What Makes a Car Fuel Efficient?

Currently, there’s a lot of talk about having a car that’s fuel efficient. This isn’t a bad thing, and it can save people a lot of money at the pump and help the environment. It can be the deciding factor in whether or not a person will get a Ford Explorer in Costa Mesa.

When it comes to fuel efficiency, most people know that it involves how many miles a Ford Fiesta in Costa Mesa can go either in the city or on the highway on a tank of gas. They know that it will play into how much they’ll have to pay each month, but they may not know all the factors that go into making a car fuel efficient.

When it comes to finding the numbers that determine fuel efficiency, those are often determined by the EPA. They put cars through a battery of tests to find this number. If a person has ever been curious about the exact factors that go into making a car fuel efficient, then check out the list below.

Aerodynamics

This feature has to do with how the air travels around a car. As it moves forward, it has to push the air out of the way. Despite the fact that air seems thin because it’s invisible, it can actually be quite thick. If a person has ever held their hand out the window while driving down the road, they’ll know how powerful the wind can be.

When a person’s hand is upright, there’s a lot more surface for the air to push against—and push it will. When the hand is held flat, the air can glide over the surface smoothly. The same principle applies to a car.

It’s not hard to tell the difference between a car and a truck. One is much larger than the other, but both of them can be aerodynamic in their own way. A truck is usually often more powerful and heavy, so it can push the air more effectively than a car. However, with the right angles and slopes, a car generally gets better gas mileage because the air flows over it easier, which means it doesn’t have to work as hard to move down the road.

Size and Weight

Speaking of size and weight, both of these play into how fuel efficient a car can be. Most trucks and SUVs are much larger and heavier than a car. They can be aerodynamic, but since they are bulkier, they require more energy to get them moving. This means that they will use more gas to move them down the road than a car will need.

With the advancements in technology, manufacturers are looking for ways to make their vehicles lighter but not compromise strength. Having frames made out of durable material that is lightweight means that trucks and SUVs can still be tough, but they may also be lighter and, therefore, get better gas mileage.

Engine Type

The type of engine a vehicle has also plays a role in how fuel efficient it is. Diesel engines are more fuel efficient than gas engines. A car with a gas engine but a standard transmission will also get better gas mileage. In addition, the size of the engine will also determine how fuel efficient it is. For example, cars with four cylinders will be more efficient than a car with a V6 or V8.

The amount of power produced by these types of engines varies considerably, and the more power a vehicle needs, the more fuel it will take. However, if a person needs a truck to pull a trailer, then it needs to have enough power. With the advancements in technology, larger, more powerful engines can get better gas mileage, but they may not be able to be as efficient as a lighter car with a smaller, less powerful engine.

Speed

How fast a person goes will also have an impact on how fuel efficient their car is. When it comes to driving on the highway, maintaining a constant speed is more beneficial than speeding up and slowing down throughout the trip. This is often why when fuel efficiency is displayed for a car, it shows two numbers, the city miles per gallon and the highway miles per gallon. A vehicle is more efficient on the highway.

When the EPA conducts their speed test, it is often done at the same speed for every vehicle, and that is 55 miles per hour. Since the vast majority of people either drive above or below this speed, it may not give them an accurate idea of how fuel efficient their car is. However, if they find themselves on the highway and they go 55 miles per hour, they can probably get really close to the miles per gallon that is listed for the car.

Starting and stopping is incredibly difficult on a car. The most fuel is wasted when a car excels, so if a person has a habit of smashing down on the gas pedal to get a good start from the stopping position, they are needlessly wasting gas. This is true in all vehicles, but it can certainly have a bigger impact on vehicles with poor aerodynamics and that are heavier.

Axle Ratio

This has a major impact on how fuel efficient a car can be. If a vehicle has a smaller degree of axle ratio, it has the ability to run smoother for a distance, and it will get really good fuel efficiency. Most people don’t have the option of choosing what their axle ratio will be, but if a person can get a car with an axle ratio of 3:1 or lower, they’ll be getting really good gas mileage.

When it comes to getting a car, most people are aware of fuel efficiency. They know that they want to get a vehicle that gets good gas mileage because it is beneficial for their wallet and for the environment. If they didn’t know exactly what made a car fuel efficient before, they do now.

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