Have you noticed that fuel consumption has increased dramatically, and now you spend a lot of money on gas every week? It’s important to understand what caused the negative changes since the reasons can be important and influence a car’s performance. Here are some factors that increase fuel consumption several times, which are important to know buying used car or unknown automobile from salvage car auction.
Driving Manner
The most obvious reason is related to aggressive driving styles. If, for example, the car was driven by an impatient driver who loves active acceleration and braking, then you should be prepared for an increase in fuel consumption.
The fact is that during sharp braking, the work that went into acceleration turns into useless braking thermal energy. As a result, the fuel that was previously spent on movement is now spent without it. Therefore, it is better to coast and press the brake as little as possible for efficient and economical use of gasoline.
Fuel Quality
The next standard reason for a sharp increase in consumption is the use of low-quality fuel. If the gasoline or diesel in the chemical warehouse does not meet the regulatory indicators, the fuel will be burned independently. As a result, the engine control unit will try to eliminate the problem and will begin to enrich the mixture with a large supply of fuel.
In order not to visit gas stations more often than necessary, it’s better not to be lazy and fill up only at gas stations of large and popular brands. Also, cheap engine oil of poor quality and untimely replacement of this fluid can affect fuel consumption.
Issues With The Software Solution
Many factors affect how a modern engine works. The motor itself is controlled by a computer. Depending on what the sensors show, the program changes the operation of the executive mechanisms for the current driving mode, for example, the frequency and timing of the injectors, the angle of ignition, fuel pressure, and others.
If the readings from the failed sensor show incorrect data, then the electronic control unit for the engine selects the wrong program, which causes incorrect combustion of the air-fuel mixture and extreme consumption of gasoline. You can understand that one of the sensors needs to be replaced based on the check that has lit up on the dashboard. In this case, it’s necessary to visit the service center for computer diagnostics.
Fuel Filter
Increased fuel consumption isn’t always caused by problems with electronics. Most often, the reason is banal. If it consists, it is likely a dirty fuel filter.
If the filter is clogged, the pressure drops, and the electronic control unit increases the opening time of the nozzles so that the fuel supply returns to normal. It just seems that there is nothing wrong with it. In fact, with a dirty fuel filter, the pressure changes very often and is unstable, so the computer simply doesn’t have time to make adjustments, which leads to an unstable supply of fuel to the combustion chamber and extreme consumption.
Air Filter
A clogged air filter can also cause increased fuel consumption. The lack of air, which is required for full combustion of fuel, is the only constructive feature of internal combustion piston engines. Turbocharging solves this problem in modern engines.
It becomes much more difficult for the engine to draw in air if the air filter is clogged with dust and dirt. Due to this, the unit is more heavily loaded and consumes many times more fuel. Therefore, it is recommended to change the air filter at each engine oil change.
Exhaust System Problems
For the internal combustion engine to work correctly, the exhaust system must be free of obstacles. If the exhaust channels of the cylinder head are clogged or the catalysts are blocked, this creates resistance to the exhaust gasses. Therefore, the engine has to spend more energy on the output of fuel combustion products. As a result, the unit burns more gasoline to maintain operating power.
In the End
Any driver should keep an eye on the fuel consumption level since it may indicate quite serious issues with the vehicle’s technical state. To avoid such problems, keep the filters clean, analyze your driving style, and always refer to the car’s dashboard lights or parameters. Also, it’s extremely important to buy high-quality fuel from a well-known brand. Keep these simple recommendations in mind, and you won’t face significant problems with increased fuel consumption.