Whether we like it or not, cars have become part of our everyday lives – and they generate quite a large share of our regular expenses. The one thing cars don’t run without is fuel, of course – and this is one of the things where we can save considerable amounts in the long run. These three tips can help you improve your car’s fuel economy so it consumes less fuel in the long term.
1. Keep your car in a good shape
Keep your engine well serviced, your tires hard and your air filters, exhausts and oil clean, and your car will reward you with a lower fuel consumption. Run-down, under-serviced engines will always consume more fuel, due to their inadequate operation. Dirty air filters and partially clogged exhaust pipes will reduce the engine’s performance and, indirectly, will increase its fuel consumption. Dirt in your oil will reduce friction in the engine, and this way contribute to a higher consumption of gas. Besides, low air pressure in the tires also reduces the car’s performance (through an increased rolling resistance), so keep them well pumped up.
Keep your car in a good shape, change your air filters whenever necessary, and don’t skimp on air to reduce your fuel consumption.
2. Keep your AC off – but not when speeding
When driving at relatively low speeds rolling down the window is a much smarter thing to do than turning the air conditioning on. Using your AC when driving around in town, for example, can cause your car to consume up to 25% more fuel – and this can be avoided by simply leaving it off and rolling down the windows.
Things change, though, when you drive at higher speeds. A study conducted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) has shown that, at speeds of 55 miles per hour or more (that’s 88.5 kilometers per hour, for those using the metric system) rolling down the window caused the cars to consume much more fuel – up to 20% more. Although the AC decreases fuel efficiency, too, the drag – the resistance of the car moving through the air – increased by the rolled down windows will make it work harder for the same performance, thus increasing fuel consumption.
3. Combine your trips
If you commute, find a partner to ride with – and share the fuel costs. This way the cost of reaching your workplace by car will be significantly reduced – the more people share the same car, the more of them contribute to the fuel bill. Carpooling and ride sharing services have been launched in the recent years online, making it easier for you to commute for less.
If you have several things to solve in one day, don’t take several shorter trips, but combine them into a longer one. This way you can avoid multiple cold starts, and your engine can stay warmer – more fuel efficient – for longer between them. Besides, you can cross out some of the necessary trips by ordering products online or by phone, and having them delivered to your home. Most webshops offer free delivery, and some services are as good online as they are in real life (for example, you can visit Casino la vida for the latest casino games). Using these will definitely reduce your gas bill at the end of the month.