Profile of oil industry and fuel saving tips
- Part 2 -

Indian Oil Corporation *

A Petrol pump in Imphal City as on July 20 2013 :: Pix - Deepak Oinam

Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi dedicated the Unit II of OTPC Power Plant at Palatana, Tripura, on December 1,2014, to the Nation. The 726.6 MW gas- based power plant of ONGC Tripura Power Company, having two independent units of 363.3 MW each, is one of the biggest Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects of the World. The total investment in the power project, gas pipelines, oil wells and transmission line etc. is about Rs. 10,000 crore, which is the single largest investment ever in the entire North Eastern Region.

For incentivizing exploration and production in North Eastern Region, 40% subsidy on gas operations has been extended to the private companies operating in the region as well. This provision of, level playing field is expected to boost exploration activities by private operators in the region, increase gas production and enhance the level of economic activities in the region.

Pre-feasibility studies have been initiated to lay down product pipelines in North-East Region from Numaligarh to Imphal and Guwahati to Silchar, with a view to ensure uninterrupted supply of Petroleum Products.

Now let us consider some Good Driving Habits which will enable us to save fuel in our day to day driving-

1) Drive between 45-55 Km/H: Drive slow and steady. The faster you go, the more wind resistance your vehicle will face. If you go at speeds above 60 Km/H, you will waste petrol. Tests on Indian cars prove that you can get up to 40 % extra mileage at 45-55 Km/H as against 80 Km/H.

2) Avoid accelerating or decelerating unnecessarily. Avoid banking by anticipating stops and curves well in advance. Tests show that a reduction in speed leads to no appreciable rise in commuting time. Much less than what most people think.

3) Keep your engine healthy: Tests on a large number of cars prove that you can save as much as 6% by tuning your car regularly. If your engine emits black smoke, has poor pulling power or consumes large quantities of oil, get it checked immediately at a reputed garage. A delay, may prove more expensive in terms of petrol and oil as compared to the cost of an overhaul.

Use of bi-metallic spark plugs saves over 1.5% fuel and reduces exhaust emissions too. Get your car serviced at every 5000 kms.

4) Drive in the Correct Gear: Incorrect gear shifting can lead to as much as 20% increase in fuel consumption. Start your car in the 1st gear only, except if you are in a muddy patch or going downhill then engage the 2nd gear. For city driving, change to a higher gear when you are sure the engine will not struggle. Get into top gear as soon as possible. Use same gear for uphill and downhill journey.

5) Don't wait for your car to warm up: Instead, drive in low gear till the engine warms up. Use choke briefly only when necessary. At 10°C and below, your fuel consumption per kilometer doubles when you make trips of 5 kms or less. So combine trips. Do not park a car so that you have to reverse with a cold engine. This will consume more fuel. Install engine-heating system (in cold regions) in your car if it does not have one.

6) Good Braking Habits: Stop-and-go driving wastes fuel. When you slam on the brakes, a lot of useful energy is wasted in the form of heat. A good driver always anticipates stops. Test wheels for free rotation when your car is being serviced. Binding of brakes restricts free wheel movement and the engine consumes more petrol in order to overcome resistance. Check wheel alignment at regular intervals.

7) Keep your Foot off the Clutch: Use clutch only when you change gears. Riding the clutch causes loss of energy and damages clutch-linings. Use your handbrake when stopped on an upgrade and don't forget to release it when restarting. Don't manipulate the clutch and accelerator to stay stationary because it wastes fuel.

8) Clean Air Filter Regularly: Air filter prevents dust from Fouling the engine. Dust causes rapid wear of engine components and increases fuel consumption. Cylinder bores wear out 45 times faster in engines without air-cleaners. Clean air filters at every time-up.

9) Watch Your Tyre Pressure: Under inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, which leads to higher petrol consumption. Tests show that a 25% decrease in tyre pressure can cost you 5-10% more on petrol and 25% on tyre life. Use radial tyres for 3-7% fuel economy, longer tyre life and greater riding comfort.

10) When you stop your car, stop engine: Always keep your car ready to start. Keep the battery, dynamo, self-starter and fan-belt in good condition. This will ensure a quick start whenever you need it.

11) Use the Recommended grade of oil: Check the car manual and oil manufacturer's recommendations, before using any particular grade of oil. Always use multi-grade oil equivalent to SPCC/SGCC type for added benefits. Engine oil that is thicker than the recommended oil can cause 2% increase in fuel consumption. Change oil filter along with engine oil.

12) Plan Your Route: Rush hour, or stop-and-go traffic, can waste fuel excessively. You will get more mileage from each litre if you take a less congested route, even though it is slightly longer. Fuel consumption in a highly congested road can be double the normal.

13) Reduce Loads: Unnecessary loads increase fuel consumption. A reduction of weight by 50 kg can lead up to 2% saving in fuel, when driving in the city. Remember that overhead racks increase wind resistance leading to higher fuel consumption.

14) Share Your car-for car pools: Look for people who go in the same direction as you. You can share your car and the costs.

Concluded