Did you think that minimizing your car’s fuel expenses is difficult in today’s times? Not anymore! Check out these tips to bring your fuel expenses under control.
When you save fuel, you are doing two things simultaneously. Not only do you save money, but you also reduce pollution. Thus, doing your bit towards saving planet earth. The fluctuations in the prices of petrol and diesel over the years have effected both the automobile industry as well as the end-customer.
While we are struggling to cut short our daily expenses, we can happily and easily reduce our spending on fuel with the help of these tricks.
Ready to save? Let’s go!
1. Ensure the tires have the right pressure
Doing so can reduce the amount of rubber that is in contact with the pavement, which provides less traction. Replacing your tires early due to uneven tire wear-off can cost you more in the long run than the few rupees you may save up in gas.
Keeping your tires properly inflated should make a difference in your mileage. The pressure of the tires may change with the rise and fall in temperature. So, you need to often check the tire pressure and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to get steady and even tire wear.
2. Replace spark plugs
The sound of your car’s engine should be smooth. A sluggish engine that makes more noise than usual indicates inefficiency. Such a case would require replacement of spark plugs. A deteriorated spark plug can reduce your fuel efficiency as much as 30 percent.
If you realize that you have been filling your gas tank more than usual, you would probably need to replace spark plugs. If there is no issues with the spark plugs, still make sure that you replace them every five years, as they improve your fuel combustion and boost mileage to hike the air condition’s performance.
3. Don’t ride the clutch
When we talk about riding the clutch, we mean that you shouldn’t hit the accelerator pedal while the clutch is still depressed. It would put pressure on the clutch, causing a surge of power. Ultimately, it will hit your fuel economy.
4. Avoid staying idle
If you are arriving at a traffic signal, where you know you are going to be stopped for more than a minute – turn off the engine! Turning it off in situations where idling is common such as train crossings can help save up fuel. It wouldn’t create much of a wear and tear problem with the current crop of engine starters.
5. Keep your speed down
Keep a tab of the speed at which you are driving, by regularly taking quick glances at the speed indicator on the dashboard. Obviously it’s impractical to slow down on highways, but otherwise driving on 45 kmph can help you save a significant amount of money. Since every car’s transmission is different, you need to figure out at what speed your car shifts into gears as that should be approximate speed at which you can get the best gas mileage.
6. Clear unwanted things from car
Sometimes we get so lazy that we leave behind unnecessary things in the boot. Unless we are falling short of space we won’t take them out. But, note that every extra kilo of weight that your car has to carry will require additional fuel. Hence, the mileage is reduced.
7. Fill fuel when tank is half empty
There is a scientific reason to filling fuel when the petrol/diesel tank is half empty. The more fuel you have in your tank, less air is occupied in its empty space. Petrol/diesel evaporates faster when it comes in contact with air.
Since fuel storage tanks have an internal floating roof, it acts as zero clearance between the atmosphere and the fuel. Thus, restricting evaporation.
8. Fill fuel at slow speed
If fuel is filled at full throttle it can easily evaporate. Don’t forget to instruct the attendant at the fuel station to fill it at a slow speed.
With the above tips, you can maximize fuel efficiency and minimize fuel expenditure like a pro!
Apart from the above points, engine damage caused due to mismatch of fuel filled in the car is not covered under your comprehensive car insurance policy. Can you imagine what would happen to the engine if your diesel car is fueled with petrol or vice-versa? Make sure such a mistake like this is avoided so that you don’t end up burning an additional hole in your pocket at the time of claim. :)
Recommended Read : Learn how to check your car's health all by yourself
