TRANSPORTATION SECTION
Winter driving: How much more fuel are you using? Winter driving is a given – after all, we live in Canada! There are many factors that make winter driving a challenge, especially for school bus drivers. However, there are driving techniques and tips that you can use that will help you become more fuel efficient while winter driving. Let’s look at two of the key fuel burners. Rolling Resistance All moving vehicles encounter a certain amount of rolling resistance; some of your engine’s power needs to be used to overcome everything from the grip of your tires to the force of the wind. Weather can have quite an impact on safe and fuel-efficient driving when it increases this rolling resistance; for instance, your vehicle can consume 15 to 20 per cent more fuel when it needs to push through heavy snow. Heavy rain can increase fuel consumption by 10 per cent. A head wind of as little as eight km/hr can increase aerodynamic drag at highway speeds, causing your engine to work harder and thus reducing fuel
economy by 10 per cent. Cross winds can have the same impact. The following suggestions can help you manage rolling resistance and help you burn less fuel during winter: • Take the time to clear your vehicle of any wet snow, which can increase vehicle weight and reduce fuel efficiency. • If you’re driving into a strong head wind, reduce your speed by 10 km/hr to avoid wasting fuel. • When driving through deep snow, be sure to keep your wheels in any existing ruts, rather than plowing your own path. • When parking on ice, try to choose a slope that will allow you to move off in a forward direction. Since your tires will warm during the trip, they can melt holes in the ice when your vehicle comes to a rest. If you are pointing up hill, you may spin your wheels when you attempt to drive away, wasting fuel and time in the process. • Cold temperatures cause fluids such as engine oil, transmission fluids and
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axle lubricants to thicken. Use synthetic fluids to reduce these factors. Unnecessary Idling An idling school bus wastes both fuel and money. When idling, a typical school bus engine burns approximately two to three litres of fuel per hour (depending on engine size). School bus companies that eliminate unnecessary idling can save significant dollars in fuel costs each year. “Idling� means running your vehicle engine when it’s parked or not in use. Common reasons for engine idling in the winter are warming up the vehicle; driver and passenger comfort; and convenience. However, there are many reasons NOT to idle. By reducing idling time you save fuel and money, reduce wear and tear on your engine, help protect your health as well as that of your passengers, and reduce potential climate-change impacts. Idling is not an effective way of warming up your engine. As your vehicle is made up of many moving parts, to properly warm your vehicle’s transmission, tires, suspension, steering, and wheel bearings, you need to slowly drive off. Children are dressed for winter conditions in snow suits, hats and mittens. They are quite comfortable getting on a bus that has not idled for 30 minutes to warm it up. Start the bus, allow the oil pressure to rise and the glow plugs or intake heaters to complete three full cycles; wait for the orange “wait to start� light to turn off. As long as the bus windows are clear of frost and snow, start driving slowly. Differentials, transmission oils and tires will warm up while you are driving (tires also become more fuel efficient as they become warmer). It takes 12 minutes of driving to warm
