Adrian Steel's Top Tips to Save Fuel

Here at Adrian Steel, our goal is to provide customers with the most innovative upfits that maximize van efficiency. We maximize van efficiency by producing high quality, useful storage solutions that will save you time and money in the long run. But, we realize that another important aspect of van efficiency is fuel efficiency. Below, we’ve compiled a list of our top tips to save fuel while on the job.

Tips to Save Fuel

Track fuel data – The only way to truly know if your van is running efficiently, you need to carefully keep track of your fuel consumption and mpg. It may also be helpful to record idle time, average speed, and incidents of hard braking to compare the data over time. You may notice trends that affect your fuel efficiency, and when these trends are identified, you can adjust your habits to maximize gas mileage.
Consider buying a new work van – If you currently drive a gas-guzzler, it may be beneficial to do a little math. Take the fuel data that you’ve collected over time and compare the numbers with the cost of buying a new van. A new vehicle with better gas mileage can end up saving you more money in the long run. New vans, like the 2014 Transit Connect, have much better fuel efficiency than the dinosaur that you may be holding onto.
Map your route effectively – Instead on relying on your GPS to get you to your destination in the most efficient way possible, take a minute to draw up a route before you leave. When planning a route, take into account the number of stops, speed limit, and number of left turns on each road. Surprisingly, it can often be more fuel efficient to drive a few hundred feet out of the way in order to avoid making a difficult left turn! If a highway is an option, always opt for that route because the fewer stops, the better gas mileage you will get. Use a GPS on-the-go to monitor traffic backups and re-route if necessary.
Be mindful of your driving habits – This tip to save fuel may be a no-brainer, but it’s important to remember that driving the speed limit doesn’t just keep you and other drivers safer, it also increases your van’s fuel efficiency. Additionally, instead of slamming on the breaks when you approach a stop, use your van’s existing kinetic energy to coast to a stop. Also avoid idling at all costs to save money. According to the U.S Department of Transportation, medium-duty trucks waste 6.7% of their fuel while idling each year, adding up to a total of 2.5 billion gallons of fuel!