If you’re anything like me, you’ll be paying a lot of attention to the price of fuel right now. I’ve got an app on my phone and when I can, I’m seeking out the best price I can.

Like a lot of people, I’m able to do a day here and there working from home but most of my job is spent hands on out at the You Yangs Proving Ground or journeying out to the back of beyond testing vehicles.

This means I do a lot of driving. And then, like the rest of you, there’s all the driving I do with the family and on weekends. From grocery shopping to visiting friends, sports and more. Unfortunately, public transport doesn’t work for me.

The mileage adds up.

Over the many years I’ve been working in vehicle development, I’ve spent a lot of time driving in some of the most remote locations on the planet. The kind of places where there are no petrol stations, and you’ve got to carry everything you need; you learn to be frugal and drive carefully. I’ve also done a lot of economy drives with a variety of vehicles and compared them.

All this has helped to make me one of those annoying friends who likes to share their wisdom at barbeques, especially these days. I’m sure my friends find my driving tips helpful.

Search the internet and there are hundreds and thousands of stories giving the same kinds of tips when it comes to saving fuel behind the wheel. But where I think these generic tips sometimes miss the mark is when it comes to subtleties that come from having lived a life of driving and testing cars. And that’s what I want to do with this story; fill in some of the gaps.

Here are some practical ways, based on my experience, to get more out of every litre.

How does the way I drive affect fuel consumption?

Aggressive acceleration and heavy braking will burn through fuel fast. Instead, keep your eyes up, read the traffic early and aim for smooth, gentle inputs. Accelerate steadily. Brake gently.

And don't fall for the old myth about shifting into neutral on downhills to save fuel. It doesn't work, and it's dangerous. When you select D, your transmission will select the most efficient gear for your speed. When you lift off the accelerator, the engine control shuts off the fuel supply where conditions allow, saving fuel whenever possible.

If your vehicle has it, consider using Eco mode. It optimises acceleration and transmission response for fuel economy and reduces the load on your engine by slowing climate control fans and softening cruise control acceleration.

Same goes for stop/start. If your vehicle has it, make sure you leave it enabled; it's been calibrated to balance cabin comfort with fuel conservation. It works, so let it do its job.

When you’re on the highway, engage cruise control and let your vehicle manage the accelerator, brakes and transmission because it will deliver smoother, more efficient driving than your right foot can. It's one of the most effective fuel-saving tools your vehicle already has. If you’re driving in hilly terrain, disengage cruise control to prevent it from working harder to maintain the set speed. If you’re comfortable going a little slower up hill, then back off the throttle and then regain that speed when you head down the hill.

Does air-conditioning use more fuel?

It does. Running the air-con places additional load on the engine. But comfort matters especially when it's 40 degrees outside.

The Ford Ranger and Everest feature 1 a climate control system with a variable-stroke compressor, which automatically adjusts output to match demand. That means less compressor cycling, less engine load and better fuel consumption than a fixed system.

Use Auto mode as often as you can because it enables the system's fuel-saving strategies and keeps the cabin comfortable with the least amount of energy.

If your vehicle has manual climate control, use the recirculation feature on hot days. Drawing air from inside the cabin and recirculating it is far more efficient than constantly cooling hot air from outside.

Park in the shade when you can. A cooler cabin means less work for the air-con when you start up. No shade? A good quality sunshade can help keep the interior cooler, reducing the amount of work the air-con needs to do to cool the cabin, and every little bit helps.

Can tyre pressure really affect how much fuel I use?

Under-inflated or worn tyres increase rolling resistance which means your engine has to work harder to maintain speed. That costs fuel and it'll wear your tyres out faster too, becoming a double whammy. Check your tyre pressures regularly against the manufacturer's recommendation (you'll usually find this on a placard on the door jamb).

And if you're replacing tyres, choose carefully. The tyres fitted to your vehicle have been specifically selected and tuned to balance fuel economy and performance. Non-standard aftermarket tyres can significantly degrade your fuel economy. So, don’t necessarily fit chunky mud terrain tyres to your 4x4 when you spend 90% of your time driving on bitumen.

Does extra weight on my vehicle increase fuel consumption?

This one's both obvious and tough for 4WD owners. A bull bar, driving lights, UHF antenna, roof racks, an extra spare, the weight adds up fast. Every kilogram makes the engine work harder when accelerating or climbing hills.

The best thing you can do is remove what you're not actively using, meaning if you’re not heading off-road anytime soon then you probably don’t need that recovery kit, traction boards or spade in your vehicle. So, empty those rear drawers, and take the 12-volt fridge out of the boot if it's not needed, and if you’re not towing, it’s a good idea to remove the tow hitch and don’t just store it in the vehicle as that defeats the purpose, right.

Everything you bolt on or carry inside your vehicle is adding weight and adding to your fuel bill.

How do aftermarket accessories affect my vehicle's aerodynamics?

Most will create additional drag and that means more fuel, especially at highway speeds. The same goes for bulky gear in the tray or on the roof. 2 If you're not heading off-road this weekend, there's no need to drive around looking like you are. Yes, taking down a rooftop tent is a hassle, but if it's sitting up there for the school run, it's costing you fuel through extra weight and drag. And the same goes for the roof rack. Even an empty roof rack creates significant drag at highway speeds, so consider removing it until your next adventure.

How does regular servicing affect fuel economy?

Wheels out of alignment, a clogged air filter, old engine oil; these are the kinds of things that quietly force your vehicle to work harder and burn more fuel. Ensuring your vehicle is regularly serviced will pick up on all of them.

Every litre counts

None of these tips require a mechanical engineering degree or an expensive modification. Most are habits; things you can start doing on your next drive. And they add up. Keep your tyres right, drive smoothly, use the modes and tech your vehicle already has, and you'll get more out of every tank. Your fuel bill doesn't have to be what it is. A few smart changes and you're back in control.

Tim Postgate is a Ranger Super Duty vehicle integration engineer with product development.

Disclaimers:

¹ Not all vehicle features are available on all variants or in all markets. See your local market Ford representative for confirmation.

²Ranger roof load limits of 350kg static and dynamic 80kg (Raptor only) and 85kg (other Ranger models), include weight of roof accessories. Roof cargo loaded should be reduced as necessary to account for accessory weight. Load must be evenly distributed on the crossbars. See Owner’s Manual for details.