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Causes of increased fuel consumption - some useful tips for a motorist

To the problem of fuel economy: causes of increased consumption

In an era of economic crisis, the problem of fuel economy is becoming increasingly important.

In this article, we will look at the main causes of increased fuel consumption. So, let's begin. According to the advice of experts, with an increase in fuel consumption, the problem should be solved, starting from the smallest.

The first and most elementary is the condition of the car. Some factors that increase the resistance of the car when driving and, as a result, an increase in fuel consumption: overtightened wheel bearings, incorrect alignment, low tire pressure, roof rack.

The second is the quality of the fuel used. For example, gasoline produced from natural gas condensate is consumed in greater quantities. The conclusion is that it is ultimately more profitable to use high-quality gasoline, especially if you take into account possible problems with the repair of the fuel system due to poor quality fuel.

Thirdly, driving style directly proportionally affects fuel consumption. If you like to press the pedal to also sharply apply the brakes at the nearest traffic light, then be prepared to overpay for this joy.

Fourth - the state of consumables. Their timely replacement is necessary, first of all - the air filter. It is not necessary to bring it to a state of extreme pollution. There are people who have owned a car for more than two years and have not changed the air filter (on such a filter, you can safely plant champignons). A dirty air filter is an elementary cause of increased fuel consumption. A similar negative effect can be caused by the use of a low-quality filter.

Fuel consumption can be caused by the condition of the spark plugs/glow plugs, such as incorrect electrode gap. Often candles fit in size, but do not exactly match the technical parameters. Candles should be exactly for your car (in the spare parts catalogs, this data is given very clearly). The use of iridium plugs (due to a slight increase in engine acceleration) gives a slight savings, but mainly it is necessary that the corresponding plugs are all in working condition. The same applies to armored wires.

Fifth (very relevant for the Yakut people) - the impact of low temperatures significantly affects the increase in consumption - this is not surprising, because you have to warm up the engine and interior more often, besides, the resistance of automotive components increases somewhat. Therefore, you need to insulate the car (additional windshield, radiator protection, felt or auto-blanket under the hood). It does not interfere with the timely replacement of fluids in the clutch system, brakes. It is recommended to use synthetic oils for the engine, gearbox, axle in winter.

Then there are the problems that specialists can better handle. Let's list the possible ones: incorrect operation of the mass air flow sensor (MAF-sensor), idle solenoid valve, oxygen sensors (lambda probes). The general essence of fuel consumption in the norm is reduced to the optimal ratio of the amount of fuel and the oxygen supplied for its combustion. In other words, when there is not enough oxygen, the engine compensates for power by increasing the fuel, and vice versa, when oxygen is in excess, the fuel supply decreases, but the power also decreases significantly (traction disappears).

Of course, the condition of the fuel system leads to an increase in fuel consumption: clogging of nozzles, throttle (carburetor) channels, fuel pump problems (for example, fuel filter clogging), etc. - in this vast area of ​​​​knowledge, in relation to a single car, specialists often find it difficult). We also note that the general wear of the engine also increases fuel consumption - the lower the compression, the greater the consumption.

In the next publication, we will look at existing methods and innovative developments that reduce fuel consumption - we will check from the point of view of science and practice the claims of manufacturers and sellers of various products.

