How to Conserve Your Car’s Fuel
With prices at the pump going up, many vehicle owners are looking for ways to make the most out of each refill. Fortunately, there are many simple tips and tricks drivers can take advantage of to improve their vehicle’s fuel economy. Continue reading to learn how you can push back your next trip to the gas station.
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What Affects a Car’s Fuel Economy?
There’s no shortage of factors that can impact a vehicle’s overall efficiency. Unfortunately, not all of these elements are things that drivers can control. Cold weather causes a vehicle’s engine to operate at a suboptimal temperature, resulting in more fuel consumption than in warmer weather.
Travel environment will also have an impact on fuel efficiency. Drivers who live in hilly or mountainous areas will likely experience worse fuel economy than drivers who live in areas with more even terrain.
Change Your Driving Style
Fortunately, driving style and personal habits also play an important role in determining a vehicle’s overall efficiency. With a few simple adjustments, drivers can easily find ways to optimize their fuel consumption.
The easiest way for drivers to conserve fuel is to avoid aggressive driving practices. Rapid acceleration, speeding, and hard braking can reduce fuel economy by about 30% on the highway and up to 40% in the city. By driving defensively and shifting speed gradually, drivers can not only stay safe on the road but enjoy increased fuel efficiency as well.
Reconsider Your Cargo
Driving with heavy cargo onboard or while towing will require additional power from the engine, resulting in lowered fuel efficiency. Whenever possible, drivers should avoid travelling with any more cargo than what is necessary. When vehicles are tested for their fuel efficiency, the standard assumption is that they are carrying about 136 kilograms worth of additional weight. Going over that threshold will result in worse fuel economy.
Similarly, drivers who travel with roof-mounted cargo holding attachments, such as roof baskets, cargo boxes, or kayak loaders should know that these external accessories add wind resistance. While it won’t be too much of a factor in city driving conditions, this additional drag will result in lowered fuel economy at highway speeds. Because of this, it’s recommended that drivers remove these add-ons when they’re not in use.
Other Fuel Conservation Tips
- Combine trips whenever possible to avoid superfluous fuel consumption
- Whenever possible, avoid idling the vehicle
- Avoid excessive use of the vehicle’s air conditioning and heating systems
- Shut off or unplug interior electrical accessories when they’re not in use
Wondering where to take your vehicle in for service in the Keswick, Ontario area? Many divers rely on the team at S&B Keswick Motors Limited for all their automotive maintenance needs. Book a service appointment with our team for a date and time that works best for you.
