Top Ways To Cut Back On Fuel Consumption
2GreenEnergy
It’s no secret that today’s car manufacturers have spent a good deal of time in the first decade of 2000 to present day on making their vehicles as fuel efficient as possible. From aerodynamic changes to more streamlined mechanisms underneath the hood, whereas 25 MPG was a starting point, it’s looking more and more likely that most models will achieve 30+ MPG in the near future.
**The day heavy-duty trucks and sports cars reach that plateau will be even better.**
But modern technology and other just-out-of-the-box vehicles can’t account for the simple fact that a majority of vehicles on the road today still fall in the 25 MPG or below category. But that doesn’t mean these drivers are at a loss with being on the eco-friendly side of the coin.
Adaptation is the name of the game, and there’s no better way than cutting back on bad fuel consumption habits. Some, drivers continually do without thinking about it, while the other fuel conservation methods just aren’t as fresh in their minds. Which is why a good way to bridge that gap and perfect your fuel conservation can be accomplished with the following tips.
Learn When To Blast The A/C
So many times drivers turn to their A/C for relief when the weather outside is pleasant and moderate. Not to say you should swear off the A/C altogether – because drivers shouldn’t sweat through upper 80′s and 90′s days – but try to be a better judge of when fresh air is better off.
Reduce Unnecessary Wind Resistance
Engineers have been refining the aerodynamic makeup of cars with every passing year. Most of the time, it’s to benefit the performance of the car, which in turn helps put up better numbers in the MPG department. As such, drivers must know when they’re inadvertently altering their car’s performance. Little actions like having your windows down while driving on the interstate puts added resistance to your car, forcing the engine to adapt and churn out more fuel in the process. Getting past this is easy: judge the drive and if it’s a 60+ miles per hour job, then windows up. If it’s a 20 miles per hour stroll downtown, having the windows down isn’t going to alter the wind resistance nearly as much, if at all.
Vehicle Maintenance
One of the most obvious candidates – but ignored just the same – is how well drivers tend to their car. Keeping your car to a mirror shine, both under the hood and outside, can play a major role in your car’s fuel efficiency. If you’ve got a loose portion of a front or rear bumper, it’s safe to assume the wind can expose that gap and push your car more than it needs to. Same goes with a worn-down muffler, old oil lubricants on the gears, rickety timing belts and so on.
Think of it this way, when drivers see initial MPG marks for a car, the stats are being judged when the car’s at is most optimal. The best way to tow that line is by being more aware of when your vehicle’s crying out for your attention.
Reduce The Load
This isn’t a call for driving solo – because that point will be touched upon next – but more with cutting out the fat of your car. Using your trunk as a storage locker ready to be bid on by the cast of Storage Wars adds unnecessary bulk to your car, meaning every drive demands a little more from the engine and fuel performance at the same time.
Counter the dilemma by keeping your car organized and clutter-free, removing and storing items like golf clubs, luggage and so forth. Only keep items you know you’ll need on a daily basis or for emergencies (i.e., flashlights, car oil and other fluids, etc.).
Warm Up To Carpooling
Carpooling has become more popular through the years mainly to reduce fuel costs, yet when expanded upon outside of routine drives to work and practiced on weekend outings with friends and vacations, the fuel conservation initiative is given fresh legs to stand on even more. Dividing up whose turn it is to drive to the office one week or go out for a night on the town means less cars on the road, plain and simple.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, reducing fuel consumption is not only great for the wallet, but the environment as well. Broaden your horizons with carpooling, stay on top of car care, omit needless strains on your car and not only can you obtain better MPG performance, but you’ll develop a greener eye for things outside of a simple drive.
Author Bio: Kyle O’Brien is a freelance writer on energy-saving techniques such as fuel consumption and has written other eco-friendly reminders for the automotive industry and has consulted for Cable-Dahmer Chevrolet and written about preowned car comparisons and beyond.