Thank you for your attention,

It is well known that owning a car is not only convenient, but also quite expensive. On average, the owner spends about 13-15 thousand rubles a year on the maintenance of a Toyota Corolla. And most of them are for fuel. It is completely impossible to get rid of these expenses / unless, of course, the car is sold /, but at least a little to reduce them - any car owner is quite capable. Today we will just talk about what determines the efficiency of the car and how it can be improved. Moreover, without any alteration of the engine or the machine itself.
So, remember a few simple rules, the implementation of which will allow you to save up to 30-40 percent of fuel.
First, everything that interferes with aerodynamics costs money. These are wide-profile tires not provided by the manufacturer, decorative spoilers, fashionable "muzzles" with ears on the hood, and other trifles that serve only for beauty. Even more fuel consumption is increased by roof racks - even if they are streamlined boxes. And there is no need to talk about traditional metal farms. In a word, everything superfluous - down with it!
How much fuel can you really save by following the rule? Here's an example for you: the Toyota Kaldina family station wagon, popular in Primorye, flies along the highway at a speed of 120 km / h. If three mountain bikes are fixed on its roof, the car will use 12-13 liters of fuel instead of the usual 8 liters. Total - 40 extra rubles for every hundred kilometers.
The second rule is that constantly switched on consumers of electricity also cost money. Hence the moral: turn them on only when necessary. An air conditioner, for example, will cost an extra 800-900 grams of fuel for every 100 km, and an ordinary car radio will “gobble up” about 300 grams. But there is also a rear window heater, headlights, wipers ... Although, you are unlikely to be able to save on the latter. After all, they are included only if necessary ...
Rule three. Do not warm up the engine to operating temperature while standing still. Get moving as soon as possible. Moreover, under load, the engine warms up much faster than at idle.
4th rule - try to exclude from your arsenal "dashing cavalry starts" from a traffic light. Move off without stepping on the accelerator pedal to failure and switch to the next speed as soon as possible. If possible, try to drive in top gear - modern engines, especially diesel engines, pull well in 4th already at a speed of 50 km / h.
Rule 5. The engine should, if possible, run at the speed corresponding to the maximum torque. By the way, it is listed in any automobile directory or catalog, as well as in the technical description of the car. True, if the car does not have a tachometer, then it will be difficult for you to fulfill this requirement. Well, the owners of cars with automatic transmissions can completely ignore it - the machine will do everything itself. The main thing is to gently press the gas pedal, and turn on the economy mode.
Rule 6th. Proportionate and prudent movement saves fuel. Calculate the road situation, avoid unnecessary accelerations and movement "at full throttle". Before the "red" signal of the traffic light, remove your foot from the gas pedal in advance and coast, instead of intensively braking in front of the car in front.
Rule 7th. Check tire pressure regularly. It's better to over-pump them a little than under-pump them. Remember, reducing the pressure by one "atmosphere" can cost you an extra two or three liters of fuel. In addition, insufficient pressure adversely affects the handling and stability of the car, and also harms the tire itself. By the way, if you ride winter or all-season tires in summer, fuel consumption will increase by a liter and a half. Therefore, "shoes" should be in season ...
Rule 8. Running an engine on a parked car costs money. Therefore, turn off the engine in traffic jams and at regulated intersections, if a decent “tail” has gathered in front of the traffic light, and you will have to stand for a long time.
And finally, the last one. Modern energy-saving motor oils - usually synthetic or semi-synthetic - save up to 6 percent of fuel. True, these oils are more expensive than their mineral counterparts. So the economic effect of their use must be calculated for each specific car and driver ...
https://www.radiovbc.ru/

Even car owners who previously did not bother with savings are increasingly looking at consumption figures.

• Do not warm up the engine while the car is parked. On modern cars, even in severe frost, you can start moving immediately after you start the engine. Do not squeeze the maximum out of the engine - thereby you will reduce environmental pollution and the appetite of your car.
• Predict the traffic situation. If approaching a red traffic light, you do not slow down and apply the brake at full speed just before the traffic light, and when the green light turns on, you take off, then you can be seen at the gas station more often than drivers prudently choosing the speed appropriate to the traffic situation.

• Switch off the engine even during short stops. By turning off the engine, for example, in front of railway tracks while waiting for a train to pass, you save money. In some cities, an additional section of the traffic light about the duration of the red signal. The fear of wearing out the starter due to frequent engine starts is unfounded: the engines of modern cars are designed for several tens of thousands of starts.

• Adjust your driving style to suit the terrain. When driving on hilly terrain, you need to make sure in advance that during the descent the car will pick up the right speed and maximum torque to start the next uphill. In this case, the operation of the motor is more efficient.
• Get rid of unnecessary cargo. If you travel with unnecessary luggage, you are losing money. Depending on the car, 100 kg of additional cargo "costs" about 0.7 liters of fuel per 100 km. And such a thing as a full car roof rack can increase fuel consumption by 20%.

