Filling up with biodiesel: good or bad?
Despite what some people think, four wheelers are some of the original environmentalists. For decades our pastime, our passion, and in many cases our livelihood has brought us face to face with the environment—in all it’s mud-soaked, sand covered, boulder strewn glory—more often than most.
We are living, breathing, wheeling proof that conservation and protection go hand in hand with responsible access, usage, and enjoyment.
Those who get out and enjoy the natural environment are indirectly protecting it, whether they know it or not. Because the second we stop exploring and photographing, wheeling and hiking, camping and spending time with family and friends in the great outdoors is the second we start to lose it–to industry, to conservationists, to development, to government.
But experiencing the environment in our four wheel drive vehicles—our rugged, lovingly maintained and dutifully abused four wheel drive vehicles—has sometimes made all of us targets for those who would prefer to see the great outdoors fenced in, locked up, over-protected, and kept behind gates and bylaws. As a community of enthusiasts, we’ve lost a lot of ground while treading ever more lightly.
Add to this the current focus on the climate change and greenhouse gas emissions and it’s clear that four wheelers are going to have to do more to protect our right to access and enjoy the great outdoors the way we enjoy. It’s no longer enough to organise trail cleanup days, to support reforestation initiatives, to assist in off-highway search and rescue operations, or to drive responsibly when on trail. These days, we need to show our greener side on road as well.
What can the average wheeler do to slap a greener coat of paint on the increasingly tarnished image of four wheeling? Simple: give our Guide to Greener Wheeling a shot. Whether you drive a diesel powered six-wheeled behemoth or a gas-sipping 4WD giant killer, these practical and proven fuel-saving tips might help you stretch a little more out of every tank–and every dollar.
While not a perfect solution, our Guide to Greener Wheeling just might be a low-range lurch in the right direction. Who knows, you might even start to like the taste of tofu.
Get in Tune
We all know a well tuned engine runs better than a poorly tuned one, but what we might not know is that a properly maintained engine can improve fuel economy by as much as 20% compared to a neglected lump. So whether you do it yourself or pay someone to do it for you, keep your engine in tune and the fuel savings alone could pay for the parts.
Lighten up
Every 100 pounds of excess weight in a vehicle can sap between 1% and 3% of your fuel economy. It doesn’t sound like much, but it adds up. So unless you’re heading out for a week on the trails, there’s no need to carry your canoe, hi-lift jack, spare gas cans, camping gear, and heavy duty toolbox with you everywhere you go. Lighten up and save a buck.
Find inner peace
Peaceful, passive driving (easy on the gas, smooth acceleration, staying at least close to posted speed limits) is the single most effective way to reduce dead dino consumption. As speed increases, the force required to move an object (your rig) increases exponentially, and tests have shown that fuel economy can be improved by as much as 37% just by driving like a well-adjusted Zen monk on Valium.
Air ‘em Up
When it comes to four wheel drive vehicles, which often ride on larger, heavier tires, keeping those tires properly inflated can make a noticeable difference to fuel economy on longer trips. It’s also safer and prolongs tire life. Many wheelers riding on over-sized tires also switch to a smaller, lighter set for on-road driving. Save the tread for the trails.
Don’t be conned
Use air conditioning sparingly. Keep your windows closed at higher speeds (especially the sunroof) with the air-conditioner on low, and open at lower speeds with the air-conditioner off. If you find yourself sweating profusely, just think of all the fuel you’re saving and consider it training for your Dakar debut.
Let it Slide
Lower viscosity synthetic engine oils and mineral oils with friction reducing additives have been shown to improve engine efficiency by up to 12%. Not only that, but depending on the age and condition of your engine they can prolong engine life as well. Just make sure your ask a lot of questions before changing oils: some additives could potentially weaken seals in older engines.
