saving fuel

[simonm]

We are starting a new grounds maintenance contract that covers a large area, i am trying to figure out ways of saving fuel as i think this is going to be 1 of the biggest expenditures. Other than reducing weight on the vehicle & planing journeys well i cant see as there's  going to be much difference! ride on runs on red which is nice & cheap but both walk behind mowers are petrol & the van does around 21mpg...ideas?

[Richard 1234]

Do as much as you can with ride on mower. Get Honda engine mowers as they have been the most efficient walk behinds I’ve used.
If you’ve got a large geographical area then aside from changing van there’s not much to be done on that side apart from only taking what you need, but that doesn’t make much difference.
21mpg is horribly bad though even my pickup will do 27 towing mower

[simonm]

I bought the vehicle for tree work Isuzu grafter as it carries weight & tows well, we dont do many miles in it as we are always in the same area, i think this is going to be the biggest crippler.

[richy_B]

Probably not a lot you can do if you are sticking with the same vehicles. Keep on top of servicing and make sure your tyres are at the right pressures is all that occurs to me. Avoud sharp acceleration and braking. Probably only a nominal difference though.

Have you got a fuel card? Perhaps worth shopping around and seeing if you can get a better rate.

We only run 3 vehicles but they all tow. Our diesel bill is £5k ish per year. Painful.

[gdh]

Have you got your own tank? You can get a saving by buying in bulk and saving trips to the garage. 

 

Obviously you need to be using enough to balance out the cost of the tank.

[Stubby]

Drive it like you would a horse box with 2 horses on board . Gentle acceleration minimal  brakes plan ahead for a gap in the roundabout traffic so you don't have to brake .  Stuff like that . 

[Mick Dempsey]

Tyre pressures and tracking.