Improve Your Fuel Economy

By Robert Harland

07/15/2008

With the soaring cost of gasoline and diesel, motorists the world over are scrambling to find ways to get the most from every liter of fuel.

Here are a few tips that will help you to do just that. Most will give you a very slight increase in fuel efficiency, but use several together and the improvements can really add up.

Check the air filter: A clean air filter is the key to good fuel economy. A dirty filter restricts the flow of air into the engine, which harms performance and economy.

Check tire pressures: Next to the air filter, under-inflated tires are one of the most commonly ignored causes of poor economy. Check your tires when they are cold and keep them properly inflated.

Check the oil filter: A clean oil filter can improve mileage by ten percent.

Slow down: Experts say drivers can cut their car’s fuel consumption by seven percent simply by driving 10 kph slower on main roads.

Smoothly does it: Drivers who accelerate and decelerate more smoothly can potentially save 33 percent on their fuel costs on the highway — and five percent around town.

Avoid those macho wheels: Trendy mags with huge tires may look cool, but if they are wider than the stock tires, chances are they’ll create more rolling resistance and decrease fuel economy.

Fix the alignment: Poor wheel alignment forces a car’s engine to work harder and that can considerably reduce fuel efficiency.

Get a tune up: A properly tuned engine can improve fuel economy by four percent.

Lose some weight: The more weight your car has to haul, the more fuel it needs to do the work. It’s amazing how much unnecessary stuff we all accumulate in our cars.

Stop idling: Experts recommend drivers turn off their engines if they have to stop for more than 30 seconds. A tough one when it’s hot, but drivers can save fuel this way.

Don’t ride the brakes: Driving with your foot on the brake can decrease your car’s fuel efficiency by 35 percent.

Get back to nature: Shut off the aircon from time-to-time and open the windows and enjoy the breeze. It may be warmer, but at lower speeds you’ll save fuel. At higher speeds the aircon may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open widows.

Reduce drag: Remove the luggage or bicycle rack on your roof if you don’t need them. They increase wind resistance and you’ll burn more fuel.

Park in the shade: Parking in a cooler spot will minimize fuel evaporation.

Combine Your Errands: A little planning can make a big difference to fuel economy. When an engine is cold, it uses more fuel than when it’s warm. Combining errands can improve mileage because the engine will be warm for more of the trip. It might also mean you travel fewer total miles.

Don’t drive: This is a tough one given the heat and dust, but if you can avoid taking your car occasionally, you’ll obviously save fuel.

And, from time-to-time ask yourself: “is this journey really necessary?” If we all do this, who knows the price of fuel might even go down.

The writer is a British journalist based in Bacolod City

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