How to drive economically with a manual transmission

The most economical driving mode and rational movement on mechanics

Fuel consumption significantly depends on your driving style. The difference between a calm and active (sporty) driving style can be on average 1 liter of gasoline for cars with a volume of 1.4 - 1.8 liters. The larger the engine displacement, the more significant the difference will be. The most rational driving mode for moving around the city is driving in 4th gear , since it provides the maximum permitted speed of 60 km/h for the city at a minimum engine speed of about 2000 rpm. Also read how the technical condition of a car affects gasoline consumption.

Economical driving style

Next, we will describe the factors and economical driving on the mechanics that affect fuel consumption while driving a car:

1. One of the most important rules for reducing fuel consumption is to accelerate your car slowly , without pressing hard on the gas pedal. After the engine reaches 2500 - 3000 rpm, you need to switch to a higher transmission.

2. In addition, an economical driving style means that the driver must think ahead and look as far as possible. Another important rule for economical driving is, if possible, not to stop the car until it comes to a complete stop . Since after a complete stop, the driver will have to engage first gear and accelerate the car, switching to high gear, and each acceleration of the car, especially from 1, significantly increases fuel consumption, which does not ensure economical driving.

If there is a traffic light ahead, then look at its readings from afar. There is no point in stepping on the gas if the light is red or is about to turn red. To save money in such a situation, it is better to move the gearbox lever to neutral and drive up to the traffic light.

3. Another economical driving mode is that for lower fuel consumption you need to use a track profile (slope) . If the car is moving down a small hill, then it is better not to drive in gear, but to coast. When driving in gear, to maintain speed, you must constantly press on the gas, and when you release the pedal, engine braking will occur. When coasting, the car will not stop as quickly as when the gear is engaged, and to increase the speed, you will need to turn it on, pick up the desired speed and engage neutral again.

4. Avoid engaging first gear - this is economical driving with a manual transmission. If the car is moving at a speed of 5 - 10 km/h, then it will be easier and more rational to engage second gear. By adjusting the speed using the clutch and gas pedal. Of course, it is not recommended to engage second gear at this speed if the vehicle is loaded or going uphill.

5. If the car engine is warmed up and has been running for at least 10-15 minutes, then when parked for more than 1 minute, it makes sense to turn it off . Just stop the motor several times in a row with a short period of time, as the starter winding heats up and it can burn out.

Recently, new cars have been equipped with an automatic system called Start and Stop , which automatically turns off the car’s engine when it stops and sits for some time. This system automatically starts the car’s engine as soon as the driver presses the clutch or gas pedal.

Here's how they advise switching between manual transmissions for better fuel economy

Low RPM Fuel Economy: What the Science Says

We do not claim that the reasoning described below is the ultimate truth. This is just one more opinion among many.

Many drivers are probably familiar with the concept of reducing fuel consumption in a manual transmission car. However, as it turns out, the meaning of saving fuel is not always directly related to earlier upshifts.

Even if you're a novice driver, you've probably already understood the basic concept of driving a manual car for maximum efficiency: keep the revs as low as possible and you'll be happy. The more revolutions the engine turns, the more fuel it consumes. The lower the speed (within reason), the lower the consumption of this same fuel. Simple, right?

Actually this is not true. How it is advisable to act (and why exactly) when changing gears, engineer Jason Fenske will tell you in his video blog on the YouTube channel “Engineering Explained”.

So, if your goal is economical, leisurely driving in a manual transmission car, in general you should keep the revs low in all gears, including the highest gear. But why is this happening? And will this scenario be effective in all cases and driving situations?

As Jason explains, any moving car faces many natural or mechanical forces against which the engine must fight, using the energy of the fuel it burns to produce a certain amount of energy (each type of engine will have its own) so that the car does not lose speed. Counterforces include: air resistance, rolling resistance from tires, mechanical friction forces inside the vehicle components, and so on, ending with gravity .

Trying to overcome all these factors, the engine produces a certain amount of power, expending a certain amount of fuel. The amount of fuel required to overcome opposing factors is what adds up to the vehicle's efficiency. This is called " specific fuel consumption ", that is, the ratio of fuel consumption (per unit distance or time) to power or thrust. Depending on how much you press the accelerator pedal and depending on the engine speed, thanks to this engineering term, you can accurately determine how much fuel a particular engine will consume under different loads.

