Top 10 Fuel Economy Tips

1. Clean the Air Filter
A clean air filter is the key to good fuel economy. A dirty air filter restricts the flow of air into the engine, which harms performance and economy. Air filters are easy to check and change; hold the filter up to the sun and if you can’t see through it, you need a new one. Make sure that your air filter is in good condition as excessive dirt build-up can slow acceleration by more than 10%. For every liter of petrol you use, your air filter cleans 10,000 liters of air. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s economy by as much as 10%.

2. Keep your Engine Tuned
A fouled spark plug or dirty fuel injector can reduce fuel efficiency as much as 30% and rob your car of performance. Ensure your spark plugs are checked at the manufacturer’s recommended interval. Worn or incorrectly gapped spark plugs will increase the chances of irregular firing, resulting in uneven acceleration and a rough ride.

Also, check your owner’s manual for the recommended grade of motor oil. You can improve your mileage by 1-2% by using the recommended grade of motor oil. Oil contains friction-reducing additives to improve your engine’s performance and mileage.

3. Maintain the Right Tyre Pressure
An under-inflated tyre increases rolling resistance, which cuts a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. With an estimated 80% of drivers unable to check the pressure in their tyres it’s not beyond the bounds of reason to believe million liters of fuel are wasted each day because of incorrectly inflated tyres. Buy a reliable tyre gauge, check your tyres and keep them properly inflated. Or get your tyre pressure checked each time you visit a fuel pump. Tyres are like shoes, those old shoes you’re wearing may feel comfy, but you don’t realize there’s a hole in bottom until you wear them out in the rain.

4. Clear the Clutter
The more the weight that your car has to tow, the more fuel it needs to do the work. Remove heavy objects from your boot that you don’t immediately need. Additional weight in your car adds to the burden your car engine has to pull, resulting in slower acceleration. Plus every additional 45 kg worsens your fuel consumption by up to 2%. Periodically go through your car and see what can be tossed out or brought into the house. The difference in economy may be small, but every little bit counts, right

5. Reduce Air-Conditioning
Your car’s air-conditioning drains your engine’s power. When the air conditioner is on the engine works harder, increasing fuel consumption by about 20%. The air conditioner reduces fuel economy most during acceleration. Wait to turn on your air conditioner until you have reached cruising speed. On hot summer days, open your car’s doors or windows and flush out the hot interior air for a minute before entering. Try to park your car in a shady spot when possible. Use sunshades or car covers when your car must sit in the sun. If there is no danger of rain, leave the windows open about an inch to exhaust the hot air.

6. Avoid Wider Tyres
New wheels and tyres may look cool, and they can certainly improve handling. But if they are wider than the stock tyres, chances are they’ll create more rolling resistance and decrease fuel economy. If you upgrade your wheels and tyres, keep the old ones. I have fancy sport rims and aggressive tyres on my own car, but I keep the stock wheels with a good narrower-tread