Car fuel efficiency
One of the very first questions that car users ask each other is, “What is your car fuel efficiency?” And naturally! Everyone who drives a car is bound to be concerned about car fuel efficiency. Not everyone buys their cars based on the car fuel efficiency alone, but it would be safe to presume that it is one of the foremost considerations. It is much more than a mere technical obsession. The running cost of the car, not to mention the maintenance aspect, depends solely on the car fuel efficiency.
Most people whine and crib about their car fuel efficiency, but seldom do little else! People believe that it is the responsibility of the car manufacturer or the mechanic to keep the car performing at its optimum efficiency. But little do they realize that there is a whole lot that they themselves can do to ensure their car fuel efficiency.
For one thing, they can drive carefully and in accordance with the manual for efficiency. The car manual exists for a reason. And that is to ensure that the gear changes and the driving speeds work in tandem to give your car the maximum fuel efficiency. If you drive on a very low gear for instance when a higher gear would work just as well, it is natural that the fuel efficiency will drop. So learning to understand the efficiency levels of driving and following them well will go a long way in ensuring car fuel efficiency.
Another way to increase the fuel efficiency is to use the air conditioning in the car only when it is absolutely critical. This way, not only can you make your car go longer on lesser fuel, but you can also ensure that your battery life is enhanced. So remember to drive with your windows open for the purpose of ventilation rather than close all windows and set the air conditioning on full blast. It is a matter of dollars and sense!
Still another way to ensure that your car is fuel efficient is to ensure that you have filled your tires to the optimum level. If your tires are not filled with enough air, the friction levels increase dramatically. When this happens, it takes more power for the car to move the same distance than say, when the tires are filled to the optimum level and make the car travel along smoother. Although this is clearly specified in the manual, not many people pay heed to it. Following these simple steps will surely increase your car fuel efficiency.
With gas prices at an all time high, car fuel efficiency is one of the most important factors in your economic life. Of course, you can get improved car fuel efficiency from buying a new hybrid car, but these cars are so expensive that they are out of many peoples ranges. Who wouldn't want to be driving a Toyota Prius, or some other ultra low emissions vehicle to both improve the environment, and save themselves cash on gas, but lets face it, many of us can't afford a new car at all, let alone one of these expensive hybrids. If this is the case for you, as it surely is for me, there are a number of things that you can do to increase car fuel efficiency.
If you want to buy a used car, all is not lost. Many of the smaller used automobiles, such as the VW Jetta, the Honda Civic, or the Ford Escort, have very good fuel efficiency. Be sure to get the model with the smaller, or less super powered engine, as smaller engines have the best car fuel efficiency. In addition, get your car regularly serviced. Car fuel efficiency tends to decrease over the life of your vehicle, so if you make sure that it stays running in as near to tip top condition as possible, you can minimize these losses.
Another way to improve car fuel efficiency is through careful driving. This may seem strange or backwards to you, but car fuel efficiency varies drastically in different driving conditions. Try to minimize city driving, and when you do drive, drive at times when there is less traffic, to avoid the stops and starts and long waits that just burn fuel. Additionally, try to plan your trips ahead of time to avoid unnecessary detours or slow spots.
A neat trick to improve car fuel efficiency on the freeway is to find a semi to drive behind. Although you will be going, in all likelihood, much slower than you would otherwise, driving like this in the wake, or draft, of the semi, greatly reduces air resistance. This means that your car fuel efficiency will dramatically increase, and you can sometimes get to your destination in this manner using a third less gas than you would otherwise. Defensive driving in general is a good policy, not just because it is safer, but because it increases car fuel efficiency as well. Drive carefully, and you will get there more safely, and with a few more bucks in your pocket!
