December 2010

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Service for Sustainability

By Hollis Allen


Every business with a fleet of vehicles can help the environment by performing regular vehicle maintenance, practicing sensible driving habits and replacing older vehicles with more fuel-efficient ones.

For example, simply reexamining and changing routes can save a few gallons of gasoline every week. This can add up to a substantial savings at the end of the year when multiplied by the number of vehicles in a company’s fleet.

Paying more attention to proper vehicle maintenance can help reduce fuel consumption. This means not only performing preventative maintenance at the recommended intervals and using the correct fluids, but also maintaining vehicles’ recommended tire pressure, checking wheel alignment, and keeping the air and fuel filters clean. It also means avoiding the temptation to overload a truck, which can result in poor performance and lower fuel efficiency, along with the possibility of expensive repairs and frequent downtime.

Maintenance issues that can significantly affect fuel consumption include the following:

• Tire inflation. Under-inflated tires create more rolling resistance on the road, which decreases fuel mileage and shortens tire life due to accelerated wear. Because tire pressure changes with temperature, perform checkups and adjustments when the tire is cold and when the vehicle has been idle for a couple hours. Information printed on the tire’s sidewall may not be the optimum pressure for the driving situation; the most accurate place to find out about proper tire pressure is on a label inside the driver’s door or in the vehicle’s owner manual.

• Wheel alignment. Misalignment can be caused by potholes, curbs and bumps; worn steering or suspension components; and deterioration from aging suspension parts. Not only does misalignment increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel efficiency, it also causes additional wear and tear on tires. Wheel alignment should be checked every 12,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first.

• Engine oil. Higher viscosity oils create greater resistance to the moving parts of the engine and actually can reduce fuel efficiency. Manufacturers have, in some cases, increased the service intervals for their vehicles to help reduce their carbon footprint. This not only decreases maintenance costs, but also reduces the amount of crude oil needed and the amount of waste oil produced. Changing a vehicle’s engine oil at the manufacturer’s recommended intervals is a good maintenance policy that aids fuel efficiency.

• Driving style. Smooth, steady acceleration from a stoplight or stop sign uses fuel more efficiently than quick “jackrabbit” starts. Drivers also can increase fuel efficiency by shifting to higher gears at the lowest practical speed for a standard transmission, and accelerating gently with an automatic transmission. If vehicles are equipped with overdrive and/or cruise control, these should be used when appropriate. Also, making sudden starts and stops, revving the engine and excessive idling significantly lower gas mileage. According to www.fueleconomy.gov, each 5 mph driven over 60 mph is like paying an additional $.15 per gallon for gas.

• Weight. Using roof-mounted racks and keeping unnecessary heavy items in the vehicle increases rolling resistance. The U.S. government estimates that an extra 100 pounds can reduce a vehicle’s fuel efficiency by as much as 2 percent, based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight. This affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones. When possible, stow large items inside the vehicle.

Replacing older, less fuel-efficient vehicles at appropriate intervals also can reduce the environmental impact and save costs. Knowing when to dispose of older vehicles, a systematic process known in the fleet management industry as “cycling,” depends on many factors, such as the time of year, mileage, vehicle type, age and maintenance issues. A cycling program ensures vehicles are always in the best possible condition, as well as helps companies achieve optimum performance and the best resale value.


Hollis Allen is the manager of Enterprise Fleet Management’s National Service Department. For more information, call (877) 23-FLEET or visit www.efleets.com.

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