by Mike Mccarthy

Created on: February 26, 2009

Your SUV, or 4x4 will have a higher fuel consumption than a lot of other vehicles for several reasons. Firstly, it's often a much larger vehicle than other cars on the road. This will mean that the weight alone will either make an engine work harder, or, it has a larger engine than a comparable vehicle, therefore burning more fuel.

Also, the size will mean that there will be more drag or wind resistance created when on the move, so again an engine working harder or larger engine running, more fuel burnt. In addition, quite a few SUV/4x4's are not exactly streamlined, and this will help with the increase in wind resistance.

Another factor will be dependant on what drive you are using. If you have a SUV/4x4 that can be switched between 4 wheel drive and 2 wheel drive you will be using more fuel when in 4 wheel drive. Why is this? Simply put, when in 4 wheel drive, you are applying drive through two axles, two differentials and a transfer box as well as your normal gear box. Again this is making the engine work harder and making it burn more fuel. Keeping the vehicle in 2 wheel drive when 4 wheel drive is not needed will help to improve your miles per gallon somewhat.

If your SUV/4x4 has an automatic gearbox, again, this will have an effect upon your fuel economy. This is a choice you can sometimes make at the time of purchase, Manual or Automatic gearbox. Automatic of course gives you a journey with less to do, as the vehicle changes gear for you, but there is a marginal cost in fuel consumption. A Manual gearbox can work out more economical, as you change gear when its the optimum moment, and of course a manual gearbox provides less losses in the drivechain so the engine does not have to work as hard when providing momentum.

The tyres you have fitted to your SUV/4x4 will also have an effect upon your fuel economy. Standard road tyres do not create as much friction on the road as do all terrain or mud tyres. The friction is increased due to the more extreme tread pattern on such tyres as all terrain or mud. This friction will again have an effect upon your fuel economy. One way some owners combat this is to have two sets of wheels, one for normal day to day use, and another set with all terrain or mud tyres fitted. They then simply change wheels and tyres to suit the occasion. Most people do the greatest amount of their annual milage on the road, so road tyres fitted as standard will make the most of your fuel costs. Its quite simple to change over to the more extreme tyres for the times you need to use your SUV/4x4 off the road in more extreme conditions.

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