Top Tips to Save Fuel for Van Owners

The price of fuel is notoriously variable, with a litre fluctuating by as much as 5p in a month. For motorists, the ever-changing cost is a persistent cause of frustration.

We've put together the ultimate guide on economical driving to help drivers save money at the pump. This is also known as 'hypermiling' or 'eco-driving.' It will help you improve your mpg (miles per gallon) figure.

While the speed at which you drive is undoubtedly the most important element determining fuel usage, you can make several other changes to the driving habits that will save you money at the pump.

So, if you're a van owner who is tired of constantly putting fuel in your vehicle and want to save money on fuel, then this article was made for you. Saving fuel can help you save money.

We'll cover the different fuel-saving tips that help you spend less on fuel and cut down on trips to the petrol station.

How to Save Van Fuel

In today's society, petrol is a costly commodity. On the other hand, van drivers can use several simple methods to lower their fuel use and save money. This article will discuss the various strategies on how to save fuel.

1. Maintain Your Vehicle

Regular maintenance and servicing increase your vehicle's efficiency, which can lower your fuel use.

It's especially crucial to check that your tyres are inflated to the proper pressure as specified in your owner's handbook, as both underinflated and overinflated tyres reduce fuel efficiency.

Tyre pressures vary based on the load you're carrying, so check your handbook for the correct laden and unladen figures and use whichever matches what's on board. The maximum pressure printed on the tyre's sidewall is the tyre's limit, not a setting to aim for.

2. Keep in a High Gear if Possible Within the Speed Limit

Excessive speed is the most fuel-consuming component, thus keeping a light right foot and ensuring moderate acceleration is essential for fuel-efficient driving.

Of course, you'll have to speed on a journey at some point, but that doesn't mean you have to pull away like you're on the Silverstone starting line!

The most important factor in attaining high mpg is to drive in the highest gear possible for your current speed, while staying inside the speed limit. In cities, the best suggestion is to shift through the gears as quickly as possible at the lowest available revs, which is usually around 2000rpm. Remember that the faster an engine turns, the more fuel it consumes.

The optimal fuel economy speed for each vehicle will vary. However, the Audi A6 ultra's optimum fuel economy speed was 52 mph in seventh gear on the flat when the RAC completed its Record Road Trip in it.

While there is an optimal speed, road conditions and gradients sometimes prevent you from achieving it. Therefore you must improvise and learn to adjust your driving to the road ahead, a method known as hypermiling. In general, there is no single driving speed that is best for fuel economy.

3. Keep the Van Moving at the Right Speed

As stated above, keeping the van moving at the proper pace is crucial for fuel economy. This depends on traffic and what's happening on the road ahead, but slowing down and then accelerating again consumes more fuel.

The greatest suggestion is to drive as smoothly as possible, using the steering, accelerator, and brakes as lightly as possible. When slowing down, it's critical to stay in gear since a fuel injection engine's fuel cut-off valve is activated, meaning virtually little fuel is consumed during braking.

By looking forward, you might try to predict what will happen in front of you. That way, if you can see the lights ahead are red, you can ease off the pedal and slow down gradually, which may keep you moving rather than coming to a complete stop.

Keep an eye on the road ahead of you, and be prepared for any events that may arise. If you notice traffic slowing in front of you, ease off the accelerator and gradually slow down because the smoother you go, the less fuel you'll waste.

Driving up slopes wastes a lot of fuel. When you see a hill approaching, try to speed a little before it arrives, then slack off as you ascend. The additional momentum should be sufficient to reduce additional fuel use.

When driving your van up and down the motorway, it's natural to put your foot down to get somewhere faster, so you might be surprised to learn how much the extra few minutes will cost you.

The Energy Saving Trust found that driving at 75mph instead of 60mph increases a car's fuel use by around 18%. For a van, the penalty is roughly double, at around 37%.

Vans are also held to lower speed limits than cars in some cases: 30mph in built-up areas, 50mph on single carriageways, 60mph on dual carriageways, and 70mph on motorways. Car-derived vans keep the standard car limits of 30, 60, 70, and 70mph.

4. Empty Your Van

Avoid bringing any unneeded equipment or tools in your van for any particular work because the more weight you have, the more fuel your travel will consume. De-clutter your van as much as possible to improve not just your fuel efficiency but also your van's braking distance and the risk of theft.

Excess weight costs fuel. The RAC estimates that every 50kg you carry unnecessarily, such as a boot full of tools or roof bars left in place, adds around 2% to your fuel consumption.

5. Reduce Drain on Your Battery

Air conditioning, rear window heaters and defrosters all draw power from the engine, which increases fuel consumption. According to the Energy Saving Trust, air conditioning alone can add as much as 5% to fuel use, though no figure is published for heated windows or defrosters.

Spend a few extra minutes scraping the frost off your windows or wiping the condensation away with a cloth if your windows are full of ice or dampness. In hot weather, opening the window and allowing the fresh air to cool you down is more inexpensive than using air conditioning when travelling at a modest speed.

6. Think About Where You Top Up

If you are out and about on the motorway, where fuel rates might be exorbitant, it will almost certainly be cheaper to ensure that you have enough fuel to go through the day's job than to fill up at these stations.

7. Downsize

If you only require a large van a few times a year, it can be more cost-effective to downsize the van you use daily and hire a larger one when needed. Even though the engines are the same size, a compact van will be much more fuel-efficient than a large, heavy van since it is carrying less weight.

8. Engine Idling

Studies comparing the amount of fuel consumed by cars while their engines are idling and the amount of fuel used when engines are turned off and then on suggest that it's best to turn your engine off if you're not moving.

Of course, you should think about whether it's safe and sensible to turn off your engine while stuck in traffic or stopped for another reason. Turning off your motor if you're going to be stationary for 10 to 20 seconds is a good rule of thumb.

9. Make Fewer Trips

When you restart your van after being halted for a few hours and the engine has cooled down, the first five miles will use more fuel than usual to get it running again.

So, by bundling all of your errands into one trip, you'll save money! Plan ahead for one large excursion rather than a series of smaller ones to avoid running out of fuel.

10. Avoid Traffic

Avoiding traffic is an excellent strategy to improve your vehicle's fuel efficiency. Where you know there will be traffic jams, avoid rush hour or plan an alternative route.

Driving in traffic is bad for vehicle fuel efficiency because every time you stop and restart, your van will burn a lot of petrol to get back on the road.

Conclusion

Overall, there are many ways to reduce the amount of fuel your van uses, such as reducing drag, using the air conditioning sparingly, and removing roof racks when not in use.

If you don't need the air conditioning, turn it off, and drive gradually rather than often speeding to overtake or catch up to the car ahead. Check your tyre pressure regularly to avoid low pressure, and don't over-rev the engine.

Well, there are a lot of suggestions for you to consider! Saving money on your van's fuel bills can build up to a significant amount of money in your bank account each year. We hope our saving fuel tips for van owners have been helpful to you and hopefully saves you fuel and money in the future!