HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2016-04-28, Page 17THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2016. PAGE 17.
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`Green' options for older cars
Going green has its perks
Getting the most from a vehicle with the least amount of fuel and emissions doesn't
necessarily require buying a new car. Drivers can adopt some new habits to increase the fuel
efficiency of their vehicles which will not only help save the environment but help save them a
few dollars at the gas pumps now and then. Regular vehicle maintenance, maintaining speeds
less than 100 kilometres an hour, keeping cargo inside a vehicle and inspecting a car,
including its gas cap regularly, can help improve mileage and reduce emissions. (MS photo)
MS — Many new vehicles are
made with the environment in mind,
as more and more drivers are
embracing eco -friendly features that
reduce the carbon footprints of their
vehicles. But motorists need not
purchase new cars to make their
driving habits more environmentally
friendly. The following are a handful
of steps drivers can take to protect
the environment regardless of how
new or old their vehicles are.
• Maintain your vehicle: Even if
your car or truck has no eco -friendly
features designed to reduce fuel
consumption and cut down on
emissions, that does not mean the
vehicle cannot be more fuel-efficient
or produce fewer emissions.
Adhering to the maintenance
schedule recommended in your
vehicle owner's manual can
conserve fuel and cut back on
potentially harmful emissions.
Well-maintained vehicles burn
less fuel, as they don't force engines
and other components to work as
hard during operation as vehicles
that have not been taken care of.
Replace worn down or dirty spark
plugs, which misfire and waste fuel,
and fuel and air filters once they are
no longer operating at peak capacity.
Address any issues that arise with
your vehicle's emissions systems
immediately, visiting your mechanic
if the vehicle seems to be sputtering
or emitting any abnormal fumes.
• Slow down: Driving above the
speed limit is not just dangerous, but
potentially harmful to the
environment as well. Driving above
100 kilometres per hour is far less
fuel-efficient than driving below that
figure. So slowing down when
posted speed limits mandate driving
100 kilometres per hour or slower is
not just safer and more eco -friendly,
it's better for your wallet as well.
• Keep cargo off the roof: When
you must haul cargo, keep that cargo
in rear -mount cargo boxes or the
backseat or trunk of your car rather
than the roof. Rooftop cargo boxes
make vehicles less aerodynamic,
reducing highway fuel economy by
as much as 17 per cent. By
comparison, rear -mount cargo boxes
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LECTURE
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reduce highway fuel economy by
just two to five per cent.
If you haul cargo in your trunk,
remove items when your trip is
complete, as excess, unnecessary
weight in the car will reduce its fuel
efficiency.
• Inspect the gas cap: Few drivers
may think to examine their gas caps
while filling up at the pump, but
such an inspection may reveal cracks
or other damage that are wasting
fuel. When gas caps are cracked,
loose or damaged, fuel can escape
gas tanks as a vapour, wasting fuel
and contributing to emissions.
If the cap is in need of
replacement, consult your mechanic,
the dealer who sold you your vehicle
or the vehicle manufacturer.
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