Save Energy Save Money: Driving and Car Maintenance

Hi Folks,

The following post is number two in a series of articles on saving money while saving energy. None of the tips in these articles is rocket science - mostly common sense. The trick is following them.  

I hope you are having a great day,
Woody

Saving Money While Saving Energy: Driving and Car Maintenance

More than two-thirds of the total oil consumed in the United States goes for transportation – mainly in the form of gasoline. An average American consumes approximately 500 gallons of gas annually. And with the unpredictable cost of fuel and the growing concern for the environment, saving energy by becoming a better driver and keeping your car properly maintained is becoming a must.

Consider the following tips to increase fuel efficiency and therefore, save energy…

Proper Driving:

Lighten up. Remove unnecessary things from your car. Extra weight consumes fuel.

Avoid idling. Driving 0 miles per hour doesn’t mean that you don’t consume fuel. A car engine that is running consumes fuel whether it is moving or not. Do not waste fuel by idling to preheat your engine. Once you start your engine, begin driving.

Turn off your engine if you are stuck in traffic. This is what makes hybrid cars so fuel efficient. Hybrid cars automatically shut off their engine when at full stop, eliminating fuel consumption while idling.

Park, turn off your engine and eat inside the restaurant instead of going to a drive thru.

If your vehicle has cruise control, use it. Cruise control helps you maintain a constant speed and saves gas.

Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving, abrupt acceleration, speeding and hard braking lowers your fuel efficiency by as much as 33% on the highway and 5% in the city.

Avoid high speeds. Fuel efficiency drops when you drive over 60 mph.

If you are driving a car with a manual transmission, shift to the highest drivable gear. High gear at low speed requires less pressure on the gas pedal compared to low gear at high revolution.

Calculate your breaking distance. Do not accelerate if you know that you will have to slow down or stop right away. Excessive breaking is the result of excessive acceleration. Avoid them both.   Car air-conditioning system increases fuel consumption by as much as 15%. Turn it off whenever possible.  Avoid using the roof rack. Instead, use your trunk. Items on your roof rack produce drag and reduces fuel economy by as much as 5%.  Maintain the manufacturer’s recommended tire pressure.

If you can afford the cost, switch to a hybrid car. Hybrid cars have better fuel economy than regular gasoline engine vehicles. Also, hybrid cars have lower emission ratings which helps reduce carbon dioxide emission. Electric cars and other vehicles that run on alternative energy are better choices if you want to save on fuel and help the environment.

Fuel efficiency is maximized if the car is light, aerodynamic and has a small engine. So when you are considering buying a new car, you should take these three elements into account. 

Car Maintenance:

Replace or clean your air filter regularly. Clogged filters prevent air from entering the cylinders and results in poor car performance and higher fuel consumption.

Keep your wheels properly aligned.

Give your car regular tune ups, oil changes, and maintenance checks.

Try carpooling or public transportation to reduce fuel consumption and maintenance costs.

Use the correct type of oil for your car.

Make these tips a habit to save money, help the environment, and add years of life to your car.

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