How can you save gas on your car? The only effective way to save gas

Almost every car owner dreams of learning how to save fuel while traveling by car. As practice shows, there is nothing impossible in this desire, since there are many ways. After reading today's material, you will learn about the most effective and useful methods that allow you to slightly reduce the costs associated with refueling.

It should be understood that each specific car is characterized by its own distinctive features. Factors such as the presence of a manual or automatic transmission, the power of the internal combustion engine, the type of fuel used (gasoline or diesel) have a huge impact. The owner of the car also has a huge impact on the level of fuel consumption, which is primarily related to the way you drive.

In order to use the resources of the engine and, as a result, the car as efficiently as possible, you need to drive carefully, taking care of your iron horse. So, very often young drivers use the so-called "sporty" driving style, which is characterized by rapid acceleration and braking, as well as sharp maneuvers when changing lanes. Such a manner of movement has a negative impact on traffic safety, on the wear and tear of the main elements of the car, and, as you might guess, on fuel consumption. Therefore, in no case should you immediately drown the gas pedal to the floor in order to accelerate the car faster, especially on 15-20 year old models.

To learn how to save gasoline as efficiently as possible, you will need to refer to the factory recommendations. Naturally, when buying "from hand to hand" you are unlikely to receive such instructions, but today it is not difficult to find any necessary information on the Internet. By learning about the key features of your model, you can significantly improve the quality of use of the machine, reduce the likelihood of breakdowns, and achieve remarkable reliability and efficiency.

Warming up is a must, but you don’t need to be too zealous. In the warm season, it is enough to warm up the engine for two to three tens of seconds, while in winter, especially in cold weather, the car must run for at least five minutes to be ready to move.
The timing of the gear shift for cars with mechanics is also a very important point, since all shifts must be made at the optimum number of engine revolutions. The manufacturing company usually sets the approximate number of revolutions, as well as the speed of movement corresponding to this value.
The recommendations often indicate various ways to eliminate minor faults, which in the future can lead to a decrease in the level of gasoline or diesel consumed.

By reading the instructions for your car model, you can count on fuel economy while driving, and you will also find answers to many of your questions. For example, if the instructions state that the car should be warmed up for no more than 40 seconds in the warm season, then idling the engine for several minutes will in no way improve the efficiency of using the car.

2 Braking and accelerating - the economy depends on you

On the Internet, you can find a huge number of methods that, according to the authors, can reduce the amount of fuel consumed. However, most of these tips, like purchasing additional magnets, will not give any effect, with the exception of replenishing the wallet of these same article authors. You can achieve acceptable results absolutely free of charge. First of all, it concerns the beginning of the movement.

With an automatic gearbox, with a manual gearbox, the principle is the same - you should not press the accelerator pedal intensively and sharply. Everything must be done smoothly, then the fuel consumption will be significantly less and the comfort of the trip will be an order of magnitude higher. Otherwise, you will have to face constant jolts in the back with every sharp press on the gas pedal.

Owners of modern foreign cars, which have built-in on-board computers, can personally verify this. Using the mode of instant calculation of consumed gasoline, you will be very surprised that with smooth acceleration of the car, fuel is consumed far less actively.

You can save even more when you brake your car. Experienced drivers are perfectly familiar with the coasting method. The essence is very simple and consists in releasing the gas pedal a little earlier, so that braking is carried out exclusively by the engine. In addition, you can transfer the car to neutral gear, then the effect will be even greater, since the car will drive part of the way solely due to inertia. This has a positive effect not only on the level of diesel consumption, but also on the brake system, including pads and drums, which will not be used so actively.

3 Fuel quality - choose refueling wisely

The fuel used is an important factor, and many experts consider it even decisive. You need to feed your iron horse only with high-quality fuel that matches your car. For example, it is strictly forbidden to use a solarium, which refuels buses, in a foreign car. With each technical inspection, you will have to face new and new problems.

Among the main signs of low-quality gasoline are:

The car often “coughs”, in addition, there are pops and even small explosions in the exhaust system, which is associated with fuel residues that get there after combustion.
Bad gas is very often characterized by a slight stupor that occurs between pressing the gas pedal and the start of the car.
When passing through maintenance, you have to constantly clean the throttle valves and nozzles, which is associated with a deterioration in the external condition of the fuel filter.

