12 unbelievably simple tips to increase fuel efficiency of your car
Post on 02-Dec-2015
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12 unbelievably simple tips to increase your car’s fuel efficiency and save you money
The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) reduced the price of petrol
and diesel by Rs.2/- a litre (excluding local levies) starting the
midnight of 15th July 2015. The current price of diesel in
Bangalore is Rs.52.59 per litre and the price of petrol is at
Rs.70.70 per litre. But nobody is cheering. A quick look at the
statistics below shows that there is obviously nothing to
cheer about. In fact it’s a huge concern, especially for car
owners.
(Source: http://www.mypetrolprice.com/)
Does anyone remember the price of petrol and diesel in the
year 2000? Rs.25.94 and Rs.14.04 respectively.
(Source: http://goo.gl/RCUZY). Hard to believe! Isn’t it?
Why the prices are where they are today is a good topic for
another article. However, let’s look at what a car owner can
and must do to make the car fuel efficient and make car
ownership easy on the pockets.
While we have no control over the price movement of fuel
(which is ultimately incremental) we certainly do have a LOT
of control over its consumption.
Do not disregard that statement yet. Stay with us here and
we’ll show you how you can increase the fuel efficiency of
your car and sleep peacefully at night. Alright, we
exaggerated a little there! But on a serious note, you are
spending anywhere between Rs.4000/- to Rs.6000/- a month
on gas. We are sure you are looking at ways to cut down this
expenditure.
So here goes:
TIP #1: SERVICING YOUR CAR WHEN ITS DUE
First things first! Is your car past the service due date?
Servicing your car when its due is one of the best ways to
save fuel and cut costs. Your ride can guzzle a lot of gas if
the engine is poorly tuned. Did you know that replacing a
dirty air filter can increase your car’s mileage but
10%? Change the air filter, engine oil, spark plug, oil filter
and also get the wheels balanced & aligned. Follow
manufacturer instructions for car servicing intervals but also
get your car checked by car service stations authorized by
manufacturers if you find a sudden dip in mileage and other
noticeable strain on the car’s engine. Regular car service
and maintenance can increase fuel efficiency at least
10 % – 40%.
CarServo aims to provide a hassle-free service experience by
connecting you to ideal car service stations. You can sign-up
and book your car service online in a few simple steps.
TIP #2: CAR TYRE PRESSURE MAINTENANCE
Tyres lose air pressure every day. We forget about them
because most of the time they look like “fine” to us, Did you
know that tyres lose 1 – 2 pounds of air pressure per
month? Its higher when the weather is warmer.
Therefore it is very important to follow tyre pressure level
recommended by the manufacturer. Filling air pressure is
equivalent to filling gas. Make it a habit to check every time
your fill fuel. Even a 1 point drop in psi (Pounds per
Square Inch) can increase fuel consumption. Experts
say that maintaining accurate tyre pressure is equivalent to
an engine tune-up. You not only save fuel but also increase
the life of the tyres and prevent accidents.
While we are on the topic of tyres, also do keep in mind that
oversized tyres are not good for fuel efficiency.
TIP #3: LOSE SOME WEIGHT
(Image source: wheelsforwomen)
It’s easier in the case of cars. Excess weight can increase fuel
consumption. Unload unnecessary luggage/cargo and keep
your car light. Travel light even when you are on a road trip.
Needless to say do not unload the spare tyre, jack and other
necessary tools.
TIP #4: NO NEED FOR SPEED OR IS THERE?
Are you a fan of the Fast & Furious franchise? A lot of us are.
That is no reason for aggressive acceleration and hard
braking unless you are shooting for an action sequence in a
movie set. These are known to drastically increase fuel
consumption of your car. Do not be in a hurry to get to your
destination. It’s better to plan ahead and reach on time than
put your life and that of others in danger by speeding.
Drive at an optimum speed, accelerate gently and do
not exceed 60 to 70 kmph in city conditions.
TIP #5: DON’T BE A CLUTCH RIDER
(Image source: nytimes)
Don’t fall in love with the clutch. Many drivers do not take
their foot off the clutch when they are not changing gears.
