Fuelsaver

Information for Motorists

Your driving habits, the type of vehicle you drive and the conditions under which you drive all affect how much fuel your vehicle uses, how much it costs you to run, and how much it impacts on the environment.

www.fuelsaver.govt.nz allows you to check out the fuel consumption of most new and Japanese used vehicles on the market, compare their fuel costs and to work out how much you can save by changing your driving habits and preferences.

Some tips to help you improve your fuel economy: 

1. Combine errands into one trip rather than several trips
2. Avoid peak hour traffic.
3. Use public transport where practical.
4. In a manual shift, change through the gears. Engines generally run most efficiently between around 1,500 and 2,500 rpm (lower in diesels).
5. In an automatic shift, accelerate smoothly and ease back on the accelerator once the car gathers momentum.
6. Drive at a good distance from the car in front so you can anticipate and travel with the flow of traffic, avoiding unnecessary acceleration and frequent repetitive braking.
7. Stop the engine whenever your car is stopped or held up for an extended period of time. This will save more fuel than is lost from the burst of fuel involved in restarting the engine, and any increased wear and tear from this practice is considered negligible.
8. Watch your speed. At 110 km/h your car uses up to 25 percent more fuel than it would cruising at 90 km/h.
9. Roof racks, poorly placed spoilers, or driving with the window open, increases air resistance and fuel consumption, in some cases by over 20 percent.
10. Make sure your tyres are correctly inflated to the manufacturer's recommendations and make sure your wheels are properly aligned. This will also extend tyre life, improve handling and could make all the difference to how your car handles.
11. Air conditioners can use up to 10 percent extra fuel when operating, especially when your car is not moving and the engine is at idle.
12. At speeds of over 80 km/h, use of air conditioning is better for fuel consumption than an open window.
13. The more weight your vehicle carries the more fuel it uses. An extra 50kg of weight can increase your fuel bill by 2 percent.
14. Heavy, unsecured loads can also become dangerous in an emergency.
15. Keeping your vehicle properly serviced and well tuned will minimise its fuel use and impact on the environment.

Note: These tips are provided to assist motorists get the most from their vehicle. Always seek vehicle maintenance advice from a qualified person.

For more information check out: www.eeca.govt.nz