Controlling Your Acceleration

Improving Your Fuel Economy – Controlling Your Acceleration

The light turns green and you have the pedal to the metal. In a frenzy of tire squealing and an impressive surge of torque the car leaps forward, forcing your head back into the headrest. The speedometer screams skyward, and in a Newton-like reaction, the gas gage plummets toward the earth. Your impressive jaunt to the speed limit has wreaked havoc on your fuel economy.

The reality is that 99% of us don’t drive sports cars or even cars that are remotely sporty in nature. The majority of vehicles sold are trucks, family sedans, and compact economy cars. None of these popular vehicles are sporty in nature, yet many drivers feel the need to burn as much hydrocarbon as possible when they are accelerating. Perhaps it is the anemic performance of these vehicles which triggers this type of response, or maybe it is the strong desire to become a race car driver, regardless of the reasoning behind it, nailing your throttle full-on is the number one fastest way to kill your fuel economy.

The Mechanics behind Fuel Consumption and Throttle Response

If you give the throttle everything you’ve got the engine prepares itself to be sent into overdrive. The computer sends more air and fuel into the cylinders, which in turn creates a larger, more volatile explosion where the result is forward thrust, and lots of it.

Gently press the throttle, however, and the computer will send in conservative amounts of air and fuel, resulting in a smaller explosion and a lower amount of thrust. However, as your vehicle gains momentum, you will still reach whatever speed you are trying to hit. It will just take you a bit longer to do so.

It is important to note that your engine becomes thirstier when it is operating higher in the RPM range- the engine is further into its power band and as soon as you touch the throttle it is ready to provide a large surge in power.

The Skinny on Trimming Your Fuel Consumption

The reality is that the more you control your throttle the better your fuel economy will be. Have you ever heard the saying that your mood will have the biggest impact on your economy? It’s because when people are angry they tend to drive more aggressively, accelerating harder and stopping faster.

Want to go further on a take of gas? Control your acceleration. There is no single way that is more effective at improving fuel economy and to make that $3.00/gallon get you a little father.