In this regard, high-quality fuel is a very important factor, because bad gasoline can not only increase consumption, but also cause irreparable damage to many different systems. A technical inspection after passing 15 thousand kilometers is generally accepted, however, low-quality fuel makes you visit service stations several times more often than you would like.

Poor quality fuel is the reason for constant cleaning of injectors. Naturally, in the post-Soviet space it is rather problematic to acquire a quality product. Fortunately, nozzles do not belong to the category of consumables, which must be cleaned at every MOT. When buying more or less decent fuel for our country, you can do this after passing 50-60 thousand kilometers.

If you notice that the injector is clogged much faster than it should be, then you will need to somehow solve the problem. The simplest thing is to clean this device yourself, however, it is recommended to drive the car to the service station so that the craftsmen find the true cause of the constant contamination of the injector. Otherwise, after a few thousand runs, history will repeat itself, respectively, the system will not be able to properly perform its functions and, as a result, fuel consumption will increase again.

4 Electrical systems - increased comfort against increased consumption

Modern models provide many useful systems, including air conditioners, climate control, acoustic systems, multifunctional radios. In addition, many drivers immediately set the phone to charge, turn on the seat heating and the oven at full power, as well as various optical devices to make the car more beautiful.

First of all, all these devices put an additional load on the generator and battery. However, electronic equipment also has a direct impact on fuel consumption. This is especially true for the oven. In most cases, various systems can be omitted to improve fuel efficiency.

Naturally, in severe frost, turning off the heating equipment will not be the most logical solution, but when driving at high speed in the hot season, it is not necessary to turn on the air conditioner, because cold air at speed does an excellent job of cooling the passenger compartment.

Finally, we note that any case must be approached very responsibly and carefully, especially with regard to cars. In some cases, trying to save on gasoline can lead to very sad consequences. For example, young drivers think that turning off the engine when going downhill will allow them to benefit financially if the car coasts. However, it should be remembered that modern cars are equipped with an automatic steering wheel lock system, in addition, when the engine is turned off, the power steering and brakes are turned off. Therefore, maneuverability is significantly reduced.

During a red traffic light, you should also not turn off the engine, since turning on the car will require significantly more fuel than you save by turning off the engine for thirty seconds.

Video: Car fuel economy - looking for efficiency

Gasoline consumption is influenced by many factors - driving style, driving conditions, the presence or absence of maintenance, as well as the operation of additional equipment. Listen to these simple tips, and saving fuel in a car will not affect driving comfort. You will be able to use gasoline efficiently, which means that you will be much less likely to stop at a gas station.

Here are the simple rules:

Fuel consumption depends on the engine oil used. The engine runs on a mixture of gasoline and air, which drives the pistons and other parts of the engine. The resulting resistance requires energy, and therefore fuel consumption. Engine oil provides lubrication of engine parts, the lower the viscosity it has, the easier it is to move and use less fuel. Those who are thinking about how to save gasoline should pay attention to this important parameter. Synthetic oil with a low viscosity level can reduce costs by 5-10%.

2. Gasoline consumption and additional equipment

Air conditioning, car radio, stove, headlights, wipers, satellite navigation and any other additional equipment that works in the car consumes fuel. Because of this, you spend 5-30% more gasoline, and this is a lot. Of course, otherwise the ride comfort will suffer, but sometimes it is better to sacrifice it. If you need to reach the gas station in an emergency, turn off all additional devices.

3. Check the air filter

Your car's air filter should be checked regularly. If it is dirty, then less air passes through it, for this reason you use more fuel. In order to check its condition, put the filter in the light. When it stops transmitting light, it's time to replace it.

4. Use a fuel saver

By connecting the Fuel Shark device, you can significantly reduce gasoline consumption. The economizer is installed in the cigarette lighter socket, while fuel consumption is reduced by 30%, ride smoothness improves and engine acceleration increases. The device can also be used on diesel, injection and carburetor vehicles. It acts as an extra battery to help the electrical system work more efficiently.

