12 Tips to Improve Diesel Fuel Mileage

Even with diesel fuel prices dropping over the past few weeks, the price is still closer to $4 per gallon than $3, which means any opportunity to save money when fueling with your Multi Service Fuel Card is a welcome one. Obviously diesel fuel mileage in a truck doesn't vary drastically from truck to truck and driver to driver, but these 12 simple tips can save money for you and your fleet.

1. Turn your engine off. Excessive warm-up times can really sap the diesel fuel used, so avoid idling to help save fuel.
2. Use shore power when you can. This is also commonly known as truckstop electrification, and it allows drivers to plug in rather than idling and help to cool the vehicle while stopped. It’s estimated that shower power can save as much as $3,240 annually!
3. Avoid revving the engine. Get to your next gear slowly rather than as quickly as possible. It might be a little less fun, but it’s also a lot lighter on the wallet.
4. Find your engine’s sweet spot and run with it. Once you achieve your cruising speed, operating in the peak torque zone gives you the best possible horsepower and diesel fuel mileage.
5. Use your air conditioner as sparingly as possible. Running the air uses fuel, so if you can avoid using it, do so to save some money.
6. Anticipate upcoming traffic lights. Avoiding a complete stop can help to save fuel. If you can see the light is about to turn green and you can safely just slow down enough without stopping, you’ll use less fuel.
7. Maintain an extended following distance. The farther back you are from the vehicle ahead of you, the less likely you’ll have to make stops. And stopping less means prevent unnecessary acceleration due to braking.
8. Lower your average highway speed. This goes against the idea of getting there quicker, but every mile per hour over 55 lowers your fuel economy by 0.1 miles per gallon.
9. Don’t punch the throttle. Use smooth, steady fuel acceleration in order to avoid fuel burn spikes.
10. Utilize your cruise control. Maintaining a consistent speed through cruise control allows you to avoid using throttle to climb hills.
11. If possible, use truckstops at the top of hills. Stopping at the top of a hill allows you to ease back on to the highway downhill, which requires less fuel. Use your Multi Service Fuel Card truckstop locator for alternatives.
12. Avoid accelerating needlessly while not using cruise control. When approaching the top of a hill, let the truck’s momentum carry it over in order to avoid hitting the throttle too much.

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