Moving the car to Mo gear (N gear) when going downhill
One of the most common concepts that drivers often apply is to shift the car to the Mo gear (N gear) when going downhill to save gas. Many people think that when the car rolls on its own, the engine will not consume fuel. In fact, with car lines using modern fuel injection systems, when the driver sets the car to a gear and releases the accelerator pedal, the system can temporarily stop fuel injection.
Conversely, if switching to the Mo gear, the engine still has to maintain a non-load mode to operate, which means it still consumes fuel.
Premium gasoline does not always help save fuel
Another misconception is that using high octane gasoline will help all types of vehicles operate more efficiently and economically. In fact, this type of fuel only works for engines designed to use high octane gasoline.
For conventional engines, high-end refueling usually does not bring significant differences in fuel economy, while fuel costs increase.
Many people also have a habit of letting the car start for a few minutes before moving to warm up the engine. This method used to be suitable for car models using carburetors before. However, with modern fuel injection engines, driving lightly immediately after starting helps the engine achieve optimal operating temperature faster.
Is turning on the air conditioner or opening a new window more economical?
Many drivers believe that turning off the air conditioner at all times will help save gas. However, the effectiveness depends on operating conditions.
When traveling in urban areas at low speeds, opening windows can help reduce fuel consumption because you do not have to use air conditioning.
However, on the highway, open windows increase air resistance, causing the engine to operate more. In this case, using air conditioning at a reasonable level can be more effective.
Therefore, car owners should not set the air conditioner to the coldest level if not necessary. Adjusting the temperature to suit actual needs will help reduce the load on the cooling system and save more fuel.
Automatic throttle and slow acceleration are not always beneficial
Cruise control often helps save fuel on flat roads by maintaining stable speed. However, when moving on hilly terrain, the system can continuously accelerate to maintain the set speed, causing fuel consumption to increase.
Besides, many people believe that the slower the acceleration, the more fuel-saving it is. In fact, accelerating too slowly causes the engine to operate longer at low gears, making the car operate less efficiently.
The fuel-efficient driving method is to accelerate smoothly, steadily and switch to the appropriate gear as soon as possible under permissible conditions. This helps the engine maintain low rpm, thereby optimizing fuel consumption.
