3.5 tons, while an ordinary passenger car is three times lighter, but the idea remains absurd. To move in space, we carry with us a metal box fifteen times our weight. In addition, sometimes our “elephants” eat twice as much as they should due to improper use. What can you do to reduce their appetite?
The most economical car
Remember the joke: “How do you relax?” - “I’m not tense!”? From the point of view of economical driving, it has a deep meaning. When driving a car, due to the power of its engine, we overcome various forces of resistance to movement. There are four main forces: rolling resistance force, lifting resistance force, air resistance force and acceleration resistance force. The greater the total resistance force, the more power is required from the engine to overcome it. At some point the engine may reach maximum power. If it operates in this mode for some time, the car will reach its maximum speed when the appropriate gear is engaged. It will no longer be able to move faster: the engine no longer has the strength to overcome the force of resistance to acceleration. The highest speed can be developed on a descent, when the resistance force to the ascent changes sign and begins to help the engine.
The force of road resistance (this is the sum of the forces of rolling resistance and lifting resistance) up to 50 km/h practically does not depend on speed, but with further growth it begins to increase. The force of air resistance depends on the square of the speed: as the latter increases, it increases significantly. Hence the conclusion: the higher the speed, the greater the total resistance force, the more power is required from the engine. All these obvious facts are presented in order to understand: you can move quickly, overcoming significant resistance, or you can move slowly, minimizing them. In the latter case, an ordinary passenger car can travel 100 km along the highway, spending only 2 liters of fuel. But this will require replacing the standard engine with a low-power device. A standard powerful motor would operate at low speed with very low efficiency and would reduce all the advantages of this mode to a minimum.
If you switch the car to pedal traction and equip it with a flywheel (to safely overcome inclines), then you can achieve zero fuel consumption. True, such a car will drive too slowly, and there will be few people willing to make such uncompromising decisions. On the one hand, no one likes to drive too slowly, on the other hand, with a certain reduction in engine power, driving becomes simply unsafe. Having stopped dreaming of a radical reduction in fuel consumption, let’s try to figure out how to put the “elephant” on a diet without fundamentally changing anything.
Rules for economical driving
Rule #1. Do not warm up the car on the spot. When driving, the engine warms up faster and fuel consumption is lower.
Rule #2. Brake as little as possible. To do this, maintain a greater distance from the cars in front and anticipate the development of the road situation.
Rule #3. At speed, give preference to higher gears, do not rev the engine above 2500-3000 rpm, and never open the throttle more than 70%.
Rule #4. On an empty road without traffic lights, accelerate dynamically in 1st and 2nd gears, and immediately shift to 5th. This will help you save fuel faster in top gear.
Rule #5. When braking the engine, fully release the accelerator pedal. Only in this case will the fuel supply to the engine stop.
Rule #6. Minimally increase the engine speed when starting off. This way you will not only save fuel, but also extend the life of the clutch.
Rule #7. Avoid driving in traffic jams. Due to the engine running at idle speed and with low efficiency, consumption per 1 km can more than double.
Rule #8. It is usually preferable to take a longer route without stopping than a short route with frequent traffic lights.
Gluttonous engine
Most engines of modern passenger cars can be called overly voracious: after all, they rather help the car develop high speed than save fuel. Meanwhile, knowing the characteristics of your engine, you can ensure that it operates as efficiently as possible. The external speed characteristic of each engine shows how power, torque and specific fuel consumption depend on the rotation speed at maximum fuel supply. There are also partial characteristics that describe the same dependencies at an intermediate throttle position. Specific fuel consumption usually takes a minimum value at maximum torque and throttle opening at approximately 70%. It is in this mode that the engine develops maximum efficiency. However, driving like this on the highway is almost impossible: the engines of our cars are powerful enough, so that when you reach this mode, the resistance forces will be lower than the traction forces and the car will begin to accelerate. In reality, to achieve high efficiency, professional drivers do not try to set the engine to the minimum specific fuel consumption mode - instead, in the highest gear, they usually choose an engine operating mode with lower efficiency - the speed and throttle opening are lower than optimal. However, due to the fact that the speed of the car is lower, and therefore the acting resistance forces are lower, the car drives more economically than it could if the engine was hypothetically operating at maximum efficiency.
Energy-saving tires clearly demonstrate their advantages on trucks. At the Lada training ground, journalists could observe the following experiment: two trucks, walking level, began to coast at a speed of 30 km/h. As a result, a vehicle “shod” in special tires traveled 40 meters more than the same truck in regular “shoes”. Statistics show that during the first stage of their life cycle, “green” truck tires can save 1,000 liters of diesel fuel and reduce CO2 emissions into the atmosphere by 2.5 tons without compromising safety. It is curious that thanks to progress in the tire industry, over the century the rolling resistance of cars has been reduced by 5 times.
Extreme Economists
Let's look at the methods used by participants in various eco-rallies. Their goal is to travel a certain distance with minimal fuel consumption. The strategy of the winners on the track is usually as follows: at the start, the pilot actively accelerates in first and second gears (the throttle is open approximately 70%) to a speed of 70 km/h, and then goes straight to the highest, usually fifth, gear and, gaining about 90 km/h h, starts driving at a constant speed. The optimal speed depends on the type of vehicle and its engine. An aerodynamically shaped car with a powerful high-speed engine will certainly have a higher maximum economical speed than a low-power car with poor aerodynamics. But on average, this speed is close to 90 km/h - this is explained by the fact that the resistance forces to movement at this speed are not yet high, and the engine already operates with a fairly high efficiency.