Order a fuel saver for a promotion

5. Slow down

Fast driving leads to excessive consumption of fuel. The higher the speed, the more you spend gasoline. This increases the number of revolutions of the engine, which requires a lot of energy. Start driving slower and you will immediately feel the difference in your spending.

6. Move smoothly

Optimum fuel consumption occurs when the machine moves smoothly and evenly. This tip will be especially useful for those who are thinking about how to save gas on the machine. Analyze your route and try to pass it without haste, without acceleration and sudden braking. Each additional pressing of the accelerator pedal leads to an extra consumption of energy.

Use all the available functions of the gearbox, very often car owners for some reason forget about them. Choose the "economy" mode or select it depending on the roadway. By shifting into neutral, you allow the transmission to cool down, which reduces energy costs. It is best to move off smoothly and without jerks. If your car is equipped with cruise control and the track is not loaded, use it. By maintaining a constant speed, you can also save a lot of fuel.

7. Try to slow down less

It will take more energy to move a stationary car than when it is moving, even if the speed is low. For this reason, traffic jams should be avoided, because it is in them that drivers often have to start. When approaching a traffic light, you can start braking in advance, then the car will not stop completely at the moment when the green signal lights up.

8. Close windows

When driving fast, it is better not to open the windows. The fact is that air flows into the car and provide additional resistance. The engine needs more energy to maintain this speed, which means more fuel consumption.

9. Use heating

The more often the car is started and warmed up, the more fuel consumption will be. In the cold season, car owners have to warm up the engine. After a long stay in the cold, it is more difficult to start it, and this also negatively affects the condition of the equipment and its resource. In order to reduce gasoline consumption, special heating should be used. Some devices are powered by electricity, but stand-alone models are becoming more and more popular.

10. Winterize your engine

If the car warms up quickly, it will use less fuel. Thanks to special car blankets made of fire-resistant materials, you will be able to keep warm longer. The engine will cool down more slowly, which is very useful when you have arrived somewhere for a short time and are going to hit the road again soon.

11. Choose mechanics

An automatic transmission consumes 10-15% more fuel than a manual one. If the question of how to save gasoline on mechanics is more relevant for you, you should consider that timely downshifting will not only reduce the load on the engine, but also allow you to use fuel efficiently.

12. Watch your tire pressure

Tire pressure affects gas mileage and should be checked before driving. There is nothing to worry about if it is 0.3 bar above the norm. This will slightly increase the pressure on the body and suspension parts, but will not affect the ride quality. The driver and passengers will not notice any changes. In modern cars, this parameter is monitored by a computer, in this case, fuel economy occurs without your participation.

13. Reduce vehicle weight

The less the car weighs, the less energy is needed to accelerate it. When you are just planning to buy a car, you should pay attention to its weight and take a closer look at lightweight models. Please note that with an increase in load of only 100 kg, fuel consumption increases by approximately 20%. Get rid of unnecessary things and junk if you store it in the trunk. Clean up and leave everything else in the garage.

Reducing gas consumption per kilometer is the dream of many drivers, especially recently, when the numbers at gas stations change often and only increase. Some techniques have been used for decades and do not lose their relevance, some become obsolete, with the advent of new cars, new options are being sought to reduce fuel costs.

Ways to save fuel

In fact, there are quite a few tricks for saving fuel on a car. Some of them can be called global (for example, changing a car), and some require only a little attention to their "iron horse" (for example, pumping up tires). We will try to consider the most effective and proven methods:

