Tag: fuel efficiency

How To Save Fuel in The Winter

How To Save Fuel in The Winter

Winter season is challenging for most truck drivers but would you like to know how you can save fuel during this period? It is during this time that fuel efficiency drops drastically. The drop-in fuel efficiency is a result of temperature decreases. Gasoline-powered trucks experience a 12% drop in gas mileage whenever the temperatures drop to 20 degrees. 

Here are some of the reasons that you may want to save fuel in winter.

  • After ignition, the engine will need more time to reach its optimal-efficient temperature. 
  • The reduced tire pressure during winter reduces the traction of your tires, and this increases road resistance which leads to an increase in fuel consumption.
  • The gasoline at the filling station during winter provides less power per gallon compared to regular gasoline.
  • The cold air causes drag at higher speeds, referred to as aerodynamics, affecting your truck’s fuel efficiency.
  • During winter, you will rely on heated seats and a defroster. These two features draw much power from the engine, thus interfering with your truck’s fuel efficiency. 

Despite all these reasons for the drop in fuel efficiency during winter, there are several practices you can adopt as a driver to save fuel for your truck. Here are some tips worth putting into consideration.

Combine All Your Trips Rather Than Taking Several Trips In a Day

During winter, the engine takes time to reach its fuel-efficient temperature. If you have several errands to run, your engine will use much fuel to heat up during stops. Consider combining these trips to reduce the stops and unnecessary wastage of fuel. 

Check Your Tires

The correct tire pressure during winter can help save fuel. Always use a gauge check to ensure you have the right tire pressure and tread depth for maximum traction. Always fill up your tires with the recommended pressure to boost fuel efficiency. 

Reduce The Features That Reduces Air Resistance

If your truck has a rack, it is of great importance during summer, it can be one of the causes of a drop in fuel efficiency during winter. A large rooftop cargo box can reduce your fuel economy by 2 – 8%, depending on its size. Consider removing your rack and rooftop cargo box during winter to increase fuel efficiency.

Reduce Your Idling

If you love starting your truck and letting the engine run for 10 minutes before leaving, drop this habit during winter if you want the best fuel efficiency. Most drivers understand that the engine warms up when idling. It sounds true, but most truck manufacturers say it is not necessary. Instead, start your engine, and within 30 seconds, it shall have gained the optimal operational temperature.

Check the Type of Engine Oil

Your engine will need different motor oil when the season changes. During winter, consider using engine oil the best engine oil that will not become thick. Synthetic motor oil is the best during the extreme winter season. Synthetic engine oil will protect your truck from a cold start and increase fuel efficiency.

Conclusion

During winter, the cost of running and maintenance usually go up. The amount you will spend at the filling will also skyrocket. The increase in fuel consumption rate is due to weather changes that make your engine demand more to perform. But you can save fuel by putting into consideration the above practices. 

purchase routing

Saving Truck Fuel Consumption With Purchase Routing

Saving on fuel consumption costs using purchase routing is one way of cutting truck expenses. For commercial trucks, fuel accounts for 25% of the general expenses. Fuel purchase routing is one of the strategies for cutting expenses on fuel. 

What is Fuel Purchase Routing?

Fuel purchase routing is one of the tricks for reducing the operation cost of your truck. Before going for a trip, you can plan your route based on optional fuel prices, areas, and states. 

Calculating the Best Fuel Purchase Route

When calculating the optimal fuel purchase route, you must consider several variables. Such variables are the size of your fleet, the type, and model of your truck, how often the truck is in usage, fuel tank capacity, and fuel taxes.

Due to several variables considered when calculating the best fuel purchase route, it can be tricky to do it manually. So what is the solution? Consider using an application to do all the calculations for you. Various companies have come up with means to solve fuel purchase routing. Here are some companies to depend on.

Trucker Tools App, Routing & Fuel Optimizer Section

The trucker tool App can access your current location and ask you to key in your destination. It will let you know where to find cheap fuel within 100 miles. The app will offer directions, locations with the most affordable fuels, and available truck stops along the way. The trucker tools App is free to use and does not require subscriptions.

PC Miller Fuel Routing

PC miller fuel routing and mileage software is an over-the-road fuel purchase optimization offered through the partnership of Integrated decision support corporation (IDSC) and ALK technologies. 

IDSC offers fuel optimization specifically for truckload carriers. The partnership has enabled those using PC miller to incorporate cost-friendly road fuel purchases. All the drivers need is to drive without exiting the app. 

ProMiles

ProMiles assists companies and drivers plan their trips by making them safe and efficient. All you need is a $50-100 monthly subscription. Subscription prices vary depending on the type of your business. 

These are only some of the existing apps, consider doing an internet search, and you will find several companies that offer purchase routing. Your truck’s specifications, budget, and requirements will determine the type of company to choose. 

You can add more features to the service you subscribe to, like load boards. All you need is to do a deep search and choose the company that offers reputable and cost-effective services. 

Conclusion

Using a purchase routing will enable you to save a small amount, but by the end of the day, it will be significant. The amount you will save will be significant, considering the number of trips you will make in a year.  

