by James Dreamer

Created on: June 12, 2008

What Reduces Fuel Economy?

There are essentially five different characteristics concerning vehicles and the process of driving that have an effect on fuel economy. They can be broken down into smaller aspects, but they will all fall under the five listed below. The first three have to do with the laws of physics, which cannot be changed. How your vehicle is affected by these laws, however, can be changed. The last two have to do with how your vehicle is maintained and driven. That being said, below are the five areas which can reduce fuel economy.

#1. FRICTION. Friction is the force that resists the relative motion of two bodies in contact. In simpler terms, its the resistance to motion when things rub together. Friction is present when any two or more parts are moving against each other. (Think of how many places that is in an average vehicle.) Every moving part between the pistons which provide the power and the tires which actually move the vehicle is subject to friction.

Friction consumes energy by opposing the force applied to moving parts and converting it to heat. For example, brakes use friction to stop your vehicle, but if a brake remains partially engaged when the pedal is released that extra friction will greatly reduce your fuel efficiency. Neglected lubrication of bearings, inferior or old oil in the engine, and low tire pressures will all add to overall friction, reducing fuel economy.

#2. WEIGHT. Whenever force is applied against a vehicle to accelerate or decelerate it, that vehicle will resist the change in speed. How much it resists is based largely on its weight. The heavier it is, the more it will oppose any change in motion. Buying a heavy vehicle and loading it up with options and cargo will without doubt, reduce your fuel economy.

#3. DRAG. Because our planet has an atmosphere, the air occupying the space ahead of your car must be displaced in order for your car to move. This displacing of the air requires energy and is called drag. Anything that moves through the atmosphere is affected by drag. The larger the vehicle, the more influence drag has upon it. Also, the more flat the front and rear surfaces are, the more drag will oppose its motion. The higher the drag coefficient, the lower the fuel efficiency.

#4. MAINTENANCE. How well you take care of your vehicle will affect your fuel economy. Brakes and lubrication are related to friction but there are other maintenance issues. Spark plugs in good condition will help the engine attain maximum power from the fuel. An unclean air filter, worn out oxygen sensor, or plugged up catalytic converter will all reduce overall fuel economy.

#5. DRIVING HABITS. Bad driving habits will definitely effect fuel usage. Jack rabbit starts, excessive speed, and driving fast up to a red light or stop sign and then braking hard will certainly reduce fuel economy. The minute amount of time you save on the road will cost you a great deal of money in the long run, both in fuel and maintenance costs.

So there you have it, the five aspects that reduce fuel economy. These days, increasing fuel economy is on everyone's mind. Do the opposite of the list above to shrink your fuel bill. Reduce friction, reduce weight, reduce drag, maintain your vehicle well, and develop good driving habits.

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