The second very important rule of economical driving is that when reaching a constant speed, you must forget about the brake pedal. It is for this reason that an eco rally can be crazier than a regular race.
In order not to slow down, pilots can drive through an intersection when the light turns red or drive around a column of cars stopped at a traffic light on the side of the road. After all, every braking means entering an unfavorable engine operating mode and fuel loss for subsequent acceleration. Any overtaking can also become dangerous for ecorally participants: after all, when overtaking, they try to keep the speed unchanged, and do not accelerate, like ordinary drivers.
If braking still cannot be avoided, then the eco-rally can be used by coasting (the gear is not engaged) or with the engine turned off. During normal driving, such modes are not only not recommended, but also unacceptable. When the engine is turned off, the power steering will no longer assist the driver, and the vacuum in the vacuum brake booster may be used up prematurely. Therefore, during normal driving, to achieve efficiency, it is best to brake with the engine when necessary, while removing your foot from the gas pedal. In this case, fuel stops flowing into the engine and braking becomes minimally energy-consuming. Here you can recall hybrid cars, which recover energy during each braking. But recuperation is not 100% effective, so economical driving techniques do not change when driving hybrids.
Savings drop by drop
So, we perform dynamic acceleration in low gears, shift to higher gears, drive at a constant, most economical speed and, if possible, do not brake - this strategy is optimal for driving on the highway.
When driving around the city with inevitable frequent braking, the strategy will have to change: here it is better not to accelerate too much and constantly ensure that the throttle never opens more than 70%, and also remember to take your foot off the gas pedal when braking the engine. It is very important not to over-throttle when starting off (as beginners do) - only this measure can save about 1 liter of gasoline per 100 km.
It's all about the tires
The go-ahead is given, and two Mercedes S-Classes begin to circle around the training ground of the Michelin Technology Center in Lada at a constant speed of 80 km/h. The cars are exactly the same, only one is shod with regular summer tires, and the other with “green” Michelin Energy Saver tires. Attached to the front are two graduated cylinders filled with diesel fuel. After three hours of driving, the cars are stopped, and we, journalists, can clearly see that energy-efficient tires really save fuel. There is noticeably more fuel left in the measuring cylinder of a car shod with “green” tires. The calculation shows that this car consumed 5.49 liters of fuel per 100 km, while the competitor spent 5.92 l/100 km. True, Michelin engineers admit that such data was achieved due to the fact that the cars moved at a constant speed. Under more normal driving conditions with acceleration and braking, a green tire would reduce fuel consumption by approximately 0.2 liters per 100 km and CO2 emissions by approximately 4 g/km.
According to the European Commission's proposal, by 2012, new cars sold in the EU should emit no more than 130 grams of CO 2 per 1 km. Meeting the strict requirement can only be achieved by incrementally improving the indicators that affect carbon dioxide emissions, and “green” tires are a good help here. Therefore, in the first year of presence on the market, Michelin Energy Saver tires were homologated for initial installation on more than 40 different car models. So in the future cars will be a little more economical.
They say that today Michelin has caught its luck by the tail with “green” tires. Meanwhile, the company has been producing energy-saving tires since 1992. It is noteworthy that today's “green” tires are distinguished not only by reduced rolling resistance and high wear resistance, but also by a high level of safety. In tests carried out by TUV SUD Automotive, it was found that the braking distance of “green” tires is shorter than that of their competitors.
The goal for the future is to reduce rolling resistance by half by the time the world's car fleet doubles.
When stopping for more than five seconds, it is wise to turn off the engine. In Western Europe, Stop & Go systems, which turn the engine off and on automatically, are becoming increasingly popular. They monitor the battery charge level and, when many consumers are running on it - for example, windshield wipers and headlights - they turn off the engine less often. The driver must remember this when he turns off the engine himself. By the way, this method in a big city can save up to 10-15% of fuel.
Another extremely important factor for effective fuel conservation is the technical serviceability of the machine. An air filter that requires replacement can increase fuel consumption by 10%, faulty spark plugs - by 5-10%, unadjusted valve clearances - by 5-10%, and a faulty muffler - by 10%. Wheels are of great importance: incorrect wheel alignment angles will reduce efficiency by about 5%, and a drop in tire pressure 0.4 atm below normal will reduce efficiency by another 10%. Excess cargo in the trunk does not increase consumption so noticeably, but if it is transported on the roof of the car, significantly more fuel will be burned due to deterioration in aerodynamic properties.
Fun fact: When driving at high speeds, using air conditioning or climate control is more economical than driving with the windows down. But at low speeds it’s the other way around. This is worth considering if there is little fuel left and the gas station is still far away.
However, the main principle of saving while driving, oddly enough, is contained in the rule “the miser pays twice.” Trying to achieve very low fuel consumption usually means driving unsafely and putting yourself at risk. So in the end, the biggest winner is the one who follows economical driving techniques without sacrificing safety.