Both fleet managers and truck drivers are often concerned about fuel efficiency. Automakers have improved over time at maximising gas mileage in the cars they manufacture. Still, the effect of engine age on fuel efficiency is a frequently asked question by fleet managers about their vehicles. Although a commercial truck manufactured in 1999 is probably not going to get the exact mileage as one made in 2024, this is mainly due to the manufacturing process rather than the engine’s age. Nonetheless, fleet managers and drivers of commercial vehicles are becoming increasingly concerned about fuel efficiency and car ECU remapping.
Does the Fuel Efficiency of a Vehicle Change With Time?
In other words, a car’s fuel efficiency may fluctuate as time passes. An engine’s fuel efficiency will gradually decline with age. Nevertheless, the majority of the time, your car’s age has less connection with this drop in fuel efficiency than it does with the number of miles you’ve travelled plus the presence of worn-out or defective parts in the car engine. Over time, several factors affect fuel efficiency, but the majority of these effects are not directly related to engine age. We’ll look at a few variables that may affect corporate vehicles’ fuel efficiency in the sections that follow.
Underinflated Tires:
You’ve undoubtedly heard that maintaining correctly inflated tyres will assist reduce fuel consumption, but are you aware of the full extent of the impact which tyres that are underinflated can have? For every PSI decline in tyre pressure, your car’s fuel efficiency could drop by 0.2%. Make sure your tyres are consistently correctly inflated by employing a dependable gauge to check the pressure at least once a month. As driving may cause the pressure to rise, you should do this if your tires are cold.
Unclean Spark Plugs:
Spark plug wear or dirtiness is an annual occurrence of a vehicle’s declining fuel efficiency as it ages. It’s because worn spark plugs have an impact on how your car’s combustion chamber burns fuel. Fuel is wasted when petrol goes unburned due to worn spark plugs. You’ll go fewer miles per gallon of fuel as a result.
Oxygen Sensor Problem:
Although oxygen sensors usually survive the whole life of a car, malfunctioning oxygen sensors can cause false alerts. This implies that additional gasoline will have to be added to the system unnecessarily because the sensors are going to interpret the engine to be running low on fuel. That extra gasoline regrettably goes to waste whenever this occurs, making it anything but fuel-efficient.
An Obstructed Air Filter:
Car air filters are rather sensitive devices that might sustain damage over time. The dust and pollen that these air filters have prevented from getting into the car’s fuel system will eventually lead them to become clogged. These air filters choke your engine & obstruct proper airflow whenever they get clogged. Fuel efficiency suffers as a result.
Worn Leaf Springs:
Another important component that seriously reduces your car’s fuel efficiency is worn-out leaf springs. These springs are an essential component of the suspension mechanism of your car. Your car may bounce & swing more than usual as the parts get worn out or damaged. Extra power is needed for this additional movement, leading to higher fuel consumption. Try the easy bounce test to see how well your leaf springs are doing.
Apply pressure to the front end of your car and then let go. It’s time to take out your spring if it bounces over twice. To make sure the spring deflection is within the appropriate range, you may also check it. There is a straightforward formula that defines the deflection limit for the load on linear springs. Simply multiply the pace by the spring’s length. Your deflection limit could be 2,400 pounds, for example, if you had a 12-inch linear spring which had a 200-pound-per-inch deflection rate.
Inadequate Aerodynamics:
The aerodynamics of your car are another important aspect which might affect how fuel-efficient it is. Your car will encounter fewer obstacles when travelling through the air if it is more aerodynamic. It also means that less effort is required from your engines to sustain speed. On the other hand, a car with inadequate aerodynamics will be forced to use more fuel to compensate for the higher drag.
Your car’s aerodynamics can be enhanced in some ways, including reducing ride height, installing a front air dam or rear spoiler, closing your windows as well as a sunroof when driving at high speeds. Simple adjustments such as keeping your car neat and waxed or getting rid of extra outside attachments will help cut down on drag and increase fuel economy.
Conclusion:
This recent abrupt or inexplicable decrease in your vehicle’s fuel efficiency may have less to do with your engine’s ageing and more to do with the normal use of internal components. Regular upkeep is essential to increasing the energy efficiency in your fleet by identifying issues of this nature before they inflict excessive harm, particularly in terms of money.
