One of the key components to operating a successful business is watching your expenses, that’s no big secret! In the Trucking industry, soaring fuel costs and aftertreatment systems that literally have you pouring fuel out your exhaust pipe are a major factor between profit and loss.
We wanted to shed some light on simple, yet effective, measures that can be taken to increase your overall Miles per Gallon.
1. Vehicle Speed
– Here’s a great piece of info to keep in mind next time you’re on the highway – After 55 MPH, each 1 MPH increase in vehicle speed reduces your overall fuel mileage by 0.1 MPG.
2. Tires
– Every 10 PSI that a truck’s tires are underinflated reduces fuel economy by 1%
– Believe it or not, a Tire with 50% wear can increase your fuel economy by up to 7% over new tires.
3. Idle Time
– Every hour of idle time in a long-haul operation can decrease fuel efficiency by 1%. (this does not include parked aftertreatment regenerations)
4. Air leaks
– You’re probably thinking “how can air leaks cost me fuel?!” the answer is simple – the air compressor requires engine horse power to compress air. The more “loaded” time the compressor sees, the more fuel the engine must consume to over come the mechanical loss. On average, a compressor that is pumping air requires 4.5 HP at 1500 RPM to pump out 115 PSI. Compare that to a compressor that is not pumping air – 0.5 HP at 1500 RPM. Overall, this can impact fuel economy as much as 2%. Get those air leaks fixed!
5. Engine Fan
– Alright, I know what you’re thinking… “There is NOTHING I can do about the engine fan.” Truth is, there is a lot you can do! The engine fan is the single biggest mechanical loss in HP (besides the transmission / drive line) on the engine. On a Cummins ISX – the fan can draw as much as 70 HP, let that sink in… 70 HP to operate. This equates to 8%-12% loss in overall economy. What can you do about it? Make sure you have the cooling system regularly serviced. Promptly address cooling system problems like faulty fan clutch, low coolant level, and faulty engine temperature sensors (to name a few).
6. Air Conditioning Compressor
– Approximately 50% of engine fan on time is contributed to the air condition system operation. While the A/C compressor is another source of mechanical resistance the engine must over come, it relies heavily on the fuel economy killer – the engine fan. The engine fan is an essential component to proper operation of the air conditioning system, so not much we can do there, BUT we can be more aware of when we use it. A lot of modern trucks have a default setting to engage the air conditioning system when the HVAC system is set to “defrost”. A lot of people ask me “why does the air conditioning turn on when im trying to heat up my truck and clear the windshield of frost?!” Simple answer is, the A/C removes moisture from the air, that frost on your windshield is frozen water. Heat + de-humidified air = more efficient removal “frost”. You might be thinking “thanks for the A/C lesson, but how do I save fuel?!” We can go into the cab controller and dis associate A/C on with defrost. By doing this, it will not automatically engage A/C and fire up that engine fan but leave it at the driver’s discretion.
7. Efficient Driving Behaviour
– Ill finish off this post with the obvious, in studies done by the SAE – efficient drivers can increase fuel mileage up to 30% over their less efficient counter part. Knowing the “sweet spot” of the engine RPM, utilizing proper gears when operating at highway speeds, using cruise control, and being easier on the throttle are a few factors that efficient drivers thrive on.
These are only a handful of ways you and your company can look towards increasing your bottom line.
Give us a call or send us an email to ask about fuel economy services, cooling system services, and even ECM programing to help maximize every drop of fuel you use!
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