Fuel is among the biggest operating costs for a car. Although modern cars are provided with more fuel efficient transmission systems than before, the proportion of fuel costs to other operating expenses continues to be high. The potential of shale is yet to be explored, so for the moment, Americans need to conserve as much fuel as we can. Here are some simple things you can practice to save fuel as far as possible.
Use Brakes Steadily
That goes for acceleration as well. Your car is not the Knight Rider and you shouldn’t deceive yourself into believing that it is one. When you accelerate hard or apply the brakes with too much pressure, it your car burns up fuel like anything. The wise thing to do is to keep your eye on the traffic at all times and anticipate its progress. You will save up to 20% of your fuel simply by going soft on the acceleration and brake pedals.
Drive at Moderate Speeds
Moderation seems to be the key here. Although the traffic congestion in most urban areas precludes the possibility of driving too fast, many drivers commit this sin on the highway. Driving at high speeds increases the drag on your car and your engine burns more fuel to keep up the high speeds. This is needed to overcome the force of the aerodynamic drag which pushes your car in the opposite direction and thereby reduces your speed. A good standard is to keep speed levels within 62 miles per hour. Doing so will help you save fuel by up to 20%.
Limit the Use of the Car A/C
Air conditioning consumes a lot of electricity. And no prizes for guessing where that comes from. Your engine burns up fuel to make that electricity available. When you have the air conditioner running at full blast, it may give you a comfortable ride but it makes your engine simply mad. Your engine consumes at least 20% more fuel to keep the air conditioning running. Those who think that the damage can be reversed if they use the defrost feature, they are mistaken too because that also involves the use of the air conditioner.
Check Air Pressure Levels in the Tires
Another place you need to check to save your car fuel are the tires. These are probably the most neglected part of the car and most drivers do not notice anything wrong with their car tires unless one of them gets punctured. In fact, the air pressure in the tires must be monitored all the time and the tires should be inflated as soon as air pressure falls below the recommended level. While low pressure in the tires does not have a very large impact on fuel consumption, it is responsible behavior to take every step to conserve fuel.
Stop when not in Use
Letting the engine run while you get something from the store or while waiting out a traffic jam leads to unnecessary fuel consumption. A better way is to turn off the engine if you feel you will be waiting for longer than a minute.