From an engineering point of view, the engine at low speeds will consume less fuel due to lower friction. An engine revved to 6,000 rpm must overcome much more friction (from pistons rubbing against the cylinder walls, crankshaft bearings, camshafts, water pump and other attachments) than an engine running at 2,000 rpm.

Thus, Fenske sums up, the most optimal mode for the least expensive movement is a fully open or almost fully open throttle and low, up to 2,500, revolutions. However, there is a caveat: if you shift too early, in a higher gear the engine will fall into excessively low speeds, which will not allow the car to accelerate and will wear out the elements of the units with the pulling motion.

Much depends on the road situation. If the car is being driven lightly on a completely flat surface, the accelerator pedal can be pressed down to 5% and still produce enough power to move along with relative economy. However, as the American engineer repeatedly notes, this mode cannot be called the most efficient, since the throttle valve will be opened only slightly and the engine will have to spend energy to suck in air through a small gap. At wide open throttle, the incoming air is less restricted, reducing operating costs.

Let us add that in such discussions we are talking about saving a really small amount of fuel. Know that you won’t achieve great savings results anyway. Yes, you can save a hundred or two rubles from several tanks filled to capacity, but a miracle will not happen.

More details in the video (include translation of subtitles, video in English):

PS I remember that on my car the intake gear of the phase regulator died for a long time. I was pleasantly surprised by the sudden drop in engine efficiency. Fuel consumption, according to subjective feelings, dropped by 20 percent. At the same time, another problem instantly arose - the car stopped accelerating at least somehow sensibly. And that's okay. The valve opening phases were lost, less fuel began to flow into the cylinders, and power also dropped. Everything is interconnected in such a complex mechanical organism as a car.

Also, don’t get carried away with saving money and constantly drive at low speeds. Switching at 2-2.5 thousand rpm is suitable for leisurely driving around the city, but specifically “strangling” the engine with such modes is contraindicated, especially when it comes to driving under tension or under load. At a minimum, over time, such a layer of soot will appear in the cylinders that overhauling the power unit will become the inevitable end of an overly economical car enthusiast; at most, fertile ground will appear for detonation, which, due to the systematic habit of driving under tension, will quickly disable the connecting rod and piston. Moreover, the traffic situation is unpredictable and at a dangerous moment you may need to accelerate sharply. Do you think it will be possible to do this while driving in fourth gear at a speed of about 2,000 rpm? The question is rhetorical.

Economical driving or economical driving style. Driving techniques to reduce fuel consumption

There are driving techniques that can significantly reduce fuel consumption, both during city trips and when driving long distances. Let's look at these techniques.

A driver who wants to save on fuel needs to master an economical driving style, which consists primarily of the ability to “work” the gas pedal. Just one “gentle” use of the gas pedal will save up to 40% of fuel.

Techniques for economical driving

1. You need to understand that the most economical operating mode of a car engine is approximately 1.5 - 2 thousand revolutions per minute. Try to keep the engine operating within these limits, that is, change gears in time so as not to overload the engine and avoid sudden acceleration with the gas pedal to the floor, as well as sudden braking.

When accelerating, for example, when overtaking, do not “overclock” the engine, but switch briefly to a lower gear. In general, perform all accelerations gradually, smoothly pressing the gas pedal.

2. As for braking, by pressing the brake pedal, we force the car to slow down due to the fact that the brake pads begin to rub against the brake discs and convert the kinetic energy of the moving car into heat, in other words, with the fuel with which we accelerated the car, when braking we We warm the surrounding space, and at our own expense.

Remember - the more experienced and professional the driver, the less often he uses the brakes.

3. Oddly enough, the engine consumes relatively a lot of fuel at idle speed, so turn off the engine if it is not needed. You can follow the rule - if you have to park for more than thirty seconds, then you need to turn off the engine.

4. For the same reason, there is no need to warm up a cold engine for a long time before starting to drive, especially since modern cars do not need this. Start driving as soon as the engine starts running steadily. While driving, it will warm up to operating temperature faster, just don't load it too much for the first couple of kilometers.

5. If you want to drive economically, do not exceed the speed of 90 km/h, especially when driving long distances. At speeds above 90 km/h, fuel consumption increases significantly.

6. By the way, dynamic driving does not necessarily lead to excessive fuel consumption. For example, the smooth accelerations recommended above can be replaced with short and energetic accelerations, followed by a long “coast” of the car with the gas pedal released. Having mastered this method, you can also achieve economical fuel consumption.

7. Don't forget to regularly check your tire pressure. Reducing tire pressure by 0.5 atmospheres increases fuel consumption by up to 15%. Also monitor and regularly check the wheel alignment angles.

