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5 Ways to Make Your Car More Fuel Efficient

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Easy Ways to Make Your Car More Fuel Efficient

Now that Spring is officially here, more and more people are beginning to plan the spring and summer road trips. One of the best ways to save money when traveling by car is to keep your car as fuel efficient as possible. Whether you are concerned about the high price of gas, or just want to reduce your car’s carbon footprint, here are 5 easy ways to make your car more fuel efficient.

ways-to-make-your-car-more-fuel-efficient

1. Get Rid of that Lead Foot

It may seem obvious, but if you drive with a lead foot – speeding, taking off from red lights at warp speed, you are wasting gas. Likewise, by avoiding heavy braking you can also avoid unnecessary trips to the gas station. Research suggests that driving techniques can actually influence fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent!  Drive steadily without frequently slowing down or speeding up and you will be on the right road to improving your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. When appropriate, use your cruise control. This can save you up to 6 per cent in fuel consumption on the highway and interstate.

2. Avoid Idling

Did you know that by letting your vehicle idle you can end up consuming anywhere between half-a-gallon to one gallon of gas per hour? Not to mention all that needless CO2 you are pumping into the atmosphere! With older cars, people were taught that it was better to let the car idle than to keep turning it off and on. Today’s engines are built to where they consume less fuel turning off and restarting as opposed to idling. Additionally, today’s cars do not need to sit and idle in order to warm up during the cold winter months. Instead, to warm up the engine, just to start the engine, wait for around 20 seconds and drive on. 

3. Tire Pressure

You should check your tire pressure at least once a month, more during the cold months of winter. Underinflated tires cause your car to burn more fuel, whereas properly inflated tires can reduce fuel consumption by up to 3%. You can find the proper pressure recommended for your car either in the manual or on the sticker on the driver-side doorpost. Tip: that number on the tire itself? That is not the recommended pressure, that is the max pressure that tire can hold.

4.  Regular maintenance

I cannot stress enough how important it is to take your car in for regular maintenance. In fact, a poorly maintained vehicle can actually burn up to 30 percent more fuel than when it is properly maintained. When it comes to fuel efficiency, there are several components that play a key role including the air filter, oxygen sensor, spark plugs, and fuel injectors. Even the cleanness of the battery cables can make a difference! 

Speaking of regular maintenance, your vehicle’s chassis and suspension can also play a part in fuel efficiency. Things like bent wheels, bent axles, broken springs, and worn shocks can create drivetrain drag that causes your car to burn fuel disproportionately.

If it’s been a while since your last had your car serviced, schedule an appointment at your local mechanic shop or dealership. Many dealerships, such as Speedway Auto Group, have their own service departments that can help ensure your car continues to get its optimum fuel mileage.

5. Lighten The Load

The less weight in your car, the better the fuel economy. That means it is time to clean out that trunk and only leave the necessities.

While the above suggestions can make your car more fuel-efficient, there are some things you can do to reduce the number of miles you drive, which will save you money in the long run. This includes things like combining errands into one trip, walking when you can, and carpooling whenever possible.

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