Driving More Efficiently

January 11, 2012 :: Posted by - admin :: Category - Green Cars

Driving More Efficiently

Fuel Economy has always been an important topic among car owners as everybody wants to know gastronomic characteristic of their vehicles. The second topic they want to verify is how to reduce car’s tastes and increase fuel economy. As per experts fuel economy in cars is the amount of petrol required to move a vehicle over a given distance. It is usually measured by the amount of fuel used per unit distance like amount of miles per gallon or the number of litres of fuel used for 100 kilometres. The lower value means better fuel economy as it takes less fuel to drive the same distance. Fuel economy is not a defined amount as it may vary greatly based on the place you drive, way you drive, and other various factors. It is not possible for you set of estimates to predict your car’s appetite exactly in all environments and for every driver. From the other hand factors that reduce fuel economy are all the same. Hard acceleration and braking, Excessive idling, accelerating, and braking in stop-and-go traffic, cold weather (engines are more efficient when warmed up), Improperly tuned engine or under inflated tires, driving with a heavy load or with the air conditioner running will definitely increase the gastronomic appetites of your ride. There are various steps you can make to lower the amount of gas you use on any journey without driving like a miser.

Driving more efficiently Although there may be evidence that accelerating hard to 2000rpm could save you fuel, accelerating to the red line in every gear will certainly not. In general, try to keep a constant speed where possible by judging potential reasons to slow down in the road ahead and react to them, avoiding rapid changes in momentum. Aggressive driving wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 5 percent in town and by 33 percent at highways. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money. If you’re slowing down and accelerating the whole time, fuel bills will go through the roof. While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Avoid keeping unnecessary car accessories in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. Cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and will save petrol as well. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines. When you use overdrive gearing, your car’s engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

Keep your car well maintained Correct service intervals will keep your car running efficiently. New air filters will allow the free flow of air necessary for efficient fuel combustion, clean fuel filters provide a steady stream of petrol to the cylinders, and shiny new spark plugs will provide the spark needed to set the whole thing off. The efficient burn of the fuel air mix is the main benefit here. That will allow more power to be extracted from a set volume of fuel. A new air filter alone could increase fuel consumption up to 10%. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Underinflated tyres need more energy to roll. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Properly inflated tyres are also key to providing optimum levels of grip, so it’s worth checking periodically. Also you can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil.

Hybrid cars are the best option currently for those who want speed and great fuel economy. These models combine electrical and gasoline engine components to create something which does not feel like an electric car at all. Hybrid vehicles recapture wasted energy during breaking, shut off gasoline power during idle periods, and utilize gas and electric power simultaneously to reduce the total amount of fuel consumed. All of these factors combined result in fuel ratings of over 50mpg, as well as lower emissions. Gas prices continue to increase, with no end in sight. This trend further accentuates the need for every human to purchase more fuel efficient cars. Having an automobile with good fuel economy is not only helpful in saving money, but it is also an integral part of repairing the environment.

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