Nowadays, when fuel prices increase day by day, it’s essential to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy to cut down your travel expenses. Here are some pro-tips that you can follow to improve the fuel efficiency of your car:
Get car maintenance done regularly
To improve a vehicle’s fuel economy, it’s vital to keep getting its maintenance done regularly. A few things that must be checked during a car service include:
- Oil/coolant levels
- Other fluid levels
- Spark plugs
- Air filter
- Brakes
- Shock absorbers
- Tires
- Battery
- Generator
- Lights
- Wipers
We suggest you get your vehicle’s service done regularly to keep it working well. If you own any of Toyota’s cars, it’s recommended to get the service done by professionals such as Toyota’s main dealer in your locality.
Drive smooth
Most young people drive their car rough, and it’s very harmful to the car’s engine. If a car’s engine isn’t perfect, it negatively impacts the overall performance of that car, including its fuel economy. So it’s imperative to be very careful while driving a car to prevent excessive fuel consumption.
Drive according to speed limits
Driving a car following the speed limits can help reduce fuel consumption. Research has shown that going on a highway with 65-70 mph consumes less fuel than driving it at 80 mph. The speed limits are set keeping these things in mind, so it’s suggested to follow these limits.
Carry less weight
Always carry less weight in your car. Putting too many things in a car decreases its fuel economy. So it’s good to remove all unnecessary objects from your cars, such as useless tools, extra spare wheel (if more than one), excessive water bottles, and other things that are increasing the car’s weight.
Use its air conditioner only when necessary.
Car A/C consumes a lot of fuel and puts a burden on the vehicle’s engine. It’s highly recommended not to use your car’s air conditioner excessively when you don’t need to.
Don’t drive on the same gear for too long.
Never drive your car too long on the same gear. It’s vital to shift gears as soon as possible. Shift it to the highest possible, which helps the car be driven more smoothly and saves more fuel. Generally, it’s suggested to shift before 2000 rpm (for diesel) and 2500 rpm (for petrol) if you want your engine not to struggle too much.
Keep a check on tires.
It’s crucial to check your car’s tires regularly. Poorly inflated tires can cause more fuel consumption as they put more strain on the engine to drive the car. Also, the tires shouldn’t be over-inflated as they can get burst because of this. According to some resources, 25% of total cars on the road have improperly inflated tires. The tires must never be under-inflated below 7.5 pounds.
Get your car’s wheel alignment done.
Your car’s wheel alignment can be easily damaged while driving it on rough roads. So If you feel that your car is turning automatically or getting challenging to move, you must take it to any service center for wheel alignment. Not paying attention to this problem can burn a lot of fuel. Also, the engine is badly affected due to the force it has to put in driving the car.
Drive according to the road
To save fuel, it’s vital to judge the road and drive according to it. For example, if you’re driving your car on a highway that’s sloping downward, you don’t have to apply an accelerator there. Doing this will only waste your fuel. So always check where you’re driving and what you should do to improve fuel consumption.
Check the fuel cap
Checking the fuel cap is very important to improve a vehicle’s fuel economy. With time, the rubber seal on the fuel cap decays and breaks down. Because of this, air enters the tank and vaporizes the fuel. To prevent this, keep checking your car’s fuel cap and change it whenever necessary.
Some other tips
Check for the route
Always check for the route you’re going on. If your selected way is too long or has too much traffic on it, it’s not a good decision to go from there. You should choose another route where your car consumes less fuel.
Plan long trips
To save fuel, it’s recommended to plan long trips rather than planning short ones. Cars consume a lot more fuel on short routes, so going on long routes proves to be very useful in improving a car’s fuel economy.
Never keep putting your foot on the brake
Cars with an automatic transmission system have only a break and an accelerator pedal, so most people keep their left foot on the brake. They don’t press it, but keeping the foot to the brake can be harmful to the engine’s health and fuel efficiency as it puts stress on the engine. So it’s always suggested to keep your foot on the floor and bring it to the break when you’ve to apply it.
Select the right motor oil
It’s imperative to select the right motor oil for your car. If you use any oil that’s denser than the requirement, it can strain your car’s engine, resulting in more fuel than normal.
Turn off your car when necessary
It’s very important to switch your car off when necessary. Like if you’re waiting for someone while keeping your car on, it isn’t good for fuel economy. So always remember to turn off your car when you’re not driving it.
These were some tips to improve your vehicle’s fuel economy. We recommend you get your car maintenance done regularly. For which it’s good to get it done from any trusted place. If you’re someone from Karachi, Pakistan, we suggest you visit Toyota Creek Motors. They’re one of the best Toyota dealerships in the town. You can also book an online appointment for a car service.
Author Bio:
Kamil Riaz Kara is a content contributor at Mainstream Pakistan and associated with digital marketing for the last six years. Presently working at Digital Eggheads, a digital marketing agency in Karachi.