Cost statistics. To begin with, it should be noted that an important role is played by accounting for fuel consumption, maintaining a kind of logbook. You can use for this purpose both a traditional notepad and special mobile applications for smartphones. This process is not difficult, but it disciplines the driver and the effect of it is quite large. As soon as the owner of the car notices the excessive consumption of gasoline or diesel fuel, this will be a signal for a technical inspection of the car.
Machine selection. When buying, it would be more correct to give preference to a more economical car. The most interesting option are hybrids equipped with electric and classic (internal combustion) engines. They are noticeably more expensive, but in the process of operation, the savings will be constant and quite large. Another good solution may be a car with a turbo-diesel engine, which is more environmentally friendly and economical (by a third) than gasoline.
Proper warm up of the engine. The old habit of smoking the sky at idle should be a thing of the past. Modern high-tech lubricants are much more fluid and heat up much faster. Therefore, after a one-minute warm-up at idle, it will be correct to start driving quietly, warming up the engine in motion (5-10 minutes). This additionally warms up both the oil in the gearbox and the brake pads.
Correct gear change. This should be done when the optimum speed is reached (2000 for diesel engines and 2500 for gasoline engines). Early gear shifting is fraught with rapid wear of the cylinder-piston group and unnecessary loss of fuel.
Start of movement. You need to start off smoothly, add gas moderately and keep the engine speed within 2000-2500 rpm for diesel engines and 2500-3000 rpm for gasoline engines. High and low revs are less economical.
Driving at optimum speed. Experimentally, you should determine the speed range at which the energy savings on the car will be maximum, and in the future try to stick to it. It is advisable to calculate the speed so that you do not have to brake sharply in front of traffic lights or the car in front. The less the driver uses the gas and brake pedals, the more fuel will remain in the tank.
Engine braking. With the correct calculation of the route and the necessary trajectories of turns, it is possible to minimize the use of a standard braking system that eats up fuel. The torque in this case is regulated by the degree of activation of the accelerator. You can also take advantage of terrain features by letting off the throttle on descents. The main thing is not to turn off the transmission in order to avoid an accident.

Saving gasoline when using additional devices

In addition, a variety of devices and devices can both help in using the vehicle and hit the pocket if they are used incorrectly.

Cruise control. On flat sections of the road under normal traffic conditions, the KK limits the number of accelerations and helps the driver. At the same time, in hilly or mountainous terrain, the automatic transmission does not always adequately downshift or upshift, burning excess fuel. Therefore, in such cases, you can refuse the services of QC.
GPS navigator. When traveling long distances or in unfamiliar areas, it will help you plan the best route and reduce the emptying of the gas tank.
Air conditioner. At low speeds (up to 70-80 km / h), it would be more rational to turn off the air conditioner and open the windows. However, at a higher speed this will not work, because with the windows open, air resistance will increase sharply and the effect can be exactly the opposite. In addition, some modern minibuses and minivans have two climate control units - for the driver and for passengers. If there are no passengers, then the second air conditioner should be turned off.
Windshield blowing. Sometimes when it is turned on, the air conditioner starts automatically, so you need to be careful and, if necessary, turn off the heating manually. At the same time, one should not forget that an icy or foggy windshield or rear window can cause an accident.

How to save fuel when refueling a vehicle

It would seem that what tricks can be in the usual refueling of a car at a gas station, however, here you should also pay attention to certain nuances:

Octane number. Sometimes there is talk among the motorist that it is beneficial to use gasoline with an underestimated or overestimated octane number. The most correct is fuel with an octane rating suitable for the characteristics of the car. Too much leads to a drop in power due to resistance to compression detonation, and too little leads to premature engine wear.
Cheap fuel. Often cheaper gas stations are located outside the city, so before you go to them, calculate whether such a trip will pay off. Even if there is confidence in the quality of gasoline, it will be justified to spend energy on getting there only with a sufficiently large refueling (from 30 liters).
Fresh fuel at the gas station. When draining fuel at gas stations, sediment and dirt rise from the bottom of the tanks, which can lead to clogging of the fuel filter. Therefore, if there is a tanker at the gas station, it is better to refuel on another day or at another station.
Payment at petrol stations by cards. Some gas station chains have agreements with banks on benefits or bonuses when paying with their cards (usually Master Card or Visa), or they return part of the money spent on petroleum products.

In addition to all that has been said, one should not forget about such well-known, but no less important ways to save fuel, such as:

tire pressure (normal or slightly increased),
vehicle inspection and timely replacement of oil and air filters, spark plugs,
use of suitable engine oil,
vehicle weight reduction
installation of gas-balloon equipment, especially on an uneconomical old car,
wheel balancing and alignment,
less frequent use of high beam headlights, monitoring the health of the brake system,
study of proposals for technical innovations (neodymium magnets, additives).

Possessing this knowledge and controlling yourself and your car, it is quite possible to regularly use the car and at the same time save up to 20-30% of gasoline.