Shine on
This probably shouldn’t be printed in a 4×4 magazine, but here goes: keeping your rig washed and waxed not only protects the paint and body, it can also improve fuel economy. Dirt, grit, crud, and muck increase air friction and drag, which means you use more fuel to maintain the same speed. Even if your rig has the drag co-efficiency of a vertical sheet of plywood, keeping it clean could net a potential 1%-3% fuel savings on longer, higher speed trips.
Don’t stand idly by
Contrary to what Grand Pappy used to say, stopping and starting your engine–especially a modern, fuel injected, computer controlled beast–doesn’t burn more gas than idling or increase wear on the engine components. Eliminating unnecessary idling could stretch 19% more out of a tank of gas, so when parked or stopped, shut ‘er down.
Go cold turkey
Less idling is one way to save petrol, limiting warm up time is another. For most automotive engines produced in the past 20 years, a 30 second warm up is sufficient if you drive gently for the first few minutes. In colder areas longer warm ups may be necessary, but there’s no need to let your rig idle for 15 minutes while you prepare your morning coffee. Start it up, buckle that belt, and hit the road…gently.
Cap It
All that liquid in your tank can’t wait to turn to gas and evaporate. In a sealed system it has nowhere to go, but if your gas cap is damaged, loose, or just a filthy shop rag, you’re loosing fuel and polluting the air as you sleep. New gas caps cost about $15, so there’s no reason not to replace it if you’re unsure.
Be a Man
If possible, install a set of manual locking hubs. Yes, you’ll have to get out of your rig and physically turn the selector, but many four wheelers insist manual hubs last longer, work better, and reduce wear and tear on front end components. And by enabling the front wheels to spin ‘freely’ of the front drive components, the engine doesn’t have to work as hard in 2WD so you get better mileage.
Take a Cruise
If you rig has cruise control, let your vehicle’s computer do the thinking for you. Where the roads are fairly flat, the hills modest, and the driving unimpeded, cruise control can squeeze an extra 7% to 17% per tank by keeping your engine at an optimal RPM and taking the lead-footed driver out of the equation. Boring, but it works.
Recycle it
In many states recycling is mandatory, but even if it isn’t do your part and make sure your vehicle’s used fluids and filters are recycled or properly disposed of. Four wheelers don’t dump antifreeze into streams or pour oil down storm drains–at least none we want to wheel with. The same goes for your old battery: drop it off at a shop that will dispose of it properly.
Alternate
Many wheelers do this already: park the rig and alternate with a daily driver. Mine’s a mountain bike; yours might be a little more interesting. If your wheeling rig is a thirsty one, the less time you drive it on road means more time to drive it off road, knowing you did you part to clear the air.
Offset it
The idea is simple, the benefit suspect: calculate your carbon emissions online and purchase a handy “Carbon Offset Credit” that will invest in so-called green technologies to offset your pollution contribution. Put the little sticker on the rear window of your trail monster and laugh like a Medieval pagan who just bought his way out enviro-sin. Wicked, and in the long run it might actually help.
Half it Up
One gallon of gasoline weights about 6 pounds, so if your rig has a cavernous gas tank, don’t fill it. Instead, buy half a tank (or less) when daily driving. You’ll stop for fuel more often, but you won’t be carrying around all that extra weight. Fill up occasionally to protect the top of the tank from corrosion, but carrying less fuel can help you squeeze a little more out of every gallon.
Trade Up
Newer vehicles are getting more efficient all the time and by 2015 it’s expected that almost half of all new vehicles sold in the U.S. will be powered by either clean diesel, Ethanol-multi-fuel, or gas/diesel electric hybrid engines. So the next time you’re in the market for a new rig, consider your options and look for a wheeler that gives you trail prowess and capability along with a little more environmental sustainability.
Treat Lightly!
One of the most effective ways to support greener wheeling is to join Tread Lightly! (www.treadlightly.org), a nationwide nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting outdoor recreation access for those who enjoy it. For $20 a year, you get to fall asleep every night knowing you’re doing you part to help keep outdoor recreation areas open and accessible. Priceless.
