A few words of advice on how to reduce fuel consumptionToday, a large number of drivers are convinced that they can save a considerable amount of fuel by driving slower, but the results are not always satisfactory. If you, for instance, set off at the traffic light at a snail’s pace, you will not reduce fuel consumption, but you will considerably slow down traffic.

However, there is one rule in this situation which appears contradictory at first. If you want to reduce consumption, all it takes is to press the throttle firmly (but not to full throttle) and to shift gears properly, far before reaching the red field on the revolution counter. It is of vital importance that you know how many rpm the engine needs to achieve the maximum torque because that is when your engine operates the most efficiently. The golden rule is to maintain the mean value: for petrol engines it is approximately 3,500 rpm, while for diesel engines it is approximately 2,000 rpm.

In addition, if you have the opportunity, it would be advisable to avoid traffic jams, which all drivers detest so much, as well as driving short distances because a cool engine is “the thirstiest engine”.  When driving on the motorway, you can use an old trick that more experienced drivers use to achieve lower consumption. Simply pick an appropriate “victim” who is driving at a speed which suits you and drive behind them at an appropriate distance. It is best if it is a van, a bus or a lorry (with an enclosed loading area). The reason being, larger vehicles create larger air tunnels, or in other words, reduce the air resistance on your vehicle as you drive behind them, thus reducing your fuel consumption.

Most drivers become frustrated at the moment when they realise that the average consumption of their favourite toy is significantly higher than stated in the manufacturer’s declaration. It is often the case that someone you know who drives the same car usually achieves a lower consumption, thus raising the question concerning the car’s proper working order. A large number of drivers spend a substantial amount of money on various repairmen and often parts that are working properly are replaced which leads to the conclusion that nothing can be done about the increased consumption. However, if you change your manner of driving, you can save a noteworthy amount of fuel.

Selection of engine oil also influences “the thirst” of your vehicle so many experts agree that when we purchase oil we should avoid the cheapest oils of questionable quality. Since they say that engine oil is “the blood” of your vehicle it would be advisable to select ones with better quality.  INA offers engine oils that can be easily compared to the best imported oils on the Croatian market because an engine that is sufficiently lubricated operates better and easier and thus requires less fuel.

In the end, lower fuel consumption can be achieved by making sure that your engine “breathes” properly. Therefore, it is essential that you change the air filter regularly. It is not a major investment but the results can be surprising because a clogged filter noticeably increases the fuel consumption, at the same time affecting the engine’s life span. In such circumstances, besides the increased consumption, it is more difficult for the engine to achieve the optimum rpm and its performance is reduced. In this case, special attention should be paid to aggregates with advanced and sophisticated fuel injection technology, so it is advisable to speed up the alternation intervals.