Lately on automotive market there are many devices that help in such a difficult matter 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 he gets into fuel system machine (in many homemade generators this is simply not possible), then it will not be enough to increase power and reduce fuel costs.
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 quality. fuel-air 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Inexperienced car owners do not understand that this is already outdated technology.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 machines Oh the engine is computer controlled 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 fuel pump. Manufacturers claim that using an ionizer is real savings 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. fuel injectors Even at the production stage, the engine is fine-tuned to supply ultra-fine fuel mist to 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 candles will allow you to burn nai large quantity fuel. This reduces the volume of unburned petroleum products that just flew into the exhaust pipe.
When the engines were just released internal combustion, in this development, maybe there would be 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 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 a 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 fighters with piston units pre-ignition of the combustible mixture could lead to damage to 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.
On this moment car manufacturers abandoned this method, because modern technologies motors can significantly reduce the risk of detonation without any additional water injections. That is, no fuel economy on the car is observed here. In normal vehicle, which is moving in 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 petroleum 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. Currently petroleum fuel popular because of its 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. Indicator exhaust gases shows the level of oxygen in the exhaust gases of the machine. This indicator can be used to assess whether air-fuel mixture takes the engine. 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 in best case engine operation 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
IN automotive stores now full of these "witch" 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 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, which cannot be lubricated and healed with some kind of “miracle” additives in case of wear.
Fuel additives
According to the manufacturer, fuel additives they 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 assess even with the help of special equipment, which 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 motors optimized for operation 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 fuel economy by 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 brake pads while driving do not touch the brake discs.
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.
According to analysts, today every second family or every fourth Russian has a car. For many families, spending on a car is one of the biggest major articles spending in the family budget.
Therefore, every person who has a car is simply obliged to know how to save gasoline. Next, we will give you simple and quite feasible tips - if you follow them, you will soon notice that you have become much less likely to stop at a gas station.
If you want to save gas, you should first check air filter. A dirty filter allows much less air into the engine, which negatively affects fuel consumption. Checking and replacing the filter is very simple: lift it up to the light, if the light does not pass, then the filter needs to be replaced.
Oil selection
Those who want to save fuel should take note: fuel consumption may depend on the selected engine oil. The car engine runs on a mixture of air and gasoline. This mixture, burning, causes the engine pistons and other engine parts to move. When the parts move, there is resistance. The stronger the resistance, the more energy is required, and therefore more fuel is spent.
Engine oil is essential to keep all moving parts of the engine lubricated. But motor oil is different viscosity. The lower the viscosity of the oil, the easier the movement of parts and less energy is wasted, that is less consumption fuel. And vice versa.
However, when choosing engine oil, you need to be guided by other parameters. For example, the choice of oil depends on the season, the age of the car, the terms of the warranty, etc.
Tire pressure
A beginner needs to know that tire pressure greatly affects fuel consumption. Therefore, before each departure, while the tires are still cold, the pressure must be checked. It will not be a crime if the tire pressure is higher than the norm by 0.3 bar. Of course, this will increase the pressure on the suspension parts and on the body - but this will not affect the ride quality in any way and in most cases passengers will simply not notice this.
Driving speed
If you need to save gas, try to drive slowly, do not exceed established by the rules speed. The faster the car goes, the more revolutions the engine makes. And for more revolutions, he needs to spend more energy.
driving style
Another tip for those who set out to save gasoline is to use the gas pedal “thoughtfully”. Avoid sudden starts and stops, because this will supply too much fuel to the engine cylinders. At low speeds, try not to shift into higher gears. Conversely, do not let the tachometer needle go over 2500-3000 rpm if it is possible to switch to overdrive.
You can also add here - try to avoid “traffic jams” on the roads, as well as drive less during “rush hours”. After all, it is at this time that drivers often have to start and slow down a lot.
Also I would like to recommend great advice which will help you master an economical driving style. For example, when approaching a traffic light, try to brake early so that the car does not come to a complete stop before the traffic light turns green.
The point is that in order to move stationary car more energy is required than when it moves, albeit at a low speed.