Recently, many devices have appeared on the automotive market that help in such a difficult task as fuel economy. Reviews about them are very mixed. And for an uninitiated person, it is generally very difficult to understand this issue. In this article, we will discuss the most popular fuel saving devices on cars and find out how effective they are.

Hydrogen generator

Hydrogen is very difficult to adapt as an engine fuel due to its disadvantages: difficulties in obtaining, storing and safety. But this does not stop inventors who want to cash in on profane motorists. So it was born. It works as follows: it produces hydrogen and adds it to the fuel, thereby increasing the mileage due to the high energy of this gas.

The main problem with such devices is their capacity. The process of obtaining hydrogen is associated with high energy costs. This puts an extra load on the car's alternator. That is, the machine will spend much more energy on the production of hydrogen fuel than it can then generate.

Is it possible to save fuel in a car in this case? Naturally not. After all, a hydrogen generator is capable of producing only a small amount of gas. Even if it gets into the fuel system of the car (it is simply impossible in many handicraft generators), it will not be enough to increase power and reduce fuel consumption.

Devices that create an inlet vortex

Engineers always closely monitor the air flow in the motor. Turbulence can affect the quality of the mixture of air and fuel as they enter the combustion chamber, and this will affect the performance of the engine. As the ad says, the intake vortex created by the devices changes the airflow so that it improves the quality of the air-fuel mixture. This, in turn, will improve fuel combustion and increase mileage.

Inexperienced car owners do not understand that this is already outdated technology. In modern cars, the engine is controlled by a computer unit, and the fuel flow is calibrated at the factory. Therefore, the intake vortex will only reduce the efficiency of fuel consumption, and not improve it.

Fuel ionizer

This device is installed in the area between the injector and the fuel pump. Manufacturers claim that the use of an ionizer is a real saving on diesel fuel in a car (and, of course, gasoline).

The principle of operation of the device is as follows: clots of oil molecules, passing through the ionizer, are separated by an ion field. Due to this, the fuel forms a more “vaporous” cloud in the combustion chamber, which leads to the rapid evaporation of the fuel.

The advertising description of this type of device is aimed at a buyer who is not familiar with the principles of operation of modern motors. The engine's fuel injectors are fine-tuned at the manufacturing stage to deliver an ultra-fine fuel mist into the combustion chamber. This technology is so perfect that only a very small part of the oil products does not burn. Even if you assume that the ionizer will make the fuel vapors evaporate faster, then this will not help save fuel in your car.

Ignition amplifiers

Such a group of devices could be trusted some 50 years ago. But in advertising, manufacturers claim that these booster plugs will burn the largest amount of fuel. This reduces the volume of unburned petroleum products that just flew into the exhaust pipe.

When internal combustion engines were first released, this development might have made some sense. After all, at that time, mechanical distributors for supplying fuel to the cylinder misfired. As a result, unburned fuel was simply pumped through the chamber. Such a device would increase the reliability of motors with low performance.

But in modern engines there are no problems of this type. Due to the fact that the engine is controlled by a computer, misfires do not occur during ignition. This can only happen when there are serious problems with the motor. And, of course, no fuel economy is possible here. Driver reviews of ignition amplifiers are mostly negative.

Injection of alcohol and water

This technology has been used since the Second World War, when aviation engineers needed a device to combat detonation in the engine. In piston-powered fighters, pre-ignition of the combustible mixture could damage engine parts. The solution was to inject a mixture of alcohol and water into the air intake. She cooled the engine and maintained the proper level of ignition of the fuel.

At the moment, car manufacturers have abandoned this method, since modern motor technologies can significantly reduce the risk of detonation without any additional water injections. That is, no fuel economy on the car is observed here. In a conventional vehicle that is driven under standard conditions, detonation is unlikely. Water injection can only be useful in high performance (racing) cars.

Fuel saving magnets

What is special about these devices? According to the assurances of the manufacturers, the fuel economy on the car with magnets is due to the better combustion of fuel. This is very similar to the ionizer that was described above. Only here the molecules of oil products are separated using a powerful magnetic field. Well, in the end, gasoline burns better.

