Fuel Saving Tips on Long Journeys

As fuel prices continue to rise in Australia, many travellers and backpackers will need to dig deeper and deeper into their pockets to drive their campervans and cars across the vast lands of Australia. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Here are some really simple fuel saving tips that will help you get the most fuel out of your campervan or car on long Australian road trips.

1. Fuel Efficient Driving

Sounds too easy, right? But the way you drive your campervan or vehicle affects how often you have to visit the gas or petrol station.

- Drive smoothly, with as less sudden braking or accelerating as possible. This evens out fuel use and improves its efficiency. In a big heavy campervan, starting from a stand still uses a significant amount of fuel.

- Reduce your average speed, If you reduce your average speed from 110kph to 80kph, you will use approximately 25% less fuel on a long road trip. Think about it, at lower speeds there is less air resistance!

- Aerodynamics. Shutting all the windows on a long journey will make your campervan more aerodynamic and reduce fuel consumption. Don’t put thinks on the roof unless your really have to, and if you do secure objects in an aerodynamic way. I.e. Don’t tie your surfboard upright! It’ll be a giant air brake!

- Changing Gear In a petrol or LPG campervan or car, try to change gear without the engine going over 3000 RPM. In a diesel campervan or car change at about 2000-2500rpm. Make sure you accelerate gently and change gear smoothly.

- Relax! allot of drivers try to get up to the legal speed as quickly as possible. They don’t realise they are just wasting fuel, think about how much harder you have to press the gas, and for what?? When driving in the city almost 50% of the fuel used by your campervan or car goes towards accelerating it, so relax!

2. Car & Campervan Weight

The fact is, the heavier your car or campervan, the more fuel is needed to accelerate and maintain constant speeds. So the, the less junk in your vehicle, the less fuel needed.

- Only carry necessary luggage. Sorry girls, those 10 pairs of shoes are NOT needed. Guys, you don’t need that many shorts!! Things like Water & Extra fuel are critical in Australia, an esky full of Beer and Goon is not!

- Small Gas Cans if you own a campervan, get a small LPG can rather than a big one, they weigh 3 or 4 kgs less! If you are renting a campervan ask your provider if they can provide you with a small one.

3. Tyre Pressure & Fuel

- Check your tyres. If your renting a campervan, make sure your rental provider has pumped up the tyres to their ideal level. We highly recommend that you check for yourself though. The correct pressures will be noted in your handbook

4. Air Conditioning and Fuel Consumption

Use your Air Con sparingly. A car or campervans air conditioning can increase fuel consumption by more than 20% on long journeys and by up to 25% in the summer in Australia. If it’s cool enough (which will be rare), use the standard ventilation on your car or campervan instead of the air con.

Once the car or campervan gets cool enough, you should switch off the air conditioner and let the fan rotate the cool air around the cabin. Closing the windows at high speed can save you fuel because open windows causes extra air resistance and thus affecting the fuel range.

Got another tip? Disagree with ours? Comment below!