8. In general, the fight for minimum fuel consumption is impossible with a faulty car, so keep an eye on its technical condition. Use the appropriate engine oil recommended by the car manufacturer, change the air filter, spark plugs, etc. on time, free the car from unnecessary “ballast” in the form of unnecessary things in the trunk or interior. Every extra kilogram of car weight will require its share of fuel during trips.

9. Do not lower the windows when driving on the highway - they create additional resistance to air flow.

Video about smart driving:

Fuel becomes more expensive every year, which means you need to drive economically. Good luck!

How to save gas on a manual: 10 tips

Greetings, friends!

Over the past year, gasoline prices in Russia have risen by about 10%, and this increase has hit the pockets of Russian motorists hard. In this regard, the question “how to save gasoline?” becomes more and more relevant every day. In today's article, we'll look at the 10 most effective ways for manual transmission drivers to save gas.

Saving gasoline on a manual transmission: is it realistic?

I myself drive a manual car, and I set out to start saving gas as much as possible, because I have to drive quite a lot. I have tried a lot of recommendations on this matter, and I will share with you only those that have worked for me personally.

For example: when I bought a car in April 2017, 92nd gasoline cost 37 rubles per liter. Today, the price is already more than 43 rubles per liter , and the number of kilometers a car travels to fill up at the usual cost is gradually decreasing.

Today I can say for sure: saving gas on manuals is real, and from the moment I tried various recommendations and began to apply the most effective ones, my fuel costs decreased by about 10% .

Considering that monthly gasoline costs amount to 5,000 - 6,000 thousand rubles, I started saving about 500 rubles per month, which is equivalent to 12 liters of gasoline, which I can travel an additional 120-130 kilometers monthly, thanks to the savings.

Features of saving gasoline on mechanics

It is a well-known fact that cars with a manual transmission consume approximately 5-10% less gasoline than those with an automatic transmission. In addition, drivers who drive manuals have a greater impact on gas savings through their actions.

In general, all ways to save gasoline are divided into 2 groups:

1. preliminary preparation of the car;
2. driver actions while driving;

This article was written specifically for those who drive a manual transmission, and therefore we will start with those methods that are directly related to the characteristics of driving on a manual transmission, and then we will move on to ways to optimize the car to save gasoline.

Warming up the car

First of all, you need to make sure that the car warms up for the optimal amount of time without wasting gasoline, because most cars are quite “gluttonous” at idle. The optimal warm-up time for a manual car is: 1-2 minutes in summer, 4-5 minutes in winter . The main thing is not to accelerate to maximum speeds during the first kilometers of the journey.

Some drivers have the habit of warming up their car for 15-20 minutes, especially in winter, while the average gasoline consumption is a liter per hour. This means that just warming up the car takes more than 10 liters of gasoline per month. At the same time, most auto experts agreed that long warm-up does not benefit the car, but only reduces its service life.

Correct gear shifting

The main point in saving fuel on a manual transmission is correct, timely gear shifting. The lower the gear, the more powerful it is and the more fuel it requires. Therefore, the first rule is not to keep transmissions above their threshold speed limit. For example, for most cars, changing from 1st gear to second is recommended at 20 km/h. Make sure that the speedometer needle does not exceed 20 km/h in first gear. As you approach this mark, move to the second. An even more economical option would be to switch to second at around 17-18 km/h. The car will accelerate a little slower, but the gas savings will be significant, considering that we have to accelerate from a stop hundreds of times a day.

Proper operation of the gas pedal

The second most important saving point is the smooth use of gas pressure. First of all, this applies to accelerating a car from a standstill after it has come to a complete stop. The smoother the start, the less gasoline the engine uses for this.

Further acceleration should also be as smooth as possible. When changing gear, do not “press” the gas pedal suddenly, try to increase the pressure gradually . Remember that the optimal speed when driving is from 2000 to 2500, and it is in this interval that the most noticeable gas savings are achieved when driving a manual.

If the traffic is quite slow, try to maintain a smooth rhythm of driving in 1st or 2nd gear, minimizing the occurrence of complete stops. The greatest fuel consumption is during acceleration. Therefore, try to feel the speed of the flow, and instead of stopping and starting again several times, it is better to drive smoothly in first gear, which will be much more economical.

"Gluttonous" brake pedal

It is known that braking a car also requires gasoline consumption, just like acceleration. Many drivers forget about this, making hundreds of unnecessary brake presses a day.

