A top car expert has stressed motorists can travel while using “zero fuel” by following a simple hack anyone can try. YouTuber MickDrivesCars admitted taking feet off the accelerator and brake pedal was vital to dramatically cut down on petrol and diesel use.
He even suggested that motorists were able to control their vehicles through their gearsticks as long as they left enough space in front. Many modern vehicles are fitted with a deceleration fuel cut-off feature which can shut off fuel injection if motorists are coasting. The tip could mean road users prepared to change their driving style could enjoy major savings this Spring.
Speaking on YouTube, MickDrivesCars said: “When you’re off the gas but you’re still in gear, your engine uses zero fuel.
Simply all you do is you loft your foot off the accelerator. If you want more engine braking you can change down the gearbox to get another bit of engine braking, and down again to get even more engine braking.
YouTube viewer @andreiturcan8023 quickly explained: “He is talking about deceleration fuel cut-off which is a thing in modern engines.
“The ECU knows the car is in gear and it shuts off fuel feeding through the injectors and the engine is turned by the wheels through the gearbox. Most cars after the 1990s have this feature when engine braking.”
The Deceleration fuel cut-off (DFCO) monitors engine speed and throttle position while a car is decelerating.
If these fall inside a series of pre-programmed thresholds such as giving off no throttle input, the system can close off the fuel injection.
This means the car is effectively still cruising while burning no fuel in a great way to save the pennies.
YouTuber @Zethax added: “When you lift your foot off the throttle while the car is still in gear, the engine stays turning thanks to the car’s momentum but no fuel is injected.
“The car literally uses zero fuel during that time. This isn’t some niche tech. It’s been standard in most cars since the late ’90s to early 2000s. So unless you’re driving your grandpa’s carbureted rust bucket, your car probably does it too.”
According to the RAC Fuel Watch, Unleaded fuel currently sits at an average of 135.03p per litre with diesel at 141.69p per litre.
However, the breakdown group has predicted that Unleaded and diesel prices “should fall sharply” soon.
