Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/47076
SMART DRIVING MAX KVIDERA 11 ways to save Tips to help reduce fuel consumption and save money T he key to achieving better mileage usually isn't found in changing one driving habit, buying a single additive or spec'ing one component. Instead, improving fuel economy results from little steps along the way — saving a 10th of a mile here, another 10th there. Incorporating the following prac- tices daily will make a difference in every tankful. If you don't do it al- ready, start tracking your fuel econ- omy from fill-up to fill-up. As you practice these, other saving ideas will come to mind. Good habits are sure to follow. Reduce your speed. It's the easiest and least expensive way to lift your fuel economy. Each single mph increase means about 2 percent lower mpg. Driving 62 mph instead of 67 will increase your mpg by 10 percent. Lower speeds also reduce engine wear. Set your engine RPM to enhance fuel efficiency, not speed. Independent contractor Brian Kufahl sets his speed control to 60 mph. "Some people will say they can't make good time," he says of slower speeds. "But if they would keep the left door shut, they can make time. I'll see some of the same owner-operators pass me three or four times." 1 Reducing idling is a key to enhancing fuel economy. Idling typically burns a gallon an hour. 3 2 Reduce unnecessary weight. Take a look at your equipment and what you carry on your truck. Clean out your cab and carry only essential tools and extra components to do your job. Idle less. Every hour you idle burns a gallon of fuel. Invest in an auxiliary power unit, which burns less than 0.2-gallon an hour, or seek out truckstop electrifica- tion facilities, which charge $1-$2 an hour to heat or cool your cab. Instead of idling, owner-operator Bryan Richardson bought a $200 generator for when he needs cab heat and puts a $100 portable air conditioner in his truck window when he wants cooling. He says the generator holds four gallons of 24 TRUCKERS NEWS DECEMBER 2011 Frequent tire pressure checks to maintain appropriate pressure levels will help in- crease fuel economy, as well as extend tire life. 4 Maintain proper tire air pressure. If your tires are un- derinflated by 6 psi, you could lose up to 5 percent in fuel economy. Plus, tread life is reduced as rolling resistance and heat build up faster. Owner-operator Kevin Koorenny checks his inflation pressure weekly. "I keep my tires inflated at the level the manufacturer recom- mends," he says. "I don't run with 95 pounds of air in my tires like a lot of people do." 5 Increase your aerodynamic profile. If you're shopping for continued on page 66 Reducing speed can produce significant fuel savings and reduce engine wear. Consider aluminum wheels and other ways to reduce truck weight. Save 1,000 pounds and improve fuel efficiency by 0.4 percent. An added benefit is you can carry a bigger payload. If you're paid on a percentage of revenue or by weight, that adds to your gross pay. diesel, costing him about $16 to run overnight, compared with $40 of diesel when idling. "I got tired of waking up in the morning and see- ing my fuel gauge was down from idling," he says. MAX KVIDERA COURTESY OF STEPHEN ADAMS