onX Offroad
You can be proactive when it comes to fuel savings in efforts to get more value per tank.
With gas prices showing no indication of dropping any time soon and offroaders cringing at nearly $2-plus per litre in some parts of the country, there’s little doubt that wheeling enthusiasts won’t be feeling the pinch at the pumps. Whether or not this will impact time on trails, it’s hard to tell, but there are ways to mitigate the impact of the recent fuel spike for all kinds of wheelers.
According to Ford Motor Company, you can be proactive to get more value per tank. Some of the tips below are simple while others may be a bit of a compromise. Regardless, it’s always exciting to hit the trails and important to be conservative to enjoy the savings whether you’re in the bush, exploring a remote road or using your rig as a daily driver.
Kenzie Kraft
Take stock of your gear as weight greatly impacts fuel economy.
Watch the Weight
Old habits die hard, but if you routinely bring every piece of gear that you own, think twice. With light bars, roof racks, spare tire(s) and recovery gear plus all of your other equipment, the weight adds up quickly. Reducing the pounds by as little as 50 kg (110 lb) can potentially improve your fuel economy by one to two percent. Before your next trip, be sure to bring only the gear that you need.
If you travel in groups of three or more, everyone can potentially benefit by improved fuel economy by sharing gear and reducing weight. There’s no need to double up on cooking equipment, coolers, tools and other essentials.
Tim Mossholder
Using the wrong engine oil in your vehicle can affect fuel consumption by up to two percent.
It’s also common that the more space you have, the more gear you’ll bring. In the event you commonly load a lot of equipment on your roof rack, perhaps don’t use it for some shorter trips. Should you need it, however, and your rig serves as a daily driver, take it off when it’s not in use. A pod or roof rack creates unnecessary aerodynamic drag and depending on where you go and the speed you’re travelling, bulky items up top can increase fuel consumption by up to 25 percent. The consumption only increases the faster you drive.
Drive Wisely to the Trail and Highways
While aggressive acceleration and hard braking are necessary on the trails, they can be avoidable on the highway (or even in certain circumstances in the backcountry). Since stomping on the pedal or stopping suddenly can increase fuel consumption by up to 30 percent throughout a trip, try accelerating gently whenever possible.
Slade Lapusnak
Keep speeds low or at the speed limit when travelling to a wheeling destination.
When you’re on the highway, maintain the posted speed limit. If you experience traffic, take your foot off the pedal early to slow down gradually rather than hitting the brakes only to accelerate again to reach the required speed.
Remember, the faster you drive or accelerate, the more fuel you’ll burn. Overcoming wind resistance on a vehicle is minimal up to approximately 80km/h (50 mph). Push beyond that and drag increases exponentially. One tip for highway driving is to utilize cruise control (should your rig be equipped with it). The system will not only help maintain the vehicle’s speed, but it can reduce the sudden fuel-sucking fluctuations of stopping and accelerating in certain highway conditions.
If your offroader is equipped with a real-time fuel economy display, be sure to monitor it closely to gauge how much fuel you’re using at different speeds and distances. This will help you find your vehicle’s ‘sweet spot’ of fuel consumption, which could equate to being in top gear at the lowest possible revs.
Jasper Garratt
Avoid congested areas when daily driving or visiting new areas.
Monitor Your Tires and Avoid Unnecessary Stress on the Engine
Ensure your vehicle’s tires are inflated as per the manufacturer’s recommendation as properly inflated rubber reduces rolling resistance and improves fuel efficiency (they also provide added safety).
If your tires are over-inflated, they will not grip the terrain as well and even cause premature wear. When you drive with too low of pressure, rolling resistance will increase, which means your vehicle will be working harder to travel at the desired speed.
What about when you’re off-roading? If you’re running on sand, deflate the Psi so your vehicle will ride softly - or seemingly float - across the trails rather than plow through it, which reduces drag.
Cristofer Maximilian
While aggressive tread patterns offer a better grip and performance, they also create more rolling resistance and weight.
It’s common for offroaders to run with an aggressive tread pattern, but remember that they are also heavier. While you’ll achieve better grip and performance off-road, fuel consumption will increase since they create more rolling resistance and weight, which in turn consumes more fuel.
Your tires should always be properly aligned. If they aren’t, they can cause the engine to sip more fuel, reduce the life of your tires and adversely affect handling. There are always compromises between fuel consumption and performance so it’s best to speak with your local tire shop about the best options for the wheeling that you like to enjoy.
Know Before you Tow
Fuel consumption increases while towing most trailers. To minimize fuel consumption, monitor your speed. The faster you drive, the more wind resistance increases on the vehicle and load, which means there will be more stress on the engine to maintain the posted speed limit. As a result, drive 10-15 km/h (6-9 mph) slower to conserve some fuel.
The Importance of Scheduled Service
Planning engine service just makes sense and replacing air filters, replenishing the oil, and running the vehicle through a barrage of checks will detect any issues that affect fuel consumption.
For instance, most detailed inspections can detect faulty systems such as oxygen sensors that when working properly can improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency by around 40 percent. Similarly, using the wrong engine oil in your vehicle can also affect fuel consumption by up to two percent.
Onx Offroad
Always plan trips accordingly.
Summer Weather Tips
Who doesn’t like the relief of cool A/C in hot weather? Switching it on places strain on the engine. A cool interior comes at a price since cold comfort can increase fuel consumption by up to 25 percent. But there are a few ways to prevent this by limiting the amount of use by first cooling the cabin and then opening windows and vents; parking in shaded areas to keep the interior cooler; use sunshades for the front windshield.
However, driving with the windows down increases drag but keep in mind that the effects are minimal at low speeds but will increase as speed climbs. So it’s always best to use the A/C only during highway travel.
High fuel prices cannot be avoided for any type of travel and motorsport activity. By adhering to a few simple principles and best practises, you will be able to travel further with fewer stops at the pump and reap some savings in your wallet.
More Off-Road Fuel Saving Tips
According to Natural Resources Canada, there are a number of other ways to achieve more value per tank by:
- Using a Manual Transmission Properly
Always monitor the tachometer. The higher the rpm, the more fuel the engine will burn. Simply shift through the lower gears smoothly and quickly, then build up speed for higher gears.
- Planning Ahead
Have you ever driven in circles by not knowing where you are going? All of that unnecessary driving just wastes fuel. Before a wheeling a trip - no matter how far or for how long - map out your route, monitor traffic reports, and avoid construction or roads that cut through major cities. Always use four-lane highways to a destination when possible.
- Avoiding Idling
When you break on the trail to admire the area or to regroup, turn off your engine when you’re stopped for more than 60 seconds. The average vehicle with a 3.0 L engine wastes 300 mm of fuel every 10 minutes at idle.