A Mini-Guide To Maintain And Improve Your Car’s Fuel Economy
In this fast-paced world, owning a car is no longer a luxury; instead, it is a fundamental necessity of our modern life.
Families get to enjoy happy moments during those long road trips, while emergencies are managed smoothly if you have a vehicle available.
However, there is one thing about car ownership that causes headaches to most, if not all. Do you know what it is? Yes, many will say instant fixes and maintenance costs, but the soaring fuel prices are what is digging a hole in your pocket.
How to Maintain And Improve Your Car’s Fuel Economy
There are alternatives like electric cars, but they are still in the development phase, and the road ahead is long when such vehicles will completely phase out the conventional fuel vehicles.
But, all’s not lost as there are ways to improve the utility in your tank, how? In these tips, we’ve six quick yet practical ways to improve your car’s mileage, so let’s scroll and find out:-
#1 Take it Little Easy on the Pedal
We all have a speed demon dwelling inside us, and we tend to unleash it when on an open road to have an F1 driver feel.
Fortunately, it isn’t a great thing to do if you are in a quest to save on your monthly fuel expenses. Because when you are forcing your car’s engine to push you fast, it consumes more fuel as well.
The faster you go, the greater is the drag and fuel burned are also increased. So, go easy on your car’s accelerator whenever and wherever possible.
The same principle applies when applying brakes, don’t be like Fernando Alonso, who applies breaks in the nick of time for the critical apex.
Sudden acceleration burns more fuel. Keep this pedal tip in mind the next time you hit the road.
#2 Follow Your Car’s Fuel Type
There is a popular myth that premium fuel is the preferred choice, in fact, the only choice for best on-road performance.
However, each car manufacturer has a fuel type mentioned in the manual you’ll get when buying a new car room or inquire about this when searching for used cars for sale online.
If the manufacturer says your vehicle needs unleaded fuel or cheapest petrol with low octane, trust their words because they tested the vehicle for best performance with the recommended fuel type.
If you have a car with a high compression engine, you need to opt for fuel with heavily loaded octane. Just make sure you stay within the lower limit of octane, put forth by the manufacturer.
#3 Reduce the Drag
A roof rack or any other accessories in the car increases its drag. Increased drag means your car has to work even harder to push through the air and ultimately increase fuel burn.
Thus when conducting a used car search, ensure that you avoid purchasing a vehicle with extra accessories to hamper your monthly fuel budget.
Even the so-called aerodynamic storage compartment shells can considerably increase the drag.
However, if you need any of the accessories that affect the drag, use it when needed. For instance, when heading on a ski trip, have a roof rack, otherwise, get them off the car.
#4 Inflate the Tires to Correct Pressure
Another practical way to boost your car’s fuel economy is to inflate the tires to the correct pressure levels. However, the majority of drivers overlook this.
Running your car on a low tire pressure increases the rolling resistance on the ground surface, and hampers your car’s fuel economy. The next time you head out of your garage, make sure your tire is properly inflated.
Fortunately, you don’t have to second guess whether your car’s tires are filled to the correct pressure, there are several gadgets or equipment to measure the same.
#5 Avoid Prolonged Idling
Do you know your car consumes half to one gallon of fuel for every idle hour and not to mention the carbon dioxide it gives in the environment?
Do the math quickly and determine how much you can save just by turning off the engine when your car is idle.
#6 Refuel in the Morning, Not Evening
Do you know that by opting to refuel your car early in the morning, you can save one to two dollars?
Well, it’s not too much, but if you are refueling twice to three a week, then it adds to 10-15 dollars monthly saving.
How?
During the morning time, petrol is dense because of low temperatures, therefore greater utility. As the temperature soars, the petrol molecules expand, and the actual volume is less.
Conclusion
After reading the entire article, one can deduce that the fuel economy is more about the right driving practices and understanding the fundamental physical properties that affect the engine’s working.
