How you drive and the condition of your vehicle affects how much fuel your car uses. And with petrol prices seemingly on a constant upward trend, that can hurt the hip pocket. There are some simple ways to ensure your car runs efficiently and uses no more fuel than it has too. Seek out some expert advice too. There is also plenty of advice on the internet as well, so next time you are looking up car insurance quotes, have a look around the site to see what kind of tips they may have.
Drive smooth, not erratically
This is by far the simplest way you can reduce fuel consumption. Firstly, don’t drive with a “lead foot”. Accelerate smoothly rather than pushing the pedal to the floor, as making your car rev higher will result in more fuel being used. Drive to the traffic conditions as well. Keep a good distance between yourself and the car in front and take your foot of the accelerator early to slow down rather than banging on the brakes when you get too close. This results in stop/start driving, which is when fuel use is at its highest.
Watch your speed
Driving faster generally means more fuel being used. A steady speed will dramatically affect your fuel consumption, so using cruise control can be a big help in this regard. Make sure you use the right gear as well. Using a lower gear than is really needed will result in more revs and higher fuel consumption.
Maintain your car
Caring for your car is another big factor in how fuel efficient your vehicle is. It’s a good idea to have your car regularly looked at by a mechanic. Whether it’s a car service in Melbourne or anywhere else in Australia, a mechanic will tune your car properly, pick up any faults and generally get it to run at its best, which means better fuel economy.
Pay attention to the tyres
Under-inflated tyres can significantly affect the amount of fuel a car uses, so make sure you check the pressure regularly and inflate them to the manufacturer’s specifications. Check that they are correctly aligned too – unusual wearing on the outside of the tyres or a “pull” to one side are indications that your car is in need of a wheel alignment.
It’s cool to turn off the air-conditioning
Research has shown that running your car’s air-conditioner can increase fuel consumption by up to 10%. So think about that next time you feel the need to push the A/C button. Use the air-conditioning only when you really need it.
Reduce the use
Rather than make lots of short trips, do all your errands at once. Stopping and starting are the times that cars use the most fuel, so think out your journeys. Using your car less can sometimes result in lower car insurance premiums as well.
Think aerodynamic
Having your window open at speeds of more than 80kph can have a big affect on your car’s aerodynamics, which in turn increases fuel consumption. Other factors that affect drag include spoilers, roof racks and towing a load, such as a boat or caravan. Keep everything streamlined, or better yet, remove accessories such as bike racks when they aren’t being used.
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