Trucks, vans, trailers. We love the sheer power they offer. But the cost of diesel fuel has been rising in recent years, and electrical breakdowns can be expensive to remedy. So it’s essential that we find ways to maximize the efficiency – both fuel efficiency and electrical efficiency – of our big rides. After all, everyone assumes that people who drive big vehicles can’t possibly care about efficiency. Why don’t we show them they’re wrong?
Maintain your ride
Maintaining your vehicle is the most important thing you can do to improve fuel efficiency. Regular maintenance keeps it running well, it also helps your vehicle to use less diesel. If you want to see the basics when it comes to maintenance essentials, these are the things on which you need to focus:
- Regular oil changes
- Fuel additives to ensure fuel injectors are kept clean
- Clean the air filter
- Make sure your tires are properly inflated
Tire problems
Speaking of tires, this is an area to which you really need to pay close attention. Tires can affect mileage of the vehicle by an estimated 10%; this can increase when the vehicle is particularly large. It’s also essential you buy the right tires, too; using inadequate ones will reduce the efficiency of your ride. The likes of Mickey Thompson sell specialized performance tires and wheels. Maintain proper tire pressure to optimize fuel efficiency, especially when you consider how big those tires are!
Take it slow
Yes, driving a little slower can remove some of the fun from driving that powerful vehicle of yours, but it does save you a lot of fuel. Slow and steady doesn’t win the race, but it can help your wallet! The ideal speed is no more than 55mph for the best fuel economy; keep this in mind when you’re cruising on the highway.
Replace your electrical equipment and exhaust system
If you’re driving a trailer, then you need to be careful about the electrical connector you’re using – the device that connects the trailer’s lights to the actual vehicle. You should also replace your vehicle’s existing exhaust system with a high-quality exhaust system if you notice that your fuel is depleting at a much faster rate than it should be. This will increase the airflow rate, providing more horsepower and reducing back pressure. All of this combines to enhance your vehicle’s fuel efficiency considerably.
Be careful with the weight
A lot of people with heavy-duty vehicles use those vehicles to carry a lot of weight. Heavy items like metal tool boxes, as well as other bulky items in a truck bed, weigh down your vehicle and make you burn more fuel to go the same distance. Don’t need those items on a daily basis? Then remove them from your vehicle. Only keep what you need in your vehicle. This small modification can enhance your fuel efficiency to a surprising degree.
Consolidate your trips
For getting peak performance, it takes about fifteen minutes for big vehicles to reach their ideal operating temperature. Making smaller trips, coming back home, then going back out burns more fuel in total. Prevent this by consolidating your trips to use fuel in more efficiently.
