What Affects Fuel Consumption in a UTE & How to Improve it?

UTEs, or Utility Vehicles or trucks as some parts of the world call them, are versatile transportation devices that offer way more than just commuting to work or the grocery store. They are big, powerful, and provide a lot of storage rooms for all your items.

Being big and powerful means they commonly have higher fuel consumption than city cars and smaller vehicles with less power. However, we all want to drive a vehicle that has muscles, so it's normal to acquire one that will have a bit higher fuel consumption than other options.

Wanting to know what affects fuel consumption and how to bring the numbers down is completely logical, though. We want to save some money everywhere it is possible, so why not do something about it? If you want to know more about what affects fuel consumption, keep reading and learn more.

Driving habits

Driving habits refer to the way a driver operates a vehicle while driving. It includes various actions such as accelerating, braking, shifting gears, and maintaining a consistent speed. These habits can have a significant impact on the fuel economy of a vehicle.

For example, sudden or aggressive acceleration can consume more fuel than gradual acceleration. Similarly, hard braking can result in fuel wastage. Speeding, driving at high speeds, and rapid acceleration require more power from the engine, which results in increased fuel consumption.

On the other hand, smooth and gradual acceleration and deceleration can help to reduce fuel consumption. Maintaining a steady speed on the highway or freeway can also help to reduce fuel consumption. If you want to lower fuel consumption, you should drive steadily and calmly.

Vehicle weight

The weight of a vehicle has a significant impact on fuel consumption. The heavier the vehicle, the more power it requires to move, which results in increased fuel consumption. Therefore, reducing a vehicle's weight can help improve its fuel efficiency.

There are several ways to reduce the weight of a vehicle, including removing unnecessary items from the vehicle. Carrying heavy tools or equipment inside work toolboxes for trucks can increase the weight of the vehicle, so removing them when they are not needed will help reduce the vehicle's weight and improve fuel efficiency.

Another way to do it is to mind the material of the UTE toolbox itself. If you have a stainless steel toolbox in the back, your vehicle's weight is significantly increased. Try our aluminium toolboxes and feel the difference in fuel consumption.

Tyre pressure

Tyre pressure is another essential factor that affects the fuel consumption of a vehicle. Tires that are underinflated can cause increased fuel consumption, reduced handling, and a shorter lifespan for the tires.

Underinflated tires can cause increased rolling resistance, which means that the vehicle requires more power to move, while overinflated tyres can reduce traction and increase the risk of a blowout, which is not a problem for fuel consumption, but may put your driving to the test, and eventually cause a crash.

Engine condition

An engine that is not well-maintained can consume more fuel than a well-maintained engine. Several engine components can contribute to fuel efficiency, and their proper functioning is necessary for optimal fuel consumption.

One such component is the air filter. A dirty air filter can restrict the flow of air into the engine, which can cause the engine to burn more fuel than necessary. Therefore, replacing the air filter when needed can help to improve fuel efficiency.

Another important engine component is the spark plugs. Worn-out or dirty spark plugs can cause the engine to misfire, which leads to increased fuel consumption. Replace the spark plugs regularly, and your engine's condition will be much better.

Type of fuel

Fuel consumption refers to the amount of fuel a vehicle consumes over a given distance. It is typically measured in litres of fuel consumed per 100 kilometres travelled. Vehicles with smaller engines and those that use alternative fuels, such as hybrid or electric vehicles, tend to have lower fuel consumption than those with larger engines that rely solely on gasoline or diesel.

Before buying your vehicle, you should mind the type of gas fuel it will use. If you pick a UTE that drives on diesel power, you will experience lower fuel bills, but if you pick a high petrol octane fuel, your bills will be higher.

However, driving with a higher-octane engine may result in lower fuel consumption. Examples show that vehicles operating on higher octane fuel than is required will waste less, but this puts in question the longevity and health of the engine, so make sure you know what you're doing. Ask a mechanic or a professional who knows what the best solution for your engine is.