Tip #3: Gear up! - Riding with low r.p.m. by quick change into the highest appropriate gear

To lower your fuel costs, protect your vehicle's transmission and reduce emissions, change gears as early as possible and into the highest appropriate gear without "revving" the engine.

Actions:
· Change gears as early as possible (at approx. 2000 r.p.m.)
· Do not "rev" the engine
· Use the dashboard tachometer (next to the speedometer if you car has one) as an 'economy-meter'

Benefits:
· Better fuel economy and efficiency
· Lower fuel costs
· Lower emissions and less noise

A car's engine uses the energy stored in fuel molecules to generate mechanical power. The harder the engine works turning the crankshaft (which turns the wheels), the more fuel is consumed. The crankshaft's revolutions per minute (rpm or "revs") are therefore a key to fuel efficiency and lower emissions. Low revs minimize fuel consumption and fuel expense while higher revs increase fuel consumption, air pollution and noise.

As you control the vehicle's engine, you are also the manager of the vehicle's fuel efficiency. Changing smoothly and as early as possible into the highest appropriate gear will lower your engine's revs; benefiting you and the environment at the same time.

Advanced engines have been produced since the early 1990s, which improve fuel economy and lower emissions when using a 'low-revs' driving style (1500-2500 rpm) and without trade-offs in comfort or driving quality. The vehicle's tachometer measures the engine's revs and can thus be used as a personal 'economy-meter'.

In practical terms, driving constantly in a higher gear at low revs may call for pushing the accelerator a little harder to keep the vehicle moving at the same speed. However, this technique is more economical than pushing the acceleration pedal less hard while remaining in a lower gear.

In general, the efficiency of modern engines is better at lower rather than at high revs. However, driving with too low revs should also be avoided as it can lead to vehicle 'shake'. Using the appropriate gear will keep the engine run smoothly.

Gears do not always need to be used in strict numerical sequence: skipping gears (up or down) can be an option depending on both the speed and terrain. Driving at low revs also warms the engine faster and allows an optimum temperature to be reached earlier, which also extends the life of the motor.

Additionally, this greener driving style lowers noise levels. One single vehicle at 4000 r.p.m, for example, is as noisy as about 32 vehicles at 2000 rpm.

Driving at low revs means changing gears between 2000 and 2500 rpm. If your vehicle is not equipped with a tachometer, the following list provides some guidance:

· 1st gear: to get going (one vehicle length)
· 2nd gear: up to 25 kph/ 15 mph
· 3rd gear: 25 - 40 kph/ 15 - 25 mph
· 4th gear: 40 - 50 kph/ 25 - 30 mph
· 5th gear: 50 kph+/ 30 mph+