Thursday 19 June 2008

12 Golden Tips For Better Fuel Efficiency

A fuel efficiency meter. (ex. At present, this car needs a liter gas to run 18.1 kilometers.Image via WikipediaRising crude oil prices has cause many drivers to feel the strain on our wallets. In order to fully maximise the fuel consumption of your vehicles, we can no longer stay to our old driving habits like being heavy footed or ferrying unnecessary loads etc. which may not be so fuel economical. I have list 12 proven useful tips that will help you get more mileage out of your vehicle.

1. Drive smoothly: Avoid heavy acceleration or braking. Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower your gasoline mileage by 5 percent at lower speeds around town and by 33 percent at highway speeds.

2. Replace dirty or clogged air filters: Replacing a dirty or clogged air filter with a clean one can improve gasoline mileage by as much as 10 percent. A car’s air filter can protect the engine from impurities.

3. Keep your engine well-tuned and repair any problems immediately: If your car has failed an emissions test or is noticeably out of tune, repairing the problem could improve your gasoline mileage by 4 percent on average.

4. Make sure tires are not over or under-inflated: Proper air pressure cuts down on fuel used while driving. Keeping tires at the correct pressure can improve your gasoline mileage by more than 3 percent.

5. Minimize vehicle drag: Keep your trunk and back seat clear of unnecessary items that only add weight. Removing excess weight can improve your gasoline mileage.

6. Use the recommended grade of oil in your engine: Following your manufacturer’s motor oil recommendation can improve gasoline mileage by up to 2 percent. Look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to ensure it contains friction-reducing additives.

7. Choose a high-quality gasoline: Top automakers say that carbon deposits can build up on critical engine parts, which can decrease the power, performance and fuel efficiency of your vehicle. Audi, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen recommend using TOP TIER Detergent Gasolines to help keep engines clean. Use TOP TIER standards and stop gunky build-up on critical engine parts to help cars perform at their best.

8. Use cruise control on major roads and in free-flowing traffic: Maintaining a constant speed can improve gasoline mileage.

9. Avoid idling: When you idle, you get zero miles per gallon.

10. Avoid higher speeds: Gasoline mileage usually decreases when driving at speeds over 60 miles per hour.

11. Plan your outings to avoid separate trips: Combine your errands into one outing to avoid short separate trips. This helps avoid unnecessary cold starts and keeps your car’s engine running warm and more efficiently.

12. Paying with a rebate credit card: Credit cards offer a simple way to pay for things quickly, but using a rebate credit card means earning rewards with every purchase. Most gasoline companies tie up with credit card companies to offer customers loyalty rewards, therefore find out which credit card gives the best rewards on your preferred gasoline station and register with them to get the best deal out of it.
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4 comments:

JesieBlogJourney said...

Thanks for sharing the tips. We need to maximize fuel efficiency. A little here and there do add up.

stormwhistle said...

You are most welcome. High oil price has make all of us rethink about our actions

Unknown said...

like no. 7. as for credit cards, not sure if can still use it in msia. heard reports they may not tie in anymore. it will be a waste as really can earn quite good points :)

Anonymous said...

I had also a post on this topic before. Thanks for the tips.