What actually makes your fuel economy go bad?
If you’re filling up the tank at BP on Te Rapa Rd more than feels fair, don’t worry, you’re not the only one. With Hamilton petrol prices being what they are, fuel economy’s on everyone’s mind. The amount of fuel your car chews through depends on a bunch of things. Some of it’s the car itself, but a fair bit is just day-to-day driving stuff – like crawling through traffic in Frankton, all those speed bumps through Rototuna, and the rough roads you hit around Cambridge. Let’s break it down a bit, real easy to follow.
- Tyre pressure out of whack – Saw it just last week on a Nissan Teana. If the tyres are a bit flat, your engine has to work harder, chewing more fuel. A quick pressure check at the servo can save you at the pump and stop your tyres wearing out so fast.
- Dodgy oxygen sensor – Had a young woman from Morrinsville come in with her Subaru Outback running rough. Turned out her O2 sensor was on the fritz. That meant the air-fuel mix was all stuffed up, so her car was burning more petrol than it should. If you want to know more about oxygen sensor replacement in Hamilton, we do plenty of them here.
- Worn spark plugs – Especially on older Mitsis or something like a Peugeot 308. When the spark plugs are past it, you’ll get misfires, wasted fuel, and the odd hiccup from under the bonnet. Doesn’t matter who’s driving, these things just give up over time. Need a refresh? See more about spark plug replacement in Hamilton.
- Leaky or clogged fuel injectors – Saw this on a Toyota Estima the other day. If an injector’s leaking or blocked, fuel’s just not getting into the engine right – finding petrol dripping under the car is a dead giveaway. Fuel injector replacement in Hamilton sorts it quick.
- Fuel leaks – Not just injectors either. Sometimes it’s the lines or the pump itself. Had a Mazda Atenza last week – owner asked why she could smell petrol. Turned out she had a leak, wasting fuel before it even got to the engine.
- Driving habits – Honestly, Hamilton traffic doesn’t do anyone’s fuel use any favours. All that stop-start driving on Wairere Drive, school runs through Hillcrest, idling while the fog clears in winter… it all adds up. Things like heavy acceleration, using the air con on a hot day, or driving around in the wrong gear can really burn through your petrol.
- Short trips in winter, when the engine’s still cold
- Heavy traffic in Dinsdale at 5 o’clock
- Gunning it away from the lights on Ulster St instead of rolling up steady
- Air conditioning running flat out in February
- Sticking in low gears around the suburbs instead of letting the car cruise in top gear
Here’s a good read about ways to drive a bit smarter without feeling like you’re crawling everywhere.
How to squeeze more kays out of your tank
- Drive smooth as – Just take it easy on the pedal. Try not to boot it off the line and coast whenever you get the chance. Predict what’s coming up and you’ll save heaps.
- Tyre pressure – Easy win, this. Keep ‘em at what’s listed on your door jamb or owner’s manual. Too low and you’re burning extra fuel for nothing.
- Lighten up the load – Had a bloke from Ngaruawahia with a Honda Jazz, had about 60 kilos of random tools in the boot ‘just in case’. Unless you really need it, leave it at home. Roof boxes are even worse for drag.
- Use the right oil – Not just anything out of the shed. “Energy conserving” oil can make a real difference, especially for newer hybrids like Toyota Aqua or Euro diesels.
- Stay up on services – One of our techs swapped an air filter on a VW Passat last week – instant improvement. Oil changes, filters, tune ups, all the usual car service Hamilton stuff. Engine tuning services in Hamilton can get things humming again.
- Plan your run – If you’re going Morrinsville to Hamilton to pick up kids, do your errands on the way. Less backtracking, less fuel burned.
- Don’t idle forever – Stuck at the lights on Grey St with the heater on? If you know you’re going to be there more than a minute or two, just turn her off.
- Use cruise control – If you’re off to Raglan or heading down SH1, cruise control helps keep things steady and fuel use way more reasonable.
Fuel economy checks and fixes in Hamilton
If your car’s going through more fuel than you reckon is fair, just pop in. We see it all the time – could be something simple, or maybe the check engine light’s on and your car’s stored a trouble code. We’ll hook your ride up to the scanner, find the problem, and get you sorted. Heaps of folks from all over – Tamahere, Whatawhata, Cambridge – come through for fuel economy issues, WOF Hamilton, the lot.
For quick checks and honest fixes, give us a shout at Grimmer Motors.