Monday 17 October 2011
Reduce Gas Pain and Wallet Drain
Here are some basic fuel-saving tips published by Consumer Reports: http://news.consumerreports.org/cars/2011/03/10-tips-to-improve-fuel-economy-and-save-money-on-gas.html
On top of the recommendations by Consumer Reports, here are my 5 extra, not-so-obvious tips to help you maximize your fuel savings:
- Make Use of Your Retained Power
Most newer cars today have a retained power feature which gives you up to a minute to close your windows and your sunroof if you turn off your engine but keep the keys in the ignition. Using the retained power instead of keeping the engine idling while you’re waiting for the windows and sunroof to close can lead to small but significant fuel savings over a long period of time.
- Get Everything Ready First!
Most people idle their cars as they are buckling up their children, loading cargo, plugging in their phone to the charger, checking e-mail on their SmartPhone, chatting with a neighbour while the engine is running, shovelling snow, and/or tuning the radio and adjusting their music lists before driving off. What would help save gas is to turn off the engine while loading, and have all your music and items to be charged plugged in or set up in your ignition’s Accessory setting before starting up and driving off. Heck, forget about the drive-thru. Go inside Starbucks or Tim Hortons.
I really want to emphasize that needless idling is a huge drain on fuel economy. According to Natural Resources Canada, idling longer than 10 seconds uses more fuel and produces more carbon dioxide compared to restarting the engine. They recommend that if you are going to be stopped for more than a minute, turn off the engine (unless you’re in traffic).
- Have Your Brakes Inspected or Serviced at Least Once a Year
Some people may have sticking brakes, especially in the rear, or a parking brake that doesn’t disengage all the way, both of which could cause dragging of one or more wheels, forcing the engine to work harder, and thus consuming more fuel in the process to get you up to speed. As you can imagine, this forces the engine to have to work harder, and in the process, consumes more gas and worse yet, wear out your brake parts.
Have your brakes serviced and inspected at least once a year if not twice to make sure everything is moving and well-lubricated. This is one up-sell at service shops and dealers I recommend you take them up on. The perfect time to inspect and service your brakes would be when you are changing from winter to summer wheels, and vice versa.
- Reset Your Trip Meter & Fuel Economy Calculator after Every Fill-up
Many newer cars have a digital fuel economy calculator (in L/100km), and all cars have a trip meter, both of which should be reset whenever you fill up. Seeing how many L/100km you are consuming as well as how many total kilometres you are getting out of a tank could serve as a guide for you to adjust your driving to save gas.
Furthermore, by resetting every time you fill up and being vigilant on the calculations, any unusual increases in fuel consumption could help you monitor the state of your engine’s health, or tip you off to check your tire pressure, inspect your air filter or have the brakes checked.
- Opt for the Smaller Tire &Wheel Package When Buying or Leasing a New Car
When purchasing or leasing a new vehicle, there may be a few wheel and tire choices in terms of style and sizes. Unless a bigger wheel package is forged and made of lightweight metals (mostly available on performance cars), opt for smaller wheels (i.e. the standard 18” wheels vs. the 20” chrome wheels). Heavy wheels like chrome wheels increase fuel consumption because they are not only bigger and often wider, but they act as extra un-sprung weight on the car. By having smaller, lighter wheels, this can support fuel economy over the long term, as well as reduce costs when it comes to purchasing replacement tires.
Keep these extra tips in mind, and feel free to leave a comment below to let me know if they’ve helped or not.
Drive on….
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