• Do not use the conditioner unless absolutely necessary. The operation of the air conditioner in an upper middle class car increases fuel consumption by up to two liters per 100 km. All doctors warn about the danger of catching a cold if the difference in air temperature inside the car and outside exceeds 6 degrees. Driving with the window open slightly reduces the temperature inside the car, but the fuel consumption is higher than with air conditioning and closed windows, not to mention the draft and noise.

The price of autogas at OKKO increased by 20 kopecks/l and amounted to UAH 15.28/l. WOG increased by 14 kopecks/l to 15.20 UAH/l. Also, prices increased by 12 kop/l and 20 kop/l in the AMIC and Glusco chains - up to UAH 14.96/l and UAH 14.70/l, respectively. Now the average price of autogas in the Ukrainian car market is 14.67 UAH/l.

Gasoline and diesel fuel in the AMIC and UPG networks have risen in price by 20 kop./l. BRSM-Nafta increased the price of diesel fuel and A-95 gasoline by 20 kopecks/l. Experts believe that by winter the cost of fuel will increase by UAH 1-1.5, provided no sharp fluctuations in oil prices.

Even the most economical car can be quite voracious if the main components and assemblies are out of order. In this case, neither an economical driving style nor the use of additives will help.

There is a whole list of breakdowns that lead to the fact that the car begins to consume a large amount of fuel.

1. Malfunction of one of the important devices: oxygen sensors, fuel consumption or idling.
2. If the camber angle is initially set incorrectly, then this will directly affect the consumption of gasoline. It is important to check the camber / camber angle every 15 - 20 thousand km.
3. If the car owner is too keen on tuning the car, then this also cannot but affect the increased consumption of gasoline. Even such seemingly familiar body kit elements as a “fly swatter”, as well as overhead arches, can affect the deterioration of the car’s aerodynamics and lead to subsequent overspending.
4. Clogged fuel or air filters or the need to replace them.
5. Prolonged overheating of the power unit leads to the combustion of a large amount of fuel for nothing.
6. Engine malfunction: Timing belt broken, ignition problems, or candles unusable.

And this is not a complete list of malfunctions that lead to increased fuel consumption. It is important to keep the car in order from a technical point of view. In this case, you will save yourself from large expenses for the operation of the car.

23 ways to save fuel

There are a huge number of different ways to save fuel, most of which motorists often do not even know about. Meanwhile, following these simple tips will save the lion's share of the budget spent on fuel.

Method 1 - the car needs to be inspected periodically

First you need to inspect the air filter by visual inspection. Such a simple operation can be done with a car of any brand. If the working surface of the filter is visibly dirty, then this can significantly impede the flow of air into the engine, which will cause increased fuel consumption. It is necessary to replace the filter - this procedure takes a minimum of time and does not require professional help.

Method 2 - you need to choose the right oil

It is possible to reduce fuel consumption by choosing the right engine oil. During the combustion of the fuel mixture, most of the important components of the car move. If the quality of the oil is poor, strong friction occurs between the parts, which affects the increase in energy costs, and, accordingly, significantly increases fuel costs. Therefore, it is so important to choose oil without errors, taking into account all the details: viscosity, age of the car, operating features.

Method 3 - the right movement during rush hour

It is at this time that motorists often have to stand with the engine running. It is important to slow down when approaching a traffic light. Thus, it will be possible to coast to the traffic light.

Method 4 - the style of travel is important

Often, a driving style with too sudden acceleration and braking at excess speeds (this style of driving a car is also called sports) leads to a significant increase in fuel consumption. It is equally important to avoid high gears when driving at low speeds. It is necessary to control the location of the tachometer needle.

Method 5 - you need to monitor tire pressure

Those who have been driving for more than a year know exactly how tire pressure affects gas mileage. It is important to check the water indicator every time before a trip. The maximum pressure can be exceeded by 0.2 atm from the value recommended by the manufacturer. If the wheels are poorly inflated, the consumption of any fuel during the trip will increase. Manufacturers always clearly regulate the level of tire pressure on the rear, front axle.

