Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Tips For Maximizing Gas Mileage

With increased fuel costs, pressure growing to do our bit for the environment, and a desire to reduce the costs of motoring on our finances, it has become imperative that we maximize the fuel economy of our cars. There are some radical as well as common sense options to consider before you take your car out the drive, while driving, and improving fuel efficiency in the future.

Before you leave the house, think about your car for a few moments. If you have an old car, then you might consider buying a new one. Newer cars tend to have better fuel efficiency than older ones. Car manufacturers work hard to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. Whether you have a new car or an old one, it is best to ensure that they are kept well maintained. This includes making sure you have your tires inflated to the recommended pressure for the type of driving you are undertaking. Have your wheel alignment checked when you have new tires fitted, and try to ensure that any new tires have a low rolling resistance, as this can increase your fuel efficiency by a percentage point or two. Servicing and daily checks of your oil, coolant, air conditioning unit, spark plugs, and filters can all help keep your engine purring sweetly will reduce emissions. The heavier your vehicle, the more fuel required to pull it. Therefore, do not have items in your car that you do not need. An increase of 25 kilograms will see your fuel economy reduce by a couple of percent as well. You car is designed to be as aerodynamic as possible, so it makes sense to remove roof racks and tow bar bicycle racks when they are not in use.

After you have removed your roof rack and serviced your car, you are now ready to go out on the open road. Fuel efficiency tips apply here, too. Drive steadily, and anticipate what is happening ahead on the road so that you do not have to brake harshly. There is no need to tear off from traffic lights to beat the car in the adjacent lane. Excessive braking and acceleration is bad for fuel economy. Driving smoothly can significantly decrease your fuel use. Do not idle your engine for long periods either. You can look for cars that automatically stop and start the engine when it is stationary. Drive on major roads that limit the number of times you need to stop and start to maximize your fuel efficiency. You will get more miles on a motorway journey per gallon than on city roads. Maintaining a steady speed up to 50 miles per hour is the most economic. After 65 to 70 miles per hour, your fuel use increases by more than ten percent.

More changes that are fundamental can reduce your fuel dependency. Drive less, as many journeys are less than two miles in length. Just popping to the shops or taking children to school could be better for everyone if you walked instead of taking the car. Of course, there are many reasons why this is not always practical, so consider buying a smaller, more efficient car. How would you feel about purchasing a hybrid or electric car? There are many on the market that provides great functionality without the increase in fuel burden. If you have more than one car in the household, could you reduce their number or make sure you use the most appropriate sized vehicle for the journey.

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