Like an ionizer, fuel-saving magnets are completely useless. The only thing is, they help uninformed car owners say goodbye to their money. Petroleum fuels are currently popular because of their stability. Of course, it cannot be compared with hydrogen in terms of the amount of energy produced, but it is the easiest and safest to handle. In addition, it has a "rigid" structure and high resistance to any external factors. And it is unlikely that some magnets can break this resistance. Even if they produce a strong one, it will instantly be changed by the metal of the fuel tank, fuel line and other devices.

Engine ionization

This device is hung on spark plugs or attached to the machine distributor. Fuel economy in a car in this case is achieved by improving fuel consumption by forming an "ion corona" around the engine. We can say that this device is similar to the ionizer described above. And, as in the previous case, it is completely useless.

Moreover, the test result led to a disappointing conclusion: this is the worst device for saving fuel. Reviews of motorists only confirm this. During testing of the device, the ionizer proved to be a bunch of beautifully packaged wires that can easily lead to a fire or if they are not connected correctly.

fuel vapor injector

The ability of a fuel to burn depends on its state: in liquid form, it burns slowly, and in vapor form, it simply burns at an explosive speed. Traders have been manipulating this fact for many years by selling such a device as a fuel vapor injector. According to them, it converts the fuel into steam before it reaches the engine. This allows you to burn fuel quickly and efficiently.

In fact, this fuel saving device (reviews about it are negative) not only does not fulfill its main function, but also harms the exhaust system. The exhaust gas indicator shows the level of oxygen in the exhaust gases of the machine. This indicator can be used to assess whether the engine receives enough air-fuel mixture. And this “miracle” injector, forming additional vapors, will make the engine consume too much fuel with an acute shortage of air. Therefore, the machine's computer will adjust the injectors so that the engine receives a mixture with the optimal ratio of air and fuel. This means that, at best, engine performance will be the same as without the vapor injector. At worst, an incorrectly installed device will undermine the operation of the engine due to the constant elimination of an imbalance in the air-fuel mixture by the computer.

Oil additives

Automotive stores are now full of these "witchy" mixtures: bottles and cans containing additives that increase power, reduce wear and improve engine performance. Applying them is simple - you need to pour (pour) the contents into a fuel tank or oil tank. Due to their low price, they are the most common way to save fuel on a car. But they don't work as advertised.

The engines of modern cars appeared thanks to the hard work of many years of engineers. Plus, every year they are improved. Of course, engine parts wear out over time, but engineers conduct such test tests that the engine is unlikely to encounter during actual operation. Therefore, long-lasting, multifunctional and reliable engines are being released that cannot be lubricated and healed with some kind of “miracle” additives in case of wear.

Fuel additives

According to the manufacturer, fuel additives start a catalytic reaction in the fuel, increasing its octane number by removing harmful impurities. This results in fuel savings in the car. And some additives even remove harmful bacteria from the fuel. Apparently, so that your motor does not get sick with the flu!

The usefulness of these devices is very difficult to evaluate even with the help of special equipment that measures the chemical changes that occur in petroleum products. But even without such experiments, one can confidently declare the absurdity of such inventions, because all modern engines are optimized to work with the most common types of fuel. Changing the fuel can have a detrimental effect on the condition of the engine, because the latter may not be configured to work with it. Therefore, even if additives purify gasoline, making it burn better, this does not mean that the engine will effectively use it, increasing mileage.

Conclusion

So, we found out that all of the above fuel saving devices on cars are ... useless. That is, at the moment there are no devices that would allow this to be done. Now let's discuss real ways to save fuel on a car:

1. The "appetite" of your car directly depends on the driving style. If you press hard on the gas pedal, this will increase the consumption of petroleum products by 15-25%. So we advise you to moderate your ardor.

2. The car consumes the required minimum fuel only when it is fully operational. This means that the compression in the engine cylinders must be optimal. There are no breakdowns. The bearings on the wheels of the machine rotate easily, and the brake pads do not touch the brake discs when driving.

3. Another way to save fuel is to pour diluted oil into the gearbox and engine crankcase. Only liquefaction should be within reasonable limits.

4. Do not overload the machine's generator. For example, heated seats, the maximum volume of the radio, headlights working without the need, etc. All this significantly increases fuel consumption.