This causes the vehicle to consume more fuel and also
causes the clutch to wear out quickly. If your car doesn’t
have a dead pedal get one fixed from a car service station or
a car mechanic. Dead pedal ensures that you do not rest
your foot on the clutch and also acts as a foot rest.
TIP #6: CHOOSE YOUR GEARS
Driving in low speed at a higher gear and being in a lower
gear and accelerating hard is detrimental not just to fuel
consumption but also to the vehicle. Shift up your gears as
soon as possible without flooring the accelerator and
straining the engine too much.
TIP #7: 3 SECOND DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CARS
(Image source: latimes)
What is the ideal distance between your car and the vehicle
ahead of you? Use the 3 second rule to determine the ideal
distance. Here’s how you do it – In an ideal weather condition
you must spot an object on the road ahead of you such as
building, tree or lamp post and observe the car in front of you
pass it. Start counting “one thousand one, one thousand two,
one thousand three” and if you reach the object before your
count ends you are too close to the vehicle. Distance
between cars gives you time and distance to react in case of
obstructions ahead of you. Braking aggressively at the
last minute is unsafe and severely affects your car’s
fuel efficiency.
TIP #8: TURN OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER
You must think it’s a crazy suggestion given our sweltering
weather conditions most of the year. We are only saying that
use the air conditioner only when it’s necessary. If the
weather is pleasant and you aren’t in an overcrowded traffic,
roll your windows down and enjoy the exhilarating puff of air!
TIP #9: KEEP THE WINDOWS SHUTIf you are driving at high speed or on highways, its best to
keep the windows shut. The reason? When your windows are
open, the car is less aerodynamic and it puts more pressure
on the engine resulting in increased fuel consumption.
TIP #10: TURN OFF THE ENGINE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS
Let’s be honest here. Most of us do not follow this.
Switching off the engine if you are going to wait at the traffic
signal for more than 60 minutes saves a lot of fuel. It may be
a little difficult to do it in Indian traffic conditions. Here’s an
example – You switch off the engine and the car ahead of you
suddenly starts moving because the driver is keen to use up
all the space ahead of him. Before you can close the gap, you
have a motorist or an auto-rickshaw beat you to it. Don’t fret
about it. While this can be frustrating, here are some facts to
consider
25% of the time behind the wheel is spent in idling
Idling increases CO2 emissions and increase pollution
10 minutes of idling can cost 1/10th of litre of gas
So you might want to think about whether you need to be
idling at traffic signals, when waiting to pick up someone or
waiting at railway crossings.
TIP #11: CARPOOLINGRide-sharing, car-sharing, lift-sharing – it has multiple names
but very few takers in India because of various cultural and
privacy factors.
Did you know that carpooling originated during World War II
in the United States? It was a tactic used to ration gas during
the war. Here’s an interesting poster used to promote
carpooling during that period
(Image source: Wikipedia)
Statistics show that 60% of cars carry no passengers
contributing to congestion and pollution not to
mention the fuel costs one incurs. With carpooling you
can significantly cut down on fuel costs, reduce traffic on the
roads and also ultimately contribute to a greener
environment.
Speak to your colleagues and neighbours and find out ways
to share a ride. Better, check out some of car sharing
solutions available today. You must seriously consider
carpooling unless this is your motto in life is – “I love to
spend more on fuel”
TIP #12: A LITTLE PLANNING HELPSIf your commute is long or if you are planning on a weekend
trip plan ahead and leave early. Getting stuck in traffic is
frustrating. Needless to say you waste a lot of fuel in rush-
hour traffic. While it may not be feasible to plan ahead
everyday find opportunities to do it. Plan your outdoor tasks
in advance and avoid multiple trips.
Car ownership doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket.
Following these simple tips will save a lot in the long run.
What else would you add to this list? Please tell us in the
comments below.
___________________________________________________________CarServo is the smartest way to connect to car service centers in Bangalore for all your car maintenance needs. You can book a service with a Maruti Service Center, Hyundai Service Center or choose a service center of your choice based on the brand of your car. Our network also includes authorized service centers for Renault, Honda, Chevrolet, Nissan, Datsun, Volkswagen and more.
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