There are two ways to reduce the number of times you use the brake pedal. Firstly, increase the distance to the car in front, so that you do not have to adapt to its driving style, and you can maintain the most uniform speed.

Secondly, stopping only with the brake pedal is not the most economical and practical option. The best way to drive a manual is to master engine braking and combine it with the use of the brake pedal. If you are not familiar with how to properly brake with an engine, then watch this short video tutorial to avoid making mistakes.

Is it possible to ride in neutral?

This is the most controversial issue regarding fuel economy. I’ll say right away that I myself haven’t been driving correctly for a long time. As soon as the red light came on ahead, or the car in front slowed down, I switched to “neutral” and rolled for at least 100-200 meters, thinking that this way I would save gas. However, having understood the issue, I realized that from the point of view of economy, this is not correct.

In neutral, the engine consumes the amount of fuel required to maintain idle speed . And if the gear is engaged and the gas pedal is released, then the supply of fuel to the combustion chamber is stopped until the engine speed reaches the idle level, i.e. The car is in energy saving mode. Therefore, the most effective way to “roll” on the mechanics is engine braking, until it comes to a complete stop.

Of all the elements of fuel economy, engine braking is the most difficult, so don't rush into it until you've fully mastered the proper technique.

We have discussed the main features of saving gasoline on a manual transmission, and following only these recommendations can already reduce fuel consumption by 8-10%. But there are a few more simple recommendations related to the technical part of the car, which will also help you reduce your gasoline costs by about 5%. Go!

Car weight reduction

First of all, it is necessary to rid the car of everything unnecessary. Many drivers neglect this, carrying boxes with tools, a set of tires and much more in the trunk with them that will not be useful to them on the road. The most costly moment when driving a manual is accelerating from a standstill. On the one hand, reducing weight by 30-50 kg does not seem like a significant change, given that the machine itself usually weighs about a ton. But think about the fact that in a month we accelerate a car from a standstill 500-1000 times, and if each time the pushed weight is at least 1 kg less, then in a month the engine will have to accelerate a total of 1000 kg less weight.

Wheel inflation

The tire inflation level is an individual indicator for each car. However, it is important to monitor this level not only visually, but also by periodically measuring the tire pressure using a pump. It is a known fact that underinflated or overinflated tires negatively affect both fuel economy and tire wear.

If the pressure in your wheels is stable, then you need to check and, if necessary, inflate the wheels at least once a week. If one of the tires constantly deflates, then it is better to solve this problem at a tire shop than to pump it up every day.

Improved aerodynamics

The aerodynamics of a car is the level of its resistance to air flow while driving. The more streamlined the car, the less air resistance, which means less gasoline consumption.

It would seem, how can this be influenced? Here are some ways:

Removing the roof will help improve aerodynamics by as much as 10% If you have one, remember the last time you used it? Maybe you don’t need it that much anymore? Then shoot.

You can improve your performance by 5% by keeping the windows closed at high speed. In winter this is not a problem, but in summer, at speeds over 50 km/h, turning on, for example, the air conditioner will be more economical than opening the windows.

Surprisingly, aerodynamics can be improved by about 3% by removing the “fly swatter” from the hood, because this part does not bring a noticeable positive effect.

Car diagnostics

Even if the car has no obvious faults, it still needs to be shown to a mechanic periodically to prevent breakdowns. Optimally - once every 2-3 months. As for fuel economy, the greatest attention should be paid to timely replacement of the air filter .

Of all the elements of a car, the air filter has the greatest impact on fuel consumption, because... affects the degree of oxygen saturation of the burned fuel. If the filter becomes clogged, the combustible mixture enters the internal combustion chambers with a minimum amount of oxygen, and its deficiency is compensated by an increase in gasoline consumption.

For each model, the frequency of changing the air filter is different, but I advise you to change it at least every 10,000 km, because it is not expensive, and you do not need to go to a specialist to replace it. In addition, every 2-3 thousand km the air filter can be shaken out of accumulated dust, which will also have a positive effect on gasoline savings.

Choosing the right route

Many motorists use the same route to work or home for years, without thinking that there may be faster and less congested routes. To do this, I recommend periodically using a navigator , plotting a route in search of the most optimal one, because road congestion depends on many factors and sometimes faster and more convenient routes will appear than your usual one.

We've looked at the most effective ways for manual drivers to save fuel, and by following these few simple tips, you can start saving 10-15% on fuel every month.