Optional equipment
Another opponent of saving gasoline is the air conditioner running inside your car. Thanks to him, gasoline consumption will increase from 5 to 20%. You may object: but it's hot and dirty! Yes, but you can reach the gas station when you have very little gasoline left. Also, add everything else here optional equipment, be it a car radio, fog lights, stove, etc. Each additionally included equipment affects the consumption of gasoline.
tuning
If you want to save gasoline, then give up, at least for a while, tuning. Wide rims create more aerodynamic drag, and therefore affect the fuel consumption in the direction of its increase.
Type of gasoline
It may sound paradoxical, but saving gasoline will help ... riding old car. The fact is that it is not a pity to fill old cars with cheaper gasoline, for example, AI92. While most new cars are more demanding on the quality of gasoline and should be refueled with higher octane rating.
Vehicle weight
In order to reduce fuel costs, it is also worth considering the weight of the car. If you are only planning to buy a car, then look at the smaller, and therefore more light car. The smaller the mass of the car, the less energy is needed to accelerate it.
If you already have a car and soon if you do not plan to change it, then take care not to store unnecessary things in the wheelbarrow. Clean up the trunk, leave everything superfluous in the garage or in the country.
Type of gearbox
Also, when choosing economy car push off the gearbox. automatic box gears consume 10-15% more fuel than mechanics.
Engine size and horsepower
It will not be superfluous to pay attention to the engine size and the number Horse power. The higher this number, the more “gluttonous” the car will be.
open windows
At fast driving try not to open the windows, as the air currents entering the machine exert additional resistance, as a result of which the engine needs additional energy, which is supplied in the form of fuel, to maintain speed.
Installation of gas equipment
There is another radical means of reducing fuel costs - this is the installation gas equipment(HBO). I myself did this back in 2007 by installing HBO. Gas is consumed a little faster than gasoline, but at the same time it is almost 2 times cheaper. Therefore, our significantly reduced costs after this operation.
Of course, there are also disadvantages, for example, the trunk has become much smaller, since half of it is now occupied by a cylinder into which gas is filled. I will also add that, according to the sensations, the car, after several exploitation on gas, has become somewhat “dumberer”. That is, there is no more fast acceleration that was before, the speed is gaining significantly harder.
For those who are accustomed to a calm and measured driving in the city, this will not be a minus. But if you are planning long trips, then keep in mind that when overtaking long trucks on the highway, slow acceleration can cost lives.
A few years ago I was traveling in Russia in my car and felt uncomfortable on the track.
Skip gas on long trips
Another tip that will definitely help you in your savings is the so-called carpool scheme. It consists in sharing a car for long trips with neighbors, friends and relatives. This will significantly reduce your gas costs.
Also, this way of saving is useful for those who bring their colleagues to work. I remember that at one of my previous jobs I had several colleagues who lived in a nearby town, located 30 kilometers from the place of work. So, they got to work in the car of one of the workers. Accordingly, all together chipped in for gasoline.
Keep your engine warm in winter
The faster the car warms up, the less gasoline it spends. Usually, motorists insulate the engines of their “iron” horses with darnit, felt, blankets, etc.
It is not always safe and effective. They have now been replaced by special car blankets, which contain special fire-resistant materials that help keep warm for a long time.
Thanks to these blankets, the engine cools down longer, which is useful in cases where you have not arrived for a long time somewhere, for example, to the store for shopping.
Use heating
IN winter time years, car owners have to warm up their engines more often. If the car for a long time idle in the cold, then it is then more difficult to start it. Yes, and this is bad for the condition of the engine.
The more often we start and warm up the car, the more fuel we use. To solve this problem, you can use special heating. There are many various models. Some of them are powered by electricity, but there are also advanced ones. autonomous heaters.
Follow the prices
Every person is a set of habits. Many people get used to refueling at the same gas stations, which is not always beneficial for their personal finances. Periodically monitor prices at other gas stations and choose the one where the best combination quality and price.
Refuel with bonuses
At many gas stations today, various marketing chips are being actively introduced, among which are bonus programs. Usually, when refueling for some large amount, the car owner is issued a bonus card.
