How can you improve your vehicle's fuel economy while you're behind the wheel?
- Choose the right gear.
- Avoid idling the engine.
- Reduce your average speed.
- Do all of the above. ✓
Answer: D. Do all of the above.
Do all of the above: choose the right gear, avoid idling the engine, and reduce your average speed.
Why this is the answer
The handbook's green-smarts answers support each measure. It says reducing your average speed saves fuel because driving fast uses more fuel. It says practising progressive gear-shifting and shifting before maximum governed r.p.m. saves fuel. It also says idling a tractor-trailer engine burns fuel, up to four litres per hour at 900 r.p.m. Since the question asks how you can improve fuel economy, and the handbook treats gear choice, idling, and speed as fuel-saving points, the combined answer fits.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A. Choose the right gear. — Choosing the right gear does save fuel according to the handbook, but it is only one of the fuel-saving measures listed, so on its own it does not cover the full answer.
- B. Avoid idling the engine. — Avoiding idling does save fuel, but the handbook also gives gear choice and reduced speed as fuel-saving measures, so avoiding idling alone is incomplete.
- C. Reduce your average speed. — Reducing your average speed does save fuel, but gear choice and avoiding idling are also supported by the handbook, so this choice by itself is incomplete.
Remember it
Remember the three fuel levers: shift early, keep speed down, and don't sit idling.
Official handbook: Official MTO Truck Handbook, Check Your Green Smarts – Answers