Following are some useful tips for saving on fuel costs for your car -
- Check the air pressure on your tires: Keep the air pressure on all the 4 wheels at the recommended levels. Under-inflated tires are a drag on your fuel efficiency.
- Check your speed: Most cars are built for operating within 60-70 kilometers per hour. If you don't maintain this range and drive over this range, then you are decreasing the fuel efficiency of your car.
- Use of Cruise Control: Use cruise control while driving on the highways or on long stretches. This helps keep your fuel consumption at a lower level by keeping your speed constant.
- Reduce Idling: If you are in an idle position for more than 15-20 seconds, then idling uses more fuel than it would take to restart the engine. If you need to stop your car for more than 15-20 seconds, then it would be better to switch off the engine.
- Plan your trip in advance: Plan your trip before hand and use a good GPS system so that you can use the shortest routes and also use less congested routes.
- Watch the weight you are carrying: Remove un-necessary items from your car if you don't need them. Heavier the car, more fuel it needs to accelerate.
- Maintenance: Keep your car in top condition by regular repairs and maintenance as per schedule. This helps in saving fuel.
- Carpooling: Try the option of carpooling with your colleagues or your neighbors. Rotate carpooling amongst yourselves.
- Public Transit or bikes: Try using the public transit or bike for short trips, like going to a corner store etc.
- Try working from home: Check with your employer if they have an option for you to work from home at least for one or two days in a week.
- Breaking: Don't be hard on your brakes. Hard breaking causes you to lose on fuel efficiency
- Be wise while using additional attachments such as battery chargers,air conditioners etc, these suck power and hence require more fuel.