Economical driving lessons. How to save fuel during normal driving

Each car has a certain mass. To accelerate it to a certain given speed, it is necessary to expend energy. The faster the acceleration, the more it will be needed. And since energy is stored in fuel, more of it is burned in the engine cylinders.

At constant speed, fuel consumption is relatively less, but since the force of air resistance is proportional to the square of the speed, gasoline consumption increases noticeably at high speeds. It is also necessary to take into account such a characteristic as specific effective fuel consumption. This is the amount of fuel required to produce 1 liter. With. at one o'clock. This indicator reaches its lowest value (approximately 180–220 g/l. s.h.) at 2800–3500 rpm.

Based on the theory, in order to consume less fuel, you need to accelerate less often, not rev the engine to high speeds, and switch to higher gear in a timely manner. The gas pedal must be pressed smoothly to avoid enriching the mixture during acceleration and use the brakes as little as possible. That is, the most economical mode is uniform movement in top gear at low speeds. In automatic transmissions, it is implemented by a computer when the driver selects the economy mode. With “mechanics” you will have to do everything yourself, which, unfortunately, is not always possible.

In the same city, fuel consumption in similar cars for different drivers may differ by 10–20%. If you want to save fuel, start by choosing your route. It is better to drive a little further distance, but do not stop at traffic lights or in traffic jams. This especially helps in large cities. You need to take everything into account - the time of day, day of the week, season, the presence of certain institutions in the area.

Street slalom gives virtually no gain in time. The most rational mode is movement in the general flow. Accelerate smoothly and upshift in a timely manner. For cars equipped with a tachometer, it is better to keep the speed within 2000–3000 rpm. On flat areas you can drive in fifth gear, but at low speeds sometimes the consumption will be higher than in fourth at the same speed. If there is no tachometer, use the speedometer as a guide, switching from 1st to 2nd at 20–30 km/h, from 2nd to 3rd – 40 km/h, from 3rd to 4th – 60 km /h. Sometimes you can use gear shifting, for example, first - second - fourth.

When slowing down on fuel-injected cars and carburetor cars equipped with EHP, use engine braking by taking your foot off the gas pedal. In this case, in a certain speed range (1.5-2 thousand rpm), the electronics turns off the fuel supply. On carburetor cars without EHP, it is more economical to use coasting, that is, driving with the gear turned off if the traffic light ahead is red.

When stopping for long periods in traffic jams or at traffic lights, you can turn off the engine. The general principle of economical driving in the city is to choose the most uniform driving mode, before an obstacle, stop acceleration in advance, switching to coasting or engine braking.

Just like in the city, you need to move evenly along the highway, without unnecessary acceleration and deceleration. The optimal speed, allowing you to get a high average speed and minimal fuel consumption is 90–100 km/h. Increasing it above 100 km/h leads to a noticeable increase in gasoline consumption.

If you often drive outside the city, conduct an experiment: fill up under a traffic jam and record the speedometer readings (or reset the daily mileage readings). At the gas station at your final destination, fill up again to the maximum and calculate the consumption. Next time, change the driving mode (for example, the speed is no higher than 100 km/h) and measure the consumption again. Thus, it is possible to calculate the rational mode for a specific route. If you need to “hang on” to a gas station, take the right lane and drive at minimum speed in top gear.

When accelerating outside the city, you need to get into top gear as quickly as possible and, accordingly, to “cruising” speed.

On long descents, use the engine braking mode, and on carburetor cars without EPH, roll up, but do not turn off the engine! Do not use coasting on slippery roads, as well as on steep slopes and in the mountains.

Only a serviceable car can provide minimum fuel consumption. It increases due to a number of malfunctions in the power supply, ignition and chassis systems of the car. Part of the power (and fuel!) is consumed to ensure the operation of additional equipment. For example, an air conditioner operating at maximum performance can increase gasoline consumption by 1-2 l/100 km. Therefore, at low speeds (up to 60 km/h) it is sometimes more profitable to open the windows and not turn on the air conditioning.

Each of these components makes its own small contribution. But if in total you manage to save only 10–15%, this will be exactly the 40–50 kopecks by which gasoline prices have risen.

As the speed increases, gasoline consumption also increases, and the higher the speed, the greater the “appetite.”

Should you change gears?

During an experiment conducted on a Citroen Grand C4 Picasso, the theoretical principles were confirmed. Up to 5th gear inclusive, at a speed of 60 km/h, gasoline consumption decreased, but in 6th gear at the same speed it increased. Therefore, driving at too low speeds is impractical.