Five ways to reduce your fuel costs

How many of you have asked someone unknown about his/her car’s fuel efficiency? No no, don’t get me wrong here. There’s nothing wrong about it. After all we live in a nation where ‘smiles per litre’ go hand in hand with ‘miles per litre’, but there are many ways you can adopt so that your car runs more for every drop it drinks of the black gold. Don’t worry, these things will not turn you into a number munching gorilla, but will save you some money which you can invest in the finer things of life.

1. Right Tyre Air Pressure: One of the most underrated aspects of driving. Not having the right tyre pressure is as damaging as wearing Crocs while trying to scale Mount Everest. Make sure that all the five tyres have the right tyre pressure. Having the perfect air pressure increases the rolling ability of the car and the engine doesn’t need to push itself much hence saving fuel. Over-inflated tyres might not make enough grip in an emergency, and under-inflated tyres reduce the life of the tyre. Just keep it right so that your petrol and tyres last much longer.

2. Clean Air Filter: Can you think of running a marathon with a blocked nose? I can’t. How can anyone last long without having a proper supply of clean air? Your car works on the same logic. The engine cannot burn the fuel properly with an inadequate supply of oxygen. Hence the improper burning of the air-fuel mixture results in poor fuel efficiency. If you live in a neighbourhood where your car is parked out in open or if your car usually travels through roads that are covered with dust, clean your air filter on a regular basis.

3. Avoid Redlining: Like you, your car’s engine doesn’t like to stress. So make it a habit to change the gear without the engine begging for it. Unless you are involved in an ego war with that kid in his dad’s new car or in a bad mood, you don’t need to redline before engaging the clutch and changing the gear. Redlining consumes much more fuel than you can imagine and, in some cases, double than what your car consumes usually. Changing the gear between 2,000 and 3,000 rpm is ideal for most of the cars, but more than the numbers, try to find out when your car is breathing easy, and when it is getting overworked. And when you think it is, just change the gear.

4. Avoid Idling for Long: It is impossible to avoid traffic jams in this country. If you live in a city where you leave home and work at peak hours, you must be used to it by now. Then there are traffic lights that take forever to turn green, don’t forget the traffic jams that have no reason for their existence, but they are there. So whenever you find yourself struggling with a traffic situation where you know you are going to be stationary for a while, switch off the engine.

5. Get the Vehicle Serviced on Time: No prizes for guessing why. Regularly changing the engine oil reduces the friction happening inside your car’s engine, and doesn’t let the parts wear and tear fast. This, goes without saying, reduces the extra load on the engine. The pistons move freely, so does the camshaft and other important parts. Air filter is cleaned (or changed) too, regularly, which makes it easy for the car to breathe and function properly. Other fluids like gear oil and clutch oil are topped-up too which makes the car function effortlessly.