With poorly inflated wheels, there will be resistance to movement as a result - gasoline consumption will increase.

Method 6 - Monitor the status of all running devices

A working air conditioning device increases gasoline consumption, which is not always justified. Working headlights, car radio, heater burn fuel no less.

Method 7 - you can get rid of some decorative elements

Few motorists know that individual tuning elements also reduce fuel economy. So, increased aerodynamic resistance greatly increases gas mileage. The same applies to large spatial body kits and enlarged disks.

Method 8 - choosing the right brand of fuel

Everyone knows that the use of expensive high octane gasoline can significantly improve the dynamic performance of a car. At the same time, fuel consumption increases markedly. To save money, read the manufacturer's instructions. Most likely, for your car you can use gasoline with the lowest octane rating. As a rule, the older the car, the simpler fuel (with the lowest octane rating) it needs.

Method 9 - take into account the weight of the car

The weight of the car often affects fuel consumption. Experienced car owners know how to reduce fuel consumption by controlling the weight of the car. Lightweight vehicles consume several times less fuel than their heavier counterparts. At the same time, in order to reduce fuel consumption, it is often enough to remove all things from the luggage compartment, thereby reducing the weight of the car.

Method 10 - choose mechanics instead of automatic transmission

If you are determined to reduce fuel consumption, choose a car with a manual transmission. Automatic transmissions typically increase fuel consumption by at least 15 percent.

Method 11 - stop venting

Those who like to open windows while driving to better ventilate the passenger compartment should take into account that this creates additional resistance to movement. As a result of this overcoming of aerodynamic resistance, the motor requires additional power. Therefore, to save gasoline, it is necessary to close the windows while driving.

Method 12 - installing HBO

There is one traditional method of saving fuel consumption - the conversion of the car to work on gas. This re-equipment will significantly reduce fuel costs. At the same time, the noise level will noticeably decrease, the exhaust will be cleaner, and the engine will start to work much softer. However, the disadvantages that arise as a result of such manipulation should also be taken into account: the volume of the trunk will decrease, the driving dynamics will decrease. Simultaneously with this, the acceleration speed is reduced.

Method 13 - Monitor the speed limit

It is necessary to keep under control the frequency of the crankshaft recommended by the manufacturer of the auto in accordance with the speed chosen at the same time. Driving at an excessive speed of the crankshaft increases the consumption of gasoline, which is necessary for the operation of the engine.

Method 14 - Organize a trip together

When you travel to work or study on the same route every day, you can always take fellow travelers with you in the person of acquaintances, friends or colleagues. If you divide the cost of gasoline for everyone, it will not be expensive at all, and you can save a lot. The same applies to out-of-town travel.

Method 15 - it is important to insulate the engine

With the onset of cold weather, it is necessary to take care of good insulation of the power unit, which will allow you to significantly reduce the time required to warm it up. After all, the speed of warming up a car directly affects fuel consumption. For heating, it is not at all necessary to use blankets that light up easily. Today, manufacturers offer special compact heaters that retain heat well and resist the effects of high and too low temperatures. The use of such devices makes it possible for a long time to maintain the desired temperature for a heated motor when you leave the car on business.

Also on sale you can find car heaters that perfectly retain heat in the cabin.

Method 16 - use autonomous heaters

When the temperature is below zero outside the window, motorists are forced to switch to increased engine warm-up. To bring the engine of a car that has stood in the cold for a while to operating mode, additional fuel consumption is required. In this case, a cold start can greatly reduce the life of the engine. Alternatively, you can use a special car fan, which allows you to completely solve the problem of starting the power unit in the cold season. It is advisable to turn to professionals for help in installing such a fan heater, since the electrical network of the car is used for its operation.

Method 17 - Track Gasoline Prices

Many car owners are accustomed to refueling their cars in the same place and often ignore other gas stations. However, often it is the analysis of fuel prices at city filling stations that saves money. At the same time, it is important to give preference to the optimal combination of price and quality.

