Tips from the fuel saving expert
Protect the environment, save and use fuel smartly now! As the global demand for oil rises, so will the domestic fuel price. It is unavoidable due to the rapid industrialization by many nations in the world that push the demand for fuel higher and higher by the day. Not only will it affect the livelihood of many people whose income are related closely to the consumption of fuel, but also many working class people as well. And their situation was compounded by non-existent or motionless wage rise due. We can only watch as the world race with each other for these products. But, to save ourselves and the environment, learn these tips here and become an expert fuel saver! Let’s Start Do not accelerate rapidly; accelerate gradually and gently. Accelerating your car rapidly will increase oil consumption 2 to 3 times higher than normal ignition. Give the engine a gradual acceleration. Sudden brakes or acceleration during driving too can increase fuel consumption by 30%! So, plan your trip ahead, a smooth journey gives you a pleasant drive all day long.
Start & Drive Most modern cars nowadays are no longer using carburettors, warming your car engine up before driving, therefore is not needed. As you drive, the heat choker will warm the engine. So, it is advisable that you start to drive immediately after ignition as long as you as are not over speeding! After about 12 kilometres into your journey, the car will reach the correct operating temperature.
Topping up the tank Problem with over filling Over filling the vehicle fuel tank could be wasteful. It is like being forced to eat more food when you’re already full! Leakage and spillage could occur when your vehicle is hopping on uneven roads; it is very wasteful and hazardous to the environment.
On the road Maintain a safe distance and avoid short sudden braking Caution should be taken when driving behind another vehicle. Following too close and applying sudden braking will jerk your car forward, putting unnecessary pressure on the front tyres. When the vehicle pulls up to its normal position during low speed, the static start when you continue driving will caused the engine to consume more power in order to continue running!
Attention Driver – You Don’t over speed! While the sensation and the rush of adrenaline is very much enjoyable, over speeding while you drive will sharply increase fuel consumption and increases your chance of causing a road accident whereby endangering yourself and other road users!
Obstructing Objects There is in some instances, objects such as flags, unused canopy, carriers and many other kinds of equipment can be found on the roofs of vehicles. Unless you have the need to utilise it, take it off. These objects will increase the carrying burden on you car and therefore need more fuel power to operate the vehicle. It is also a speed hindrance to your vehicles.
Avoid constant short braking Take caution that you do not constantly put your feet at the brake pedal as a rest pad. This will wear down the brake pads of your car and cause unnecessary pressure to the driver behind your vehicle!
Under inflated tyres run steadily but higher fuel consumption Some vehicle owners would under-inflate their tyres so that they can enjoy a smoother drive. But, the truth is under-inflated tyres would increase fuel consumption because of less gripping power on the roads due to low pressure. And very often, large tyres with a large tread protector will not favour in fuel economy because these tyres requires a large gripping area and an expanded friction that becomes a burden on the engine to increase power. The huge consumption of fuel can be felt during constant short running and idling of the vehicle (E.g. traffic jams).
Things you should know Park your car under the shades Avoid parking your vehicle under direct sunlight because of high insulation. Open the doors to let in cooler air to ventilate your car interior. Avoid driving under hot condition because the air conditioning system will take a much longer time to release cool air flow and this will cause higher fuel consumption.
Do not neglect your vehicle maintenance Maintenance should be carried out after every 5000 or 10000 kilometres. Periodical checks on the depot, oil filter, transmission fluid, batteries, tyres, CV joints and etc. will help you to maintain optimum condition for your vehicle. Tyre pressure should be checked for the correct pressure as a properly inflated tyre can give your vehicle a 3.3 percent extra mileage. Under-inflated tyres consume more fuel; periodical pressure checks will not only give you extra driving protection but also better fuel management because every cubic pressure is equal to 0.4 percent increase in fuel consumption. But caution should be taken too as to not over-inflate the tyres. As over-inflated tyres would swell pressure inside the tyre and the heat could cause tyre leakage and breakage.
Cleaning the spark plugs Carbon would build up in the engine and around the spark plugs area significantly during idling position in traffic jams. This built up deposits would lower combustion efficiency, thus will make the engine use more fuel to start or ignite. Clean spark plugs would ignite and burn fuel correctly in the initial ignition and helps to avoid wastage of precious fuel.
Use less electrical appliances All air conditioning, headlights, alarm system, stroboscope and etc. draw energy from the car generator which in turn draws energy from the engine that burns fuel! So, any other electrical appliances like charger, LCD monitor, shaver, expanded alarm or sound system would burden the generator. When more energy is needed, the generator would extract more pressure to timing belts to produce more energy and this will certainly increase fuel consumption.
Don’t burden vehicle with unnecessary weight Don’t burden your vehicle with heavy objects that don’t belong in it. Things such as a heavy toolbox, metals, scraps and etc. should be taken out. Every 40 – 50 kilograms of excess weight is equal to carrying another passenger. This will in turn translate into 2 – 3 percent higher fuel consumption.
Over modification won’t save fuel! There are a lot vehicle modification shops who advise vehicle owners to change the catalyst converter. However, this kind of modification would only pressure the exhaust pipe to deliver more power; some oversized exhaust system would need more fuel for this purpose. It is really a waste of money and fuel and is unnecessary!
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