Owning and driving a vehicle is a luxury and privilege for many people. It’s an accessible means of transportation and useful for time efficiency. Not to mention, you can acquire add-ons to make your vehicle more powerful and change its appearance.
However, there are people out there who happen to own diesel trucks. Diesel trucks are helpful in many ways. They can tow things, move furniture, and can operate over long distances. But their owners tend to ask about how to increase their fuel efficiency and mileage. Today, we look at how to get better fuel economy in your diesel truck.
One of the surprising ways to reduce your fuel usage is to cut out engine revving. Despite how fun it can be for those who enjoy driving around quickly in their diesel trucks, it isn’t the most efficient for the lifespan and quality of your vehicle.
Instead of quickly switching from gear to gear, allow yourself to slowly ease from one gear into the next. Your gas mileage will thank you later down the line. Plus, you’ll be less likely to puff out cloud vapors that can disturb the other drivers around you. So, take everything one step at a time instead of being impatient.
Sometimes, you don't realize how much gas you could be wasting at stoplights from idly sitting there and letting your gas go to waste for no reason. Therefore, one of the tips for getting better fuel economy in your diesel truck is to turn off your vehicle at stoplights if you're waiting for long periods of time.
When you turn off your vehicle, you allow the car to cool down and adequately use the gas within it. Excessive warmup periods can quickly eat away at the diesel fuel. So, be wise and turn your vehicle off. This is a bit of a penny-pinching method, but you'll thank yourself later.
On hot, sunny days, a lot of vehicle owners take advantage of their interior air conditioners. A blast of cool air that blows away the sweat accumulation on your forehead can do wonders for your mood. However, constant use of an air conditioner in your diesel truck can be a massive waste of your fuel.
As a result, it’s wise to have your windows rolled down and enjoy the summer sun at times. The feasibility of this tip can depend on where you live. But try to use your air conditioner sparingly if you live in a hotter climate. Only activate it on days where you physically can't tolerate the heat. But other than that, try to keep your air conditioner usage at a minimum.
It isn't any surprise that there will be frequent speed limit changes as you go from town to town. However, constantly adjusting your speeds can eat up diesel fuel. As a result, you can end up paying more as you journey on those distant treks.
By choosing routes that have more consistent speed limits, you can take advantage of your cruise control in your truck. Cruise control allows your vehicle to maintain a constant speed of your choosing. You can deactivate it at any time by applying the brakes. So, be sure to use it wisely during your trips.
As you go on long drives, it’s no surprise that you might have to visit a truck stop or two. They are incredibly convenient for adding more gas to your depleted tank and for taking moments to rest. You can have something to eat and give yourself the opportunity to stretch your legs out. However, depending on the truck stop, you could waste your gas.
A tip that drivers often overlook is whether the truck stops they visit are on slopes. You might think it’s a waste of your gas to push your diesel truck’s power to drive up a hill. But it’s the descent that makes the difference. So, by finding an uphill truck stop, you’ll save more gas as you descend back down and continue your journey.
In addition to using cruise control when possible, it’s good to keep track of your speed. When driving a diesel truck, you might feel tempted to go quicker than you should. As a result, you could waste gas and wear out your car parts prematurely.
In fact, the faster you drive your diesel truck, the more fuel you burn over time. Thus, you wind up wasting more money than you wish to admit. By shifting to lower speeds, your fuel economy will benefit significantly. Also, you'll be less likely to accumulate speeding tickets over time due to driving recklessly.
A significant fact to know about increasing your diesel truck's efficiency is that you should regularly change its air filter. The air filter is essential; it assists in a diesel motor's smooth and economical operation. Diesel cars and trucks rely heavily on air combustion to utilize the fuel injected into their engines.
So, perform regular inspections of your air filters. It’s good to check them at every service interval for your vehicle. Be on the lookout for unwanted dirt and debris while checking for wear and buildup. If the filter looks discolored, it’s time to change it out for a new one.
You should also consider regular fuel filter replacement. It’s best to switch these at every oil change or every other oil change, as well. The fuel filters specifically isolate any debris as low as two microns that the fuel pump supplies to the vehicle.
If you don’t change them regularly, the fuel filters can cause premature deterioration in your vehicle’s fuel injection system and its assisting components. So, check your filters regularly and replace them to prevent future failures.
If you’re in the market for a 6.7 Powerstroke air intake, exhaust parts, or even fuel systems, visit us at Norcal Diesel Performance. We offer our years of diesel repair and upgrade experience to help you find the best parts and prices. Contact us today if you want increased reliability, racing performance, towing power, and so much more.
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