Method 18 - do not forget to use bonuses

Most of the fuel companies in our country use marketing ploys to attract more customers. Such marketing moves include bonus cards for regular customers. They also allow you to purchase fuel at a discount. Usually, bonus points are awarded when the tank is full, and in the future it will be possible to buy gasoline, taking into account the accumulated points.

The number of bonuses credited at different gas stations vary. Usually, 1 point is awarded per liter of fuel poured into the gas tank of a car.

When filling gasoline with the highest octane number, three points are given per liter. Gradually accumulated bonuses can be used to fill fuel, which makes it possible to save a lot. If the volume of purchased fuel increases, then the percentage of the discount will increase proportionally.

Method 19 - pay for gasoline with a bank card

Almost everyone has a Visa or MasterCard card. Such cards are issued by many banks when opening a current account. It is the presence of the card that allows you to significantly save when buying fuel. Banks often enter into a special agreement with a network of filling stations. As a result, when paying for gasoline with a card, customers receive a 5 percent discount. Such programs today operate in almost all banks. You can find out if you will receive a discount when paying for fuel with a card at a gas station or by calling the bank that issued your card.

Method 20 - Use a cashback credit card

Today, many financial institutions offer their customers a refund when paying for a purchase with a credit card. Often you can return up to 3 percent of the purchase amount. Thus, you can not limit yourself in shopping.

Today, you can fill in fuel and at the same time receive a refund of part of the funds from a credit card of any bank.

Method 21 - you can refuel at night

Some gas stations give their customers a 5 percent discount if they come to fill up the car after 23:00. This promotion is usually valid until 7:00. Some gas stations offer a discount for refueling at night.

Method 22 - Avoid Aggressive Driving

Hard braking, pressing on the gas, driving in jerks - all this leads to the fact that gas mileage increases significantly. To save money, you should definitely reconsider your driving style.

Method 23 - choose tires according to the season

Tire tread width also affects fuel consumption. The wider the tread, the more gas mileage will be. If the car is "shod" in winter tires in May-June, then its voracity will be many times higher than if the driver changed his shoes in summer tires in time.

How to reduce fuel consumption on a car with automatic transmission?

If drivers in a car with a manual transmission can gradually combine coasting with measured braking and acceleration, then owners of cars with an automatic transmission do not have this opportunity. In this case, you can use the following recommendations:

1. When stopping, try to put the gear lever in the neutral position. Thus, the transmission will be disconnected from the engine, which will have a great effect on fuel consumption.
2. When driving on a country road, do not forget to use the cruise control function.
3. If your car with automatic transmission is equipped with Winter mode, turn it on as often as possible. The fact is that this mode significantly reduces the load on the engine due to the fact that a downshift is engaged at low revs.

It's no secret that a car with an automatic transmission consumes 15 percent more fuel than a car with a manual transmission. Compliance with these simple recommendations will neutralize such a significant difference in the operation of a car with automatic transmission and manual transmission.

Application of savers

Along with traditional ways to reduce fuel consumption, there are modern devices - savers that allow you to reduce fuel consumption by several times.

Magnetic savers

Fuel Free, Fuel Saver are special magnetic savers that need to be placed on the gasoline supply hose as close as possible to the supply units, as well as the main cylinders. Such carriers work quite simply. The magnetic field, which is created by the most powerful neodymium magnets (an alloy of iron, neodymium and boron), affects the molecular structure of the fuel. At the moment when the magnetic lines of force begin to intersect, the structure of gasoline changes, the surface tension is distorted, the polarization of molecules increases, the solubility of oxygen increases markedly, the burning rate begins to increase, and the detonation resistance decreases. Under this influence, hot combustion will become more efficient, while the amount of exhaust gases will be reduced.