Now you know how to save fuel on a car. Follow the tips above and your oil costs will drop significantly.

Greetings, friends!

Over the past year, gasoline in Russia has risen in price by about 10%, and this growth has hurt the pockets of Russian motorists. In this regard, the question "how to save gasoline?" becomes more and more relevant every day. In today's article, we'll take a look at the 10 most effective ways to save gas for manual transmission drivers.

Save gasoline on mechanics: is it real?

I myself drive a mechanic, and I set out to start saving gas as much as possible, because I have to travel quite a lot. I have tried a large number of recommendations about this, and I will share with you only those that have worked for me personally.

For example: when I bought a car in April 2017, the 92nd gasoline cost 37 rubles per liter. To date, the price is already more than 43 rubles per liter, and the number of kilometers that a car drives to a filling station that is familiar in cost is gradually decreasing.

Today I can say for sure: saving gasoline on mechanics is real, and from the moment I tried various recommendations and began to apply the most effective ones, my fuel costs decreased by about 10%.

Given that the monthly cost of gasoline is 5,000-6,000 thousand rubles, I started saving about 500 rubles a month, which is equivalent to 12 liters of gasoline, which I can drive an additional 120-130 kilometers a month, thanks to savings.

Features of saving gasoline on mechanics

A well-known fact - cars with a manual transmission consume about 5-10% less gasoline than with an automatic transmission. In addition, drivers who drive mechanically are more likely to may affect to save gasoline by their actions.

In general, all ways to save gasoline are divided into 2 groups:

preliminary preparation of the car;
actions of the driver while driving;

This article is written specifically for those who drive a mechanic, and therefore we will start with those methods that are directly related to the peculiarities of driving a manual transmission, and then move on to ways to optimize the car to save gasoline.

Warming up the car

First of all, you need to make sure that the car warms up for the optimal amount of time without wasting gasoline, because most cars are quite “gluttonous” at idle. The optimal warm-up time for a car with mechanics: in summer - 1-2 minutes, in winter 4-5 minutes. The main thing at the same time is not to accelerate to maximum speeds for the first kilometers of the journey.

Some drivers have a habit of warming up the car for 15-20 minutes, especially in winter, while the average gasoline consumption is a liter per hour. This means that more than 10 liters of gasoline per month are spent on warming up the car alone. At the same time, most auto experts agreed that long warming up does not benefit the car, but only reduces its resource.

Correct gear shifting

The main point in saving fuel on the mechanics is the correct, timely gear shifting. The lower the gear, the more powerful it is and requires more fuel. So the first rule is do not over-transmit above their threshold speed limit. For example, for most vehicles, shifting from 1st to 2nd gear is recommended at around 20 km/h. Make sure that the arrow on the speedometer does not go over 20 km / h in first gear. Approaching this mark, go to the second. An even more economical option would be to switch to the second at around 17-18 km / h. The car will accelerate a little slower, but the gas savings will be significant, given that we have to accelerate from a stop hundreds of times a day.

Proper operation of the gas pedal

The second most important point of savings is the smooth use of the gas drop. First of all, this concerns the acceleration of the car from a place, after it has come to a complete stop. The smoother the start, the less gasoline the engine uses for this.

Further acceleration should also be as smooth as possible. When shifting gear, do not “press” the gas pedal immediately sharply, try increase pressure gradually. Remember that the optimal number of revolutions while driving is from 2000 to 2500, and it is in this interval that the most tangible savings in gasoline are achieved when driving a mechanic.

If the flow is slow enough, try to keep a smooth pace in 1st or 2nd gear, minimizing the number of stops. The biggest fuel consumption is acceleration. Therefore, try to feel the speed of the flow, and instead of stopping and starting several times, it is better to drive smoothly in first gear, which will be much more economical.

"Voracious" brake pedal

It is known that braking a car also requires the cost of gasoline, as well as acceleration. Many drivers forget about this, making hundreds of extra brake applications a day.

There are two ways to reduce the number of uses of the brake pedal. Firstly, increase the distance to the vehicle in front, so you don't have to adjust to their driving style, and you can maintain the most even speed.

