With increasing gas prices and higher maintenance costs, it’s natural that many people consider it more practical to gear up for alternate transportation solutions, like the bus or subway. But this is just not practical for many people, some people abhor public transportation, and the frightening sexual harassment news coming out for public transportation in LA, this does not entice most females that public transportation is viable.
On top of this, although there’s nothing wrong with using public transportation, you do not need to consider that the fuel-based ownership costs of your car are out of bounds. And anyone who’s looking for a quick fix to increase the fuel efficiency of their current car, this is just the trick. So, here are 5 of the most recommended auto-care tips to ensure daily fuel saving.
1. Ensure proper tire inflation
Although it might sound mundane, car tires that have been accurately inflated can reduce a car’s fuel consumption by as much as 3%. Research has concluded that tires lose roughly 1 PSI for every month, and that tire pressure tends to reduce during the winter due to the thermal contraction of air within the tire.
It is highly-recommended to at least check, if not fill your tires with air on a monthly basis. Properly inflated tires will also be less susceptible to uneven thread wear. Always double-check tire pressure with your own or a gauge that is different from the one in the air pump.
2. Use synthetic oil
If you’re not doing it already, remember to switch out from your regular oil to synthetic oil at your next oil change. Studies have proven that the use of synthetic oil can save you an average of 5% of fuel. This apart from the fact that synthetic oil can also be changed at longer intervals gives you a double win situation, except for the slight bump in price of course. Just remember that extending oil changes beyond their stipulated term will result in reduced fuel saving benefits, as oil becomes less useful as it gets dirty.
3. Use recommended fuel additive to oil
Whether you use natural oil or synthetic oil, always be on the lookout for oil additives that will actually work to enhance your car’s fuel efficiency, rather than just a being a mere marketing gimmick. Using the right kind of additives in the appropriate amounts can increase the gas mileage by up to 15%. This usually works best if you just follow the manufacturer's recommended brand and usage instructions.
4. Ensure all sensors, monitors, and control systems are operative
Many cars have the 'check engine light' glowing, with many owners not bothering to check what’s wrong. The chances of catastrophe are low, but making sure that things like your oxygen sensors, emissions systems, and emissions control systems are in running condition, will ensure that you don’t end up stranded at the side of the road at some later point of time. That is embarrassing!
Also, speeding and constant stop and go motions can move tubes and piping from their intended position, thereby reducing fuel efficiency by as much as 35%.
5. Use the right gas
Make sure you check with your owner's manual or a technician from your car’s dealership to ensure that you’re using the manufacturer’s recommended brand or octane rating fuel for your car, or at least something similar. For example, using regular instead of the recommended premium and vice versa, can lead to drivability issues, rattling from the engine and of course, reducing the fuel economy. As superior to regular fuel as it sounds, premium fuel is just fuel formulated to work differently on a specific engine.