With today's rising gas prices and no end in sight for their continued upswing, taking care of your vehicle has never been more important. Here are a few tips to help you take better care of your vehicle and gain some control over your fuel costs.
Keep your tires inflated to the proper inflation
Proper tire inflation is important for safety and proper vehicle handling; it also maximizes the life of your tire. An under-inflated tire causes more friction with the ground, which may cause excessive stress and heat. Stress to your tires and heat are the prime contributors to tire failure, including blowouts.
Suggestions:- In 2005, it was estimated by the Department of Energy at 1.2 billion gallons of fuel were wasted due to driving on under-inflated tires. In order to obtain the proper air pressure reading, tires should be checked when they are cold.
- Check tire pressure at least once a month and before any long trips; don't forget to check your spare, also. It's estimated that fuel efficiency is reduced by approximately 1% for every 3 PSI that your tires are under-inflated.
- You may not be able to distinguish between an under-inflated tire and one that is properly filled with only your eyes so use a tire gauge – found at auto parts stores beginning at $3.00. For proper inflation pressure, use the pressure listed in your vehicles owner's manual or most times, there is an inflation sticker on the driver's door jamb. * The number on the side of your tire is a maximum inflation number and is probably NOT the proper air pressure for your vehicle.
- Due to weather changes, your tires will lose air pressure each month. As we get into colder weather, your tires will lose approximately 1 PSI of air pressure for each 10 degrees of temperature drop. This means, in the colder weather, you may have to fill your tires more often.
- Keep your tires balanced and in alignment.
Check and clean / replace your air filter
Your car's air filter works to trap dirt particles, which could cause your engine to require maintenance (and expensive parts) sooner than if you take the time and care to keep the filter clean and replace as necessary. Most vehicles' air filters are easy to get to – usually on top of the engine area. An engine can use 10,000 gallons of air or more for every gallon of fuel that is burned.
Suggestions:- Most air filters are disposable and inexpensive. Many manufactures recommend changing them after every 15,000 miles or so. I checked on replacing a disposable type on a 2003 Honda Accord filter and prices ranged from about $12 to $15. If you don't mind spending more to get more, a K&N air filter would run approximately $40 for the same car. K&N filters are a lifetime purchase; need cleaned at about 50,000 miles and can increase the performance of your vehicle.
- New air filters can begin declining in performance after as few as 5,000 miles. It is recommended that you clean your air filter once a month – you can use a vacuum and it may help give you more than 7% better gas mileage for taking three minutes time out of your month to do so.
- A dirty air filter can reduce gas mileage up to 20%.
- Most oil change shops check your air filter with each change. Ask the shop manager to check it if you are unsure or just want it checked.
Combine trips to store
Taking short trips to run to the store for one item is not only a fuel guzzler and harder on your vehicle but it can also be a waste of your valuable time.
Suggestions:- Make lists of stores you need to visit and items you need to get while there so that you do not forget anything.
- If you do have to make a quick trip, make a fast stop at your neighbors first. Perhaps they, too, have an item or two they need. And don't forget, what you give away, you also will receive.
- Always travel to the place furthest away from where you need to go. This will allow the vehicle time to fully warm up which will make for better fuel mileage.
Avoid "warm up" idling
While it's true that your vehicle should be warmed up before driving, the typical warm up takes less than 30 seconds; more emissions are produced during idling than when the car is operating. An idling engine gets zero miles per gallon.
Suggestions:- Not only does an engine need to warm up but also all moving parts including tires, transmission, wheel bearings need to be warm for your vehicle to perform well. These parts do not warm until the vehicle is driven.
- Avoid fast acceleration and high speeds for the first 3-5 miles after your cold start. Doing so will allow the whole vehicle to reach peak operating temperature as soon as possible without excessive fuel usage.
- Many cities have an ordinance against leaving vehicles running unattended as well as it's much easier to steal a vehicle when it's unattended and already running.
- If you have a garage, spend some time to get it cleaned out so that you can park your vehicle inside during the cold months of the year.
- Wait to begin using your heater until your engine has reached operating temperature; your engine runs rich until a minimum temperature threshold is reached and using the heater before this threshold has been reached which will cause your engine to work harder as well as lengthen the warm up time and use more fuel.
Practice driving more efficiently; less aggressively
Driving more efficiently by giving yourself more time to get places can cause you to drive less aggressively and can help save fuel as well as help your stress levels. If you give yourself more time to get somewhere and enjoy the time you have while going, the amount of stress you are under can be reduced along with your fuel consumption.
Suggestions:- Having a lead-foot can burn up to 20% more fuel than using a softer touch.
- Using the cruise control on flat surfaces can help with creeping speeds. Note: cruise control should be reconsidered when on inclines, as your engine will have to work harder.
- For each five miles over 60 that you travel, it's estimated that you will burn an extra $0.20 per gallon.
- At red lights and whenever possible, avoid braking. Each time you brake, you are stopping the momentum of your forward movement and causing your vehicle to work harder to begin again with each full stop. Instead, brake lightly, slowing your vehicle instead of coming to a complete stop.
Quick tips for better fuel mileage
- Avoid air conditioning. Air conditioning can burn up to 20% more fuel. If you must use the air, manually turn the A/C on and off as needed instead of allowing it to continuously run.
- Close windows when traveling at high speeds. Instead, use the circulating fan feature on your vehicle.
- Remove ski and bicycle racks etc. as these can cause air drag thus consume more fuel and also make your vehicle work harder.
- Check your gas cap. Those that are missing, lost or loose can cause fuel to vaporize.
- Avoid drive-thru windows as they can lead to excessive idling.
- When parking, drive into a "pull-through" spot rather than one that would force you into reversing, then pulling forward.
- Don't start your vehicle until you are completely ready to drive. Make sure you and your passengers are seat-belted etc before starting your vehicle.
- Avoid driving when the weather is very hot; park in the shade when you can.
- Remove excess weight from your vehicle. Removing as little as 100 can reduce your MPG by up to 2%.
- Instead of idling for more than 30 seconds, whenever possible, turn your vehicle off. It takes less fuel to restart than to idle.