Hey there, y’all! Ray Hutcheson here, the Cajun diesel mechanic you can trust in Hattiesburg Mississippi. People often ask me “Whats the most diesel fuel efficient Truck on the road today” well thats a big topic So lets dive right in and share some tips to help you get the most out of the money you spend on your diesel fuel cause we all trying to save money on our expences.
Drive Smoothly:
Gentle acceleration and braking can significantly improve fuel efficiency. Avoid aggressive driving and maintain a steady speed whenever possible. Now this is harder for some of us than others, especially me cause I’m a known lead foot, LOL but I Guarantee if you work on your driving style you will see a savings at the pump.
Keep Your Vehicle Well-Maintained:
Regular maintenance is key to ensuring your diesel engine runs efficiently. Schedule routine check-ups and tune-ups with your trusted mechanic. Clogged Fuel Filters cause a LOT of damage to Diesel Trucks and 18 wheelers over time. Did you know that one of the top call outs we get for emergency roadside assistance is a clogged fuel filter? In addition to causing the truck to lose power and fuel efficiency, it also can burn up the high pressure fuel pump and you sure don’t wanna have to replace your fuel pump because someone didn’t change a simple and cheap fuel filter. High pressure fuel pump is one of our most common repairs and its usually caused bya clogged fuel filter.
Check Your Tire Pressure Regularly:
For my Folks driving 18 wheelers, this should be every trip. For my Livestock haulers every trip also. Any time you’re hauling a heavy load, tires should be checked before you leave the yard. This one tip will save you a lot of headaches on the road. Not only on fuel economy, but checking your tire quality and pressure can save you from breakdowns which always seem to happen in the middle of nowhere on a holiday weekend.
Reduce Idling Time:
Idling burns fuel unnecessarily. If you’re parked for more than a few minutes, consider turning off your engine to save fuel.
Use Cruise Control on the Highway:
Using cruise control can help you maintain a constant speed, which can improve fuel efficiency on long drives.
Plan Your Trips Wisely:
Planning your route effectivly to avoid traffic congestion if possible. Where you can avoid busy cities during rush hour. I know easier said than done. Every time I pull my horses through Atlanta or Dallas I swear its rush hour…. no matter when i plan to roll through LOL.
Keep Your Vehicle Light:
Remove any unnecessary items from your vehicle to reduce weight. The lighter your vehicle, the less diesel fuel it will consume. For lighter duty farm trucks, Diesel Dually’s and such, think of all that stuff you have sitting in the back that doesn’t really need to be there…. the heavier the load your pulling the less mileage youll be getting.
Use Fuel treatment
Using fuel treatment on a full tank for every other tank. Some of the local off brand is even better than the name brand, so don’t get hung up on BRAND. In other words brand doesn’t even matter, just dump one bottle of fuel treat into a full fuel tank and do this every other tank full. The fuel treatment cleans your injectors and keeps your everything in your fuel system opperating smoothly
Consider Aerodynamic Modifications:
For commercial vehicles, aerodynamic modifications such as side skirts and trailer tails can improve fuel efficiency. This is actually huge. When I worken in fleet management we did air tunnel testing of different truck and trailer body modifications to see how much the drag could be improved and you would be amazed at how much aerodynamics and thus FUEL efficiency can be improved.
Did you know that over half of your fuel in an 18wheeler on the highway is used to push through AIR RESISTANCE created by the size and shape of both the truck and the trailer? This so called Aero-dynamic Drag decreases your fuel efficiency big time.
DID you know even how CLEAN your truck is affects drag? Those old timers that kept their rigs spotless were onto something more than a great looking rig. They knew that a clean truck also gets better fuel mileage than a dirty one, due to aerodynamic drag. LOL its Science look it up.
There is a reason that a lot of the bigger trucking companies use multiple devices. Industry reports state that you can improve your fule mileage by average 12% by using these airflow devices.thats over 10 BILLION dollars a year.
One of the biggest opportunities for improvement in the gap between the truck and the trailer. Studies suggest that over 25% of your drag happens in this one spot. Other easy spot for improvements include the sides and underbody of the trailer, back of the trailer, and the front end of the truck where its first meets the air stream.
Educate Yourself About Fuel Economy:
Stay informed about new technologies and techniques that can help you improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. The only thing that stays the same in the trucking industry and hell in life really, is change. Get comfortable with change and youll always be coming out at the top of the pack.
At Hattiesburg diesel truck repair, we’re committed to helping you keep your diesel vehicle running smoothly and efficiently. If you have any questions or need assistance with your diesel engine, don’t hesitate to reach out. Remember, a well-maintained vehicle is a fuel-efficient vehicle!
Stay safe on the roads, y’all!
Share your best Fuel Efficiency tips with us!
-Ray Hutcheson, Your Cajun Diesel Mechanic in Hattiesburg Mississippi
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