Use less fuel in your off-road operations

Regularly check, clean and tune vehicles and equipment to keep them running efficiently.  

• Inspect seals in equipment and gearboxes, as leaks increase friction and reduce fuel efficiency.  
• Repair or replace insulation to prevent energy losses from pipes, ducts and steam lines. 
• Clean and replace air filters when due. Clogged filters can increase fuel use by up to 10%.¹ 
• Change engine oil as recommended by manufacturers. 
• Stay on top of lubricant and additive requirements. 
• Keep tyres at the recommended pressure and adjust them when terrain changes. 

For truck maintenance that helps to cut fuel costs, head to tips for truckies

Time spent planning will pay off with lower fuel costs. Aim to minimise the number of trips around your site, farm or growing operation.  

• Schedule tasks with a view to grouping jobs and avoiding unnecessary trips. 
• Make routes as direct as possible. 
• Move more per trip by using one larger vehicle instead of several smaller ones. 
• Optimise site layouts to improve workflow efficiency. 
• Consider carpooling when getting workers to and from sites.  
  Remind drivers to reduce non-productive movements like excessive turning or repositioning.
• If you’re a farmer or grower, investigate whether coordinating use of contractors with your neighbours can save on transport or call-out costs.

Enter key information and data about your vehicles and equipment into an asset register, and then use it to: 

• track fuel going into each piece of equipment or vehicle, so you can spot those with higher than expected consumption 
• schedule preventative maintenance to keep fuel economy at optimal levels 
• monitor the effects of fuel-saving actions and share results with your team 
• create an asset replacement plan for improving resilience to fuel price and supply risks.

For machinery, using timers, sensors and automation controls can help you to save fuel without any extra effort. 

Sensors can track fuel usage, engine load and overall performance, which helps with optimising maintenance schedules and identifying fuel usage patterns. 

On farms, replacing manual driving with auto steer can drop fuel consumption by reducing overlaps from 5–10% to 1–3%.² 

View more ways farmers can save fuel(external link)

When looking at replacements: 

• opt for motors with high efficiency that meet Minimum Energy Performance Standards 
• swap standard V-belts for more efficient cogged or synchronous belts  
• bypass soft starter units as they waste around 3% of power, dissipated as heat.³ 

An inefficient pump will increase your running costs and reduce productivity. Test your pump for water delivery and energy efficiency to see if it’s performing properly and take action if it’s not.  

• Replace pumps if system changes make them oversized. 
• Install variable speed control for pumps with varying loads. 
• Trim pump impellers to match demand (in line with manufacturers’ guidance). 
• Isolate circulation loops when not required — either manually or automatically using solenoid valves. 
• Install pressure switch control for intermittent demand. 
• Install level control (for dewatering or tank-filling applications) to ensure the pump only operates when necessary.

How to test diesel pumps(external link)