Although your 4WD probably doesn’t brag about itself as having unbeatable fuel economy, and when compared to some of the ultra-compact European city cars economy figures, you will probably want to sit down and take a deep breath. However no matter how thirsty your 4WD might seem, when you are on a remote area track with all the essentials onboard you will laugh at just how single use those compact city cars start to seem.

Whilst many 4WD’s include large capacity tanks onboard and with constant developments and innovations with fuel management systems and enhanced performance from computer controlled systems that intelligently reduce fuel consumption, you are more than likely going to eventually get into a situation where you will be running on the smell of an oily rag to get you to your destination.

With these blood pressure raising long trips in remote area’s you should take on board some professional advice to not only get better range out of your fuel tank but to also save you big $$$ at the bowser!

The first thing you can do to ensure you are getting the best fuel mileage possible is to make sure you have recently serviced your 4WD, this means fresh oils in your gearbox differentials and engine, using the correct grades of oil in the correct quantities along with new fan belts and fresh coolant in your radiator. By having clean and good quality fluids + oils in your 4WD you ensure that your vehicles internal gears have the least amount of drag on them. Not only does a freshly serviced system increase the performance of your vehicle giving much better feedback when you need the extra power, but it will also mean that you need to put in less right boot to get your 4WD going!

One of the next best ways to improve your fuel economy which is often overlooked, is to check your tyre pressures, these are the last point of contact from your motor, and running incorrect pressures will guarantee your vehicle is working harder than it needs to resulting in worse performance per litre than you would get if you simply  checked your pressures (at least once a day on a long trip) this simple tip alone could save you thousands in fuel bills on a lap around Australia and could also help you to avoid dangerous situations as braking and steering will be dramatically affected by having the incorrect pressures.

One of the easiest ways to ensure you are running the correct pressures on your tyres is to grab a Thumper MAX and 3 in1 tyre deflator tool, combined you will be able to re-inflate your tyres quick smart, dump excess air out almost as quick as well as just checking your pressures with the integrated bourdon tube gauge.

Losing the extra pounds will no only make you feel better, but you will put less strain on your entire setup! Just like with your body, by removing excess weight will not only make your vehicle perform better and get stuck offroad less, but you will also find you will use a lot less fuel than when you are approaching your maximum GVM!

When choosing additions to your setup you should consider the weight of your new accessories to ensure you get the best fuel economy performance. In addition to this you must also consider you’re vehicles aerodynamics, whilst you may not be an aerodynamics engineer, the more gear you add to your vehicles exterior along with the more gear you strap to the outside your vehicle you will increase the drag your vehicle encounters, meaning that you use much more fuel than you reasonably should!

Finally, the most important thing you can do to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy is by paying attention to your driving style. Starting with keeping a steady RPM just around your vehicles peak torque range. This steady RPM with minimum shifts will ensure your vehicle isnt laboring to accelerate or wasting fuel by repeatedly increasing and decreasing your speed.

By consciously attempting to keep your speed steady particularly in an automatic gearbox you will make sure your vehicle stays as efficient as possible reducing unnecessary gear changes or unnecessary RPM’s this also counts in traffic, one of our biggest problems with traffic is the desire to tailgate the vehicle in front, but by giving yourself plenty of stopping distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front, you are not being driven by their erratic driving style meaning you can maintain a steady speed and course without braking on downhills and giving it heaps of right boot on the uphills.

The last tip we have for getting the best possible fuel economy is by using cruise control if your vehicle is equipped, this will ensure your vehicle stays at optimal RPMs and in the right gear for the conditions, with one exception being when you are driving in hilly country, where you are better off easing off a little on the uphills, and letting your vehicle accelerate with gravity and a steady accelerator on the downhill leg.

With all of these tips and tricks you should be on your way to getting better mileage for your next long distance trip in your 4WD regardless if you have a “high efficiency” modern diesel or an older natural aspirated petrol motor.  

To find out more about excellent gear options to add to your 4WD for more comfort on the road it’s a great idea to visit www.4WDSupacentre.com.au or call us on 1800 88 39 64 for the best value gear!