Saver for leveling the power grid

Fuel Shark is a fuel saving device, it is an electrolytic capacitor. It works from the car's on-board network, significantly reducing the load on its battery. During its operation, the operation of the machine's electrical network is significantly leveled, which is a guarantee of a stable voltage supply to the spark plugs, and a high-quality spark is created. The result of these actions is more efficient combustion of fuel. Such a saver must be placed in the cigarette lighter socket. This device can save 30 percent of fuel.

Such a device allows you to convert liquid fuel into a gaseous state. A cavitator is a small structure that is equipped with a tube of variable cross section installed behind the fuel pump. Liquid fuel at the molecular level is characterized by long chains of molecules, they give a rather low combustion efficiency. The cavitator destroys such chains, which leads to more efficient combustion of fuel. In this case, while maintaining its dynamic parameters, the machine will have a lower fuel consumption. The cavitator-economizer can separate the heaviest fractions from the fuel.

The device is equipped with an additional filter.

That is why when it is installed, a fuel mixture with a higher degree of purification enters the combustion chambers. All this increases the efficiency of the fuel system and reduces the risk of engine breakdown.

ATW impulse

Such a saver was developed for cars equipped with 12 volt batteries. The device is connected directly to the battery terminals. The impulses it creates speed up the process of charging the battery. As a result, the energy consumption of the generator is reduced. Taking into account the technical characteristics that the manufacturer claims, fuel consumption can be reduced by up to 20%.

ATW impulse is indispensable for working with used and badly worn bacteria batteries, as it helps to regenerate their plates and increase the service life.

Conclusion

Now you know how to reduce gas mileage without resorting to expensive methods. All of these methods, when used correctly, can significantly save fuel. The main thing is not to overdo it so that it does not harm your car during operation.

(7 ratings, average: 5,00 out of 5)

The first sensations of the car owner after the service on the Mitsubishi Pajero-4 manual transmission 3l.

Gazelle booth(4 * 2 * 2.15), engine 40524 e3 (sewn under e2) cat on the spot, on gas, mileage 120t.km. (at the time of revision), electronic throttle (Simmens). Now running 141t.km., you can sum it up. Significantly improved acceleration performance, the engine began to spin up easier in the range from 3 to 4 thousand. revolutions ( before it seemed like just engine violence), and what surprised and pleased me the most was that 5th gear became absolutely working, before revision, it could only be used on a flat road, without wind, and the speed still fell (it was very infuriating) or from a hill. Now you can safely drive 90-100 km / h on the 5th, drop to 60 km / h and drive or accelerate without switching ( before that it was impossible). Feels like headwinds and climbs became less noticeable. By the way, before completion, the track was 80-90 km / h, now it is 90-95 km / h. .... I live in St. Petersburg (Kupchino), good luck on the roads!!!

UAZ Patriot, 2.7 l., 2009 onwards
Light became on the course and on dispersal. Especially for maneuverability. Became like a good foreign car. The car is unrecognizable, it tumbles in such a way that it is not inferior to any foreign car. Like to ride.
Alexander

The first sensations of car owners after the service on the UAZ Patriot.

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Good afternoon Vladislav. Today I received a parcel with a throttle and immediately installed the assembly. The car is unrecognizable. Volga weighing 1.8 tons from a place tears with slipping over our mountains where I used to go in 3-4 gear now free on the 5th and still going to overclock. At the old node, the speed is 90 km. overclocked at 3000-3300 rpm. Now 2000-2300 rpm. overtaking is fun downshifting is not necessary. And at the same time, I barely press on the gas pedal. So far I'm very pleased with the result.

Best regards, Valentin Borzov (Sevastopol)

I read a lot about throttle tuning and decided to try it. My first impressions - the car became easier to accelerate. Previously, acceleration was from 3000 now from 2000 rpm. already underway. I advise everyone, it really works! Although I had big doubts. And about the fact that many write that this is a scam, do not believe it! First, TRY YOURSELF ... Yes, most importantly, you barely pressed the gas pedal, and the car accelerates briskly. Previously, after releasing the gas, there was a feeling that you were pulling someone in tow and he was slowing you down. ...after releasing the gas in gear, the car continues to move forward confidently. When you next press the gas, the car accelerates confidently without jerking.