7 STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVING FUEL EFFICIENCY AND PRODUCTIVITY ON THE WORK SITE

If you own a fleet of construction equipment, fuel is likely one of your top expenses every month. Diesel rates and equipment usage fluctuate constantly, and without the right tools, it can be difficult to track, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to limit your fuel costs where you can.

With this in mind it’s worth considering the ways you can improve fuel efficiency on the job site to improve your bottom line.

Unfortunately, we can’t control the price of fuel, but we can provide some helpful tips on ways to reduce your monthly fuel expenses, as well as some noteworthy solutions currently available today.

Let’s dive deeper into how you and your crew can maximize fuel efficiency for heavy diesel engines.

But what really is fuel efficiency? Like miles per gallon – which attributes a specific result to every gallon of fuel burned – yards per gallon is one of the more accurate measurements of fuel efficiency for heavy equipment. Other variations might be trucks per gallon or buckets per gallon. Determining that metric will vary in every application. In truck loading, where there is a consistent pattern, it may be easy to determine the number of trucks loaded or total yards of dirt hauled in a day.

It’s important not to confuse fuel efficiency with fuel economy, which is a simple measure of fuel consumed. When we talk about fuel efficiency, it’s directly related to the amount of fuel burned to accomplish a goal. So, as an example, you may have a machine that burns the same amount of fuel per hour as another machine, but loads three extra trucks per day due to machine speed or other benefit. They may have the same fuel economy, but the latter machine is more fuel efficient.

Rayneau Rentals & Sales shares 7 tips that could benefit contractors using diesel-powered equipment.

1 - Keep machine in Top Condition - Diligent maintenance not only saves fuel, but reduces repairs, improves reliability, and minimizes exhaust emissions. Replace air filter, oil filters, and change oil (using recommended oils) per manufacturer’s recommendations.

2 - Use trained operators – Having trained people who can operate machinery at their optimal levels will maximize fuel efficiency and reduce potential damage to the unit. Poorly trained staff will likely be more aggressive when using the machine, increasing fuel consumption.

3 - Tire Slippage - Insufficient ballast creates excessive slippage and increases fuel consumption, along with premature engine wear. Remove ballast for light loads. Match the weight to the job for the proper rolling resistance.

4 - Size Machine For Job - Too much or too little horsepower can drastically affect fuel efficiency. Machines should be driven at a consistent speed with windows open for optimal performance. Our job at Rayneau Rentals and Sales is to help you match the right machine to the job you’re doing.

5 - Gear up – Throttle Down - Select the gear that provides the desired ground speed at a reduced engine rpm without overloading. Studies have shown 5 -15% fuel efficiency at 75% power and 15 – 30% efficiency at 50% power.

6 - Minimize idling – Idling wastes fuel, however efficient the engine is. If machines are left idling for a long time, this will increase emissions as well as costs. It can also impact the engine life, with unnecessary wear on components.

7 - Telematics Technology - One of the many benefits of a telematics technology solution, like Hi Mate from Hyundai, is actionable data and insight into fuel utilization and idle time. Hi Mate telematics monitors fuel consumption on every Hyundai in your fleet, and the data can be segmented by machine, by the hour, or combined to see your entire fleet at once.

The platform is easy to use and can is accessible from anywhere, so you don’t have to be on the job site to know exactly what’s happening with your machines. 

Combining these strategies to reduce your heavy equipment fuel consumption by the hour will greatly impact your profitability and extend the life of your equipment. 

In closing, the best machinery out there has been designed with maximum fuel efficiency in mind. Today’s cutting edge equipment often is built with fuel efficiencies already included – Hyundai Construction Equipment takes the prize.

For more tips on reducing your equipment operating costs, contact the experts at Rayneau Rentals and Sales located in Vide Bouteille along the Gros Islet Highway. Call Us 758-450-RENT (7368).