Ways to Reduce Heavy Construction Equipment Fuel Costs

Even when gas prices are low, it’s always a good idea to do everything you can to keep your fuel bills low. The following is a list of suggestions for keeping your fleet as fuel-efficient as possible.

1. Train machine operators — Machine operators have a critical role in reducing fuel expenses. Train operators avoid speeding or abrupt braking, which can increase fuel consumption.

2. Reduce idle time — Leaving a machine idling for longer than necessary can increase your fuel expenses by up to 50% and reduce the life of your engine oil by up to 75%. Heavy machinery performs best when it is driven at a constant speed — frequent stopping and accelerating wastes more fuel. It’s useful to think in terms of car miles — highway miles (i.e., continuous use) are more fuel-efficient than city miles (inconsistent use). We advocate defining an idle policy for drivers, which can then be tracked using idle reporting.

3. Avoid fast acceleration — When operators accelerate quickly, machines use 40% more gasoline. Encourage them to avoid “jackrabbit starts,” which can increase not just fuel consumption but also harmful pollutants.

4. Avoid speeding — Not only is speeding dangerous, but it also wastes fuel. Encourage equipment operators to drive their equipment slowly and steadily.

5. Don’t carry superfluous weight — Extra weight puts a burden on a vehicle’s engine, lowering fuel economy. When possible, reduce added weight to improve your gas mileage.

6. Plan workdays with efficiency in mind — Planning ahead will help you save a lot of money on gas. For example, make sure staff are using the shortest travel lengths with the fewest obstacles. It’s also a good idea to look at how each machine is used to determine if there is a more efficient option (such as using one dozer instead of two, for example, or using a larger wheel loader bucket).

7. Get frequent tune-ups — Keeping up with maintenance items like oil changes, air filter replacements, and brake checks will not only help your machinery last longer, but it can also save you money on gas.

8. Maintain proper tire pressure — critical It’s to maintain proper air tire pressure for wheeled machinery. Low-quality tires can add up to two weeks of fuel to your annual fuel bill. Keep the tracks on tracked equipment adjusted to the proper tension.

9. Choose the correct size and machine for the job — Since larger machines require more gasoline, you can save money by not utilizing one that is larger than necessary. Similarly, if you use a machine that is smaller than advised, you will be overworking it, causing extra wear and costly repairs. In the long run, using improper equipment or attachment might result in more work, and more work means more fuel.

10. Install monitoring technology — Along with operator training, the greatest way to cut fuel expenses is to install an advanced telemetry system. Telematics can not only help you track fuel usage, but it can also give you information on how often the machine idles and when fuel consumption is at its highest, as well as data on your operator’s driving patterns.

11. Encourage effective communication — Poor communication is a common cause of idling and wasteful machine use. You can reduce employee downtime and unnecessary machine use by improving the communication process between teams.

12. Shift at a lower RPM — When operators gear up and throttle down at high RPMs, they burn more fuel. Before shifting, encourage operators to reduce their RPMs.

13. Maintain the cutting edge and teeth of your equipment — A worn blade edge or dull or rounded bucket teeth can increase fuel consumption over time by reducing the machine’s efficacy. Equipment with dull blades or bucket teeth has more resistance and is less effective at cutting through the material.

14. Improve your machinery — Newer, higher-quality machines are more efficient than older, poorly maintained devices. If you’re seeking to expand your fleet, take a look at our new and used equipment for sale, or give us a call at (945) 400–6965

Source : Blue Diamond