Using purchase routing, most companies save between $200 and $ 250 per month, up to $ 2,400 to $ 3,000 per year. With such a significant amount, purchase routing is not an option for your company or even if you own a single truck. 

get better fuel mileage

5 Ways To Get Better Fuel Mileage

Have you ever asked yourself how you can get better fuel mileage? The prices of gas continue to soar high as the income is constant. You need to save some cash on every purchase you make. Buying gas is inevitable as long as you own a truck. But you can evade the frequency of your visit to the gas station. If your engine is well serviced and maintained, your truck’s fuel efficiency will increase. You can also make minor modifications to boost your trucks’ gas economy. You will be increasing your mileage whenever you make any step to improve gas efficiency. After reading this guide, you will understand 5 easy ways to get better fuel mileage.

5 Ways To Get Better Fuel Mileage

Slowing down and leaving the gas pedal to relax is the best way to get better fuel mileage. However, there are other ways to ensure that your truck does not frequent the filling station.

Reduce Your Speed

High speed increases fuel consumption. At the same time, you do not need to be slow on the highway to save fuel. Cutting your speed by 5mp saves up to 7% of your gas. Instead of driving at 75mph, consider driving at 70mph. 

As you reduce your speed, check the frequency at which you accelerate. Struggling to beat 0-60mph time will waste your fuel and make you look arrogant on the road.

Let Your Foot Off the Brake

Letting your foot rest on the brake leads to premature brake wear and improves fuel economy. To save fuel, let your foot rest on the floor and embark on one-foot driving. Doing this increases fuel economy.

Avoid Unnecessary Idling

You will get 0mpg when your truck is running but not moving, and this dramatically reduces fuel economy. Your truck will consume fuel as much as it makes zero progress in motion.

In case you are waiting for someone, it is necessary to roll down your windows and turn off the engine. Besides saving fuel, this will enable you to catch some fresh air.

Do A Regular Wheel Alignment

The wheels of your truck become misaligned as you drive over potholes and on a rough road interferes with the alignment of your wheels. When your wheels are not correctly aligned, keeping your truck on a straight highway becomes problematic as it will pull either on the left or right side. Poor alignment also leads to poor fuel economy. To improve your gas mileage, consider aligning your wheels whenever you repair a puncture or fix new tires.

Check Your Tire Pressure

Driving your truck with the wrong amount of tire pressure interferes with your fuel mileage and causes premature tire wear. When your tires are underinflated by only 7.5 pounds, your fuel economy will go down by 2.8%. The tire gauge will let you know the right amount of pressure your tire requires.

Conclusion

The current economic inflation is pushing the prices of everything up, and gas is not left behind. Shared above are some habits that will help you increase your gas mileage and save your pockets from regular fueling. 

Boost Fuel Economy

Truck Services that Will Boost Fuel Economy

If your truck consumes more fuel, stop wasting money at various filling stations and do some maintenance and servicing. There are a number of known ways that can help you achieve better fuel efficiency. In this guide, we will go through some ways to boost fuel economy which will help reduce fuel consumption. Let us look at these services.

Truck Services that Will Boost Fuel Economy

Here are some of the services that will help you to boost the fuel economy of your truck.

Change the Engine Oil More Often

The engine oil lubricates the engine, enabling the moving parts to move freely without rubbing against each other. New and clean oil improves the performance of your engine, and an improved engine performance reduces the rate of fuel consumption. As oil lubricates your engine, it gets exhausted and contaminated, and its efficiency decreases. Inefficient engine oil reduces your engine’s performance, making it consume more fuel. To maintain your engine performance, consider changing the engine oil more often per the manufacturer’s guide. 

Service the Fuel Injector Regularly

The fuel injectors deliver fuel into the combustion chamber in controlled quantities. It injects the right amount of fuel at a specific angle and at the right time. With time the injectors become clogged, and if such happens, your truck will likely consume more fuel, the combustion chambers will receive too much or less fuel, and the engine might misfire. 

Always service the fuel injection whenever you perform the general engine service. Doing this will improve fuel delivery into the combustion chambers. 

Check the Tire pressure.

Adequate tire pressure increases fuel economy. Riding a bike with no tire pressure is challenging compared to riding a bike with sufficient pressure. The same concept applies to trucks. Driving a truck with depleted tires strains the engine to burn more fuel to produce energy. It is easy to fix a low tire pressure once you know the required pressure for your tires. 

Service Regularly the Catalytic Converter

The catalytic converter treats the harmful carbon monoxide into eco-friendly emissions such as hydrogen. Initially, truck owners removed the catalytic converters to improve fuel efficiency and horsepower. But, the new catalytic converters increase the fuel economy. A failing catalytic converter impacts oxygen sensors which reduces fuel economy. If your catalytic converter is not functioning or was stolen, consider replacing or servicing it. 

Replace Malfunctioned Oxygen Sensors

The oxygen is necessary for burning fuel in the combustion chamber. For effective combustion to take place, there must be a balanced air ratio.

When oxygen is less, the other gases will come out through the exhaust, and combustion will likely not happen. Such a condition is gas waste.

When there is too much oxygen, the engine might develop performance issues leading to increased fuel consumption.

The oxygen sensor determines the correct quantity of fuel to send to the combustion chamber to achieve the proper oxygen to fuel mixture. Ensure you replace the oxygen sensor if it is not correctly functioning. Doing this improves fuel efficiency. 

Conclusion

The standard fuel consumption of a truck depends on the number of cylinders and the displacement capacity of the engine, abbreviated as CC. More cylinders will require more fuel to burn if you note that your fuel consumption is becoming abnormal. Check if all the wheels have adequate pressure and if other engine components such as oil and oxygen sensors are in the proper condition.