From all subsequent gas stations, bonuses are credited to this card, depending on the amount spent. At different gas stations, the amount of bonuses may be different, but to make it clear, I will give an example:
You refuel for 30 liters of gasoline, paying for it, say, 900 rubles (at the rate of 30 rubles per 1 liter of gasoline). On the bonus card you are credited with 30 points, which are essentially equal to 30 rubles.
In other words, when you accumulate 900 bonuses on the card, you can exchange them for 30 liters of gasoline.
Another variation of this program is when you are credited to a bonus card with a certain percentage of the amount spent. But there are certain limitations. If you refuel a month for no more than 5,000 rubles, then you will be offered a card with a 2% return. That is. you pay 1000 rubles, and 20 rubles are returned to you on such a card. Accumulate the right amount on a bonus card and then pay with bonuses.
If you spend more than 5000 rubles per month (again on different gas stations monetary limits may be different), then you will be given a card with a 5% return. Refueled for 1000 rubles - received 50 rubles on a bonus card.
Such a program ties you to a specific gas station, but why not if you are satisfied with the quality of gasoline, service and price.
Pay for refueling with a plastic card of Visa or Mastercard systems
This method may not work everywhere and not for everyone, but I must tell you about it. Its essence is this. I have opened in Alfa-bank. It has a plastic card attached to it. This is not a credit card, but a regular plastic Visa card, which I need more in order to use online banking. I wrote more about the Alfa-click service and how it saves me time and money.
So, in my city there is a network of gas stations, which has some kind of agreement with Alfa-Bank. A positive moment for me, as a client of Alfa-Bank and as a car enthusiast, is that when I pay at this gas station with Alfa-Bank cards, I get a 5% discount, no matter what time I refuel and for what amount.
Don't take this as advertising, I'm sure other banks have similar agreements. Call your bank and ask about such discounts. Or, at every gas station where you refuel - ask about such discounts and bonuses.
I also want to note that I have 2 Alfa-Bank cards. One is ordinary plastic, and the second is credit with a grace period for lending (100 days). When I run out of money, I usually fill up with a credit card, where I have a 100-day benefit. In this case, I sort of borrow from the bank, but I don’t have to pay interest, and I buy gasoline at a discount.
Pay for refueling with a credit card that allows you to make a refund
In the previous paragraph, I touched on the topic of a credit card. At this point, I will continue it, but on the example of another bank. I also have a credit card with a grace period from Home Credit Bank.
One of the advantages of this card is that 3% is returned to my card from every purchase. As you understand, this is a way to save on gasoline. Maybe not a lot, but still. On this card, the grace period is less than in Alfa-Bank, only 51 days. I use the card even if I have cash in my pocket. I buy everything I need, fill up, and when it's time to pay off the debt, I pay it with the cash that was in my wallet.
Now many banks offer credit cards with a grace period, which return a certain percentage of the purchases you make on this card. Return rates may vary.
Refuel at night
This method also does not work at all gas stations. In paragraph 19, I described a way to save gas using a card. In the same place, I wrote about a network of gas stations in our city, which has an agreement with a bank. So, these gas stations also have such a promotion: if you come to refuel after 11 pm and before 7 am, you get a 5% discount.
In paragraph 19, I described that they give a 5% discount when paying with an Alfa-Bank card. In this case, too, 5%, but for me this option is not convenient. I rarely go anywhere after 11pm. But if I didn’t have an Alfa-Bank card, then it’s quite possible that I would have gone to this gas station in the evening to get a discount.
In the end, we will give you advice that will seem silly to you. Most The best way fuel economy is not to drive at all. The less you drive, the less you spend. Very often you can watch how people go to the nearest bakery by car, although the distance to the store is 200 meters. It will be much more economical and healthier to cover this distance on foot.
Video for dessert: The best car jokes of this year
Fuel prices depend on many factors, such as the cost of renting a site, logistics costs and the location of the gas station in a particular urban area. Sometimes, on neighboring streets, gasoline is sold by the same brand with a difference of a ruble and a half. Most expensive fuel found on busy highways, but if you turn into lanes, then you can easily find a cozy station with adequate prices. And online services that monitor prices not only by brands, but also by gas station locations can help in finding such an object.
For example, the price of AI 95 in Moscow alone varies from 35.15 rubles to 45.00 rubles per liter, depending on the region. Having rummaged through the Internet and found the most profitable station, you can safely go there. Well, it’s better to travel at night so as not to stand in lines and not waste fuel in vain in traffic jams. Daily monitoring of prices allows you to save up to 11% of the budget allocated for gasoline.
filling stations
In the past few years, gas station machines have begun to grow on the streets of large cities. They are booths under a canopy with payment terminals, where both cash and bank cards are accepted. These facilities do not have their own staff and the driver is invited to pour fuel into the tank on his own after pre-payment. Not every buyer is ready to understand the specifics of the operation of automation and leave. Those who have managed to make friends with the confusing menu discover the extreme convenience of such a service. No need to run to the cashier and stand in line.
These automatic gas stations do not have saleswomen, security guards and all the benefits of a full-fledged gas station, including a store, a toilet and a cafe. Therefore, fuel for them is noticeably cheaper due to the lack of personnel. For example, in the networks of Gazprom Neft on automatic gas station fuel cheaper by 3-5 rubles per liter. True, such objects have a drawback. Automatic gas stations are often mistaken and confused with payment. Bonus cards are not always accepted there.
Bonus card
For customers who value live human communication, comfortable rooms have been invented where you can have a cup of coffee in a calm atmosphere, sitting by the glass wall of the gas station and looking at the noisy road. Such drivers, who like to have a snack and buy small things, can save on bonus programs. If you write out a card for yourself, then points will be credited to it.
Typically, cards have a different status, depending on the amount of monthly fuel expenses. For example, silver, gold and platinum. With a platinum status and an approximate cost of gasoline over 10,000 per month, in 1 month it accumulates bonuses for 30 liters of gasoline (AI-92). And this is another 1100 saved rubles. Thus, within two months you can save up for a free tank of fuel.
Bonus cards can be used to pay not only for gasoline, but also for goods in a store at a gas station. Lukoil has a different bonus policy. They credit a point for every 50 rubles spent by the client. In general, you can find a convenient option for yourself.
Return Cashback
Another way to save fuel is to get yourself a bank card with a percentage return on purchases. To do this, you need to study in detail the offers on the online resources of different banks. Not all of them work with large oil refineries. Therefore, it is better to find the bank that has an agreement with a network that is convenient for you. Sometimes when buying fuel, 1.5-3% of the money spent is returned to the card, and if you're lucky, even more. And coupled with the accrual of bonuses, this is a good increase.
Can't fill full tank
But the most important thing is when visiting gas station is better avoid gas stations "under the roof". More than once, drivers noticed that (judging by the readings of the column), employees poured as much fuel into the tank as it could not fit in principle. During the proceedings, dubious explanations are used, such as the fact that 20 extra liters "went into the neck." But if the indignant drivers began to rummage through the hiding places, then somewhere in the trash can they found plastic cans and bottles into which the tankers pour those very “extra” liters.
Therefore, in order not to provoke tankers to fill up their stored canisters, it is better to immediately tell them the volume of fuel you are buying or the amount you are going to pay at the checkout.
In general, compliance with the whole set of measures saves approximately 15-20% of the deferred fuel budget. And this amount justifies the time and effort spent on the analysis.
The high cost of fuel encourages motorists to look for ways to reduce transportation costs. There are ways to save on gasoline despite ever-increasing prices.
Basic Savings Methods
You can reduce fuel consumption different ways. Some of them are legal and safe, but some carry some risk, which you need to keep in mind.
- participation in special programs from the gas station. All existing networks filling stations offer attractive bonus programs. They consist in providing customers with discounts in the amount of 1-3% of the amount spent on gas station services. By purchasing a bonus card of the company, the client will be able to save a small amount every month, which is about 2-3 thousand rubles in year;
- the use of oils and additives that reduce gasoline consumption. These products are sold to specialized stores and reduce fuel consumption by reducing the friction of parts. In this way, you can save up to 10% of the cost of gasoline. For the year, the amount of savings here will be about 4 thousand rubles;
- using tires with maximum level pressure. To reduce gasoline consumption, it is better to choose summer tires with a pressure of 2.5 atmospheres and winter with an indicator of 2.2. Just by changing the tires, especially if you have smooth roads, you can save thousand rubles in a year;
- improving your driving style. As you know, on a smoother ride and with a soft start, it consumes noticeably less fuel. The same applies to braking - than less jerks occurs at these moments, the lower will be the cost of gasoline. Long-term warming up of the car will also help to reduce the consumption of gasoline at the moment of starting the movement. In the cold season, warming up the car costs at least 3-5 minutes. Constantly adhering to this rule, you can save about 7 thousand rubles.
Using the above methods, you can achieve annual savings of up to 10 thousand rubles. Compliance with these rules does not carry any risks and is available to any car owner.
How to save on gasoline: additional tricks
Not very reliable, but a popular way to reduce the cost of using a car is to buy the so-called "left fuel". It is offered for sale illegally: gasoline allocated for work needs is drained and then sold by truckers, truck drivers and other persons who have access to fuel. By buying such a product, car owners save up to half of the costs - you can cut costs by 30-40 thousand rubles a year. In this case, the risk will be very high, since by purchasing gasoline from hand, you can get low-quality or diluted fuel, which is very harmful to the car. In this case, only the owner will be responsible for possible breakdowns.
If the cost of refueling the machine is increasing, it may be worth checking its technical condition. Increased consumption fuel is often the result of a malfunction of one or more parts.
Helps reduce consumption by replacing spark plugs or gaskets, installing new meters or repairing the chassis. Of course, savings can only be achieved if a breakdown has occurred. The main risk in such a situation is high costs for inspection and maintenance, which will cover the resulting savings.
Reducing the mass of the transport itself by ridding the car of trash of any order will also slightly reduce costs. The function of passive economy will also be provided by refueling at a certain time of the day - pouring fuel into the tank at the coldest time of the day will provide a slightly lower fuel consumption.
Savings for legal entities
For legal entities accounting for the fuel used is not a matter of economy, but of principle. A company with a large or small fleet of vehicles may well find employees "saving" in the manner described in the previous section. You can automate the accounting of gasoline expenses, while receiving special conditions from fuel companies, using fuel cards.
A fuel card is a plastic card that does not differ from a debit card in principle, but gasoline, calculated in liters, is used as payment units for payment. As with bank card, the fuel card has a PIN code to confirm transactions.
The fuel card, as a tool for controlling the cost of gasoline, allows you to get rid of the execution of individual documents - card transactions will be displayed in Personal account of the client on the website of the supplier of the fuel program, where it will also be possible to find the addresses of the gas stations where the drivers refueled the car.
Total savings on fuel costs when using fuel programs (in our case, from leasing companies), it can reach a third of their amount.
- Up to 6 rubles per liter can be saved thanks to the VAT refund.
- Up to 5% savings thanks to fuel management.
- You can save up to 3% by searching among the nearest gas stations with the lowest price.
- 2-3% discounts are provided by partner gas stations.
When leasing a car, any leasing company prompts you to use the fuel program.
Greetings, friends!
Behind Last 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 efficient of them, 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. optimal amount time without wasting gasoline, because on idling most cars are pretty "gluttonous". The optimal warm-up time for a car with mechanics: in summer - 1-2 minutes, in winter 4-5 minutes. The main thing is not to accelerate to maximum speeds the first kilometers of the journey.
Some drivers have a habit of warming up the car for 15-20 minutes, especially in winter, while average consumption gasoline 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 optimal number 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 on mechanics.
If the flow is slow enough, try to keep a smooth pace in 1st or 2nd gear, minimizing the number of stops. Highest flow fuel 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 comes on ahead, or ahead parked car I slowed down, I switched to "neutral" and rolled, at least 100-200 meters, thinking that this is how I save gasoline. However, having understood the issue, I realized that from the point of view of economy, this is not correct.
On 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 level idle move, 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 have fully mastered 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 technical part car, which will also help you cut 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 high speed keep windows closed. 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. As far as fuel economy is concerned, most attention should be given 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 is clogged, then 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 have reviewed the most effective ways fuel savings for mechanic drivers, and by following these few simple guidelines, you can start saving 10-15% fuel monthly.