Secondly, stopping only with the brake pedal is not the most economical and practical option. The most optimal for driving a mechanic is to master engine braking and combine it with the use of the brake pedal. If you are not familiar with how to properly brake the engine, then watch this short video tutorial so as not to make mistakes.

Can you ride in neutral?

This is the most controversial issue regarding fuel economy. I will say right away that I myself did not drive correctly for a long time. As soon as the red light came on in front, or the car in front slowed down, I switched to “neutral” and rolled at least 100-200 meters, thinking that this was how I save gasoline. However, having understood the issue, I realized that from the point of view of economy, this is not correct.

In neutral gear, the engine consumes the amount of fuel that is needed to maintain idling. And if the gear is engaged, and at the same time the gas pedal is released, then the fuel supply to the combustion chamber stops until the engine speed reaches the idle level, i.e. the car is in energy saving mode. Therefore, the most effective way to "roll" on the mechanics is engine braking, up to a complete stop.

Of all the elements of fuel economy, engine braking is the most difficult process, so do not rush to apply it until you fully master the correct technique.

We have analyzed the main features of saving gasoline on a manual gearbox, and following only these recommendations can already reduce fuel consumption by 8-10%. But there are a few more simple recommendations related to the technical part of the car, which will also help you reduce your gas costs by about 5%. Go!

Car weight reduction

First of all, you need to rid the car of everything superfluous. Many drivers neglect this, rolling with them in the trunk boxes of tools, a set of tires and much more that they will not need on the road. The most expensive moment when driving a mechanic is acceleration from a standstill. On the one hand, a weight reduction of 30-50 kg does not seem like a significant change, given that the machine itself usually weighs about a ton. But think about the fact that in a month we accelerate the car from a standstill 500-1000 times, and if each time the repulsed weight is at least 1 kg less, then in a month the engine will have to accelerate a total of 1000 kg less weight.

Wheel inflation

The level of tire inflation is an individual indicator for each car. However, it is important to monitor this level not only visually, but also periodically measuring pressure in tires with a pump. It is a well-known fact that under-inflated or over-inflated tires have a negative effect on both fuel economy and tire wear.

If the pressure in your wheels is stable, then check and, if necessary, top up the wheels at least once a week. If one of the tires goes down constantly, then it is better to solve this problem at a tire fitting than to pump it up every day.

Improved aerodynamics

The aerodynamics of a car is the level of its resistance to air currents while driving. The more streamlined the car has, the less air resistance, which means less gas mileage.

It would seem, how can this be influenced? Here are some ways:

Improve aerodynamics by as much as 10% will help removal of the trunk on the roof. If you have one, then remember when was the last time you used it? Maybe you don't really need it anymore? Then shoot.

You can improve performance by 5% if you keep the windows closed at high speed. In winter, this is not a problem, but in summer, at speeds over 50 km/h, turning on, for example, the air conditioner, will be more economical than opening the windows.

Surprisingly, aerodynamics can be improved by about 3% by removing the “fly swatter” from the hood, because this part does not bring a tangible positive effect.

Auto Diagnostics

Even if the car does not have pronounced malfunctions, it still needs to be periodically shown to the master to prevent breakdowns. Optimally - once every 2-3 months. With regard to fuel economy, the most attention should be paid to the timely air filter replacement.

Of all the elements of the car, the air filter has the greatest impact on fuel consumption, because. affects the degree of saturation of the combustible fuel with oxygen. If the filter becomes clogged, then the combustible mixture enters the internal combustion chambers with a minimum amount of oxygen, and its deficiency is compensated by an increase in gasoline consumption.

For each model, the frequency of changing the air filter is different, but I advise you to change it at least every 10,000 km, because it is not expensive, and you do not need to go to the master to replace it. In addition, every 2-3 thousand km, the air filter can be shaken out of accumulated dust, which will also have a positive effect on gasoline savings.

The right choice of route

Many motorists use the same route to work or home for years without realizing that there may be faster and less congested routes. For this I recommend periodically use the navigator, making a route in search of the most optimal one, because traffic congestion depends on many factors and sometimes faster and more convenient routes will appear than your usual one.

We've looked at the most effective ways to save fuel for mechanic drivers, and by following these few simple guidelines, you can start saving 10-15% fuel monthly.