The Citizen, 2013-04-18, Page 15THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013. PAGE 15.
MS –Reducing fuel costs is
foremost on the minds of many
drivers. Myriad costs are associated
with owning an automobile, many of
which are within a driver’s control.
For instance, safe drivers are likely
to spend less on auto insurance than
drivers with a history of traffic
violations or accidents, while drivers
who purchase a vehicle with a high
safety rating will likely spend less to
insure that vehicle than they would a
sports car.
One of the costs associated with
driving that some drivers may
mistakenly feel is beyond their
control is the cost of fuel. Drivers
might not be able to control the price
at the pump, but there are many
ways drivers can spend less on fuel,
helping them save money and
helping the environment along the
way.
Emphasizing efficiency
Making a vehicle more efficient is
a great way to save money at the
pump. But drivers don’t need to get
under the hood or have a mechanic’s
understanding of automobiles to
make their cars more efficient. In
fact, a few minor adjustments is all it
takes to make a car more efficient
and save drivers, regardless of their
mechanical inclinations, money at
the filling station.
• Adequately inflate tires. Tires
that are not properly inflated
increase drag on a vehicle, which
then consumes more fuel to operate
at full capacity. Check the driver’s
manual for the manufacturer’s
recommended tire pressure, and
check the tire pressure frequently to
ensure your car isn’t working harder
than it needs to be.
• Clear out the trunk. A car filled
with clutter is carrying unnecessary
weight, making it harder for the car
to accelerate and consuming more
fuel than it should. Clear out the
trunk and anything inside the vehicle
that you don’t need.
• Open the windows at lower
speeds.Air conditioning consumes
lots of fuel, and many auto experts
suggest rolling down the windows
when driving at lower speeds. When
you begin driving a little faster, roll
the windows up and turn on the air
conditioning to reduce drag.
Spend wisely
How you’re spending at the pump
can also help you reduce fuel
consumption and save you money.
• Fill ’er up! Many drivers avoid
filling up their tank when visiting the
gas station for fear that filling up the
tank makes the car heavier,
decreasing the vehicle’s fuel
efficiency as a result. While that may
be true, drivers who don’t fill up
make more trips to the filling station
and those trips can waste fuel. In
addition, when the gas cap is
removed from your vehicle,
vaporized gas escapes from the tank,
so opening the cap more frequently
allows more vaporized gas to
escape.
• Pay for gas with a card that
rewards you with cash for making
purchases. While using a cash-back
credit card won’t reduce your fuel
consumption, it will earn you some
money back on your fuel purchases.
• Don’t pay more for fuel your car
won't utilize. Some drivers might
feel putting a high-octane fuel in
their vehicles will improve the
vehicle’s performance. But that’s not
the case. A high-octane fuel in a car
that’s built for a low-octane fuel
won’t improve the car’s performance
or its gas mileage. Only purchase the
fuel the owner’s manual
recommends. For many new
vehicles, that means 87-octane, or
“regular”, fuel, which is typically the
most affordable.
Drive wisely
Driving habits can also impact
how much fuel you’re consuming.
Driving habits can be hard to
change, but drivers who start driving
with a mind toward safety and
reducing fuel consumption can take
steps to do just that.
• Don’t accelerate too quickly.
Rapid acceleration consumes more
fuel. When accelerating, do so
gradually. You’ll still get to the same
place, but you’ll get there with a lot
more fuel.
• Don’t speed. Highway speeds
more than 100 kilometres per hour
significantly reduce fuel efficiency.
Estimates suggest a car travelling at
100 kilometres per hour uses 20 per
cent less fuel than a vehicle
travelling at 120 kilometres per
hour.
Increase fuel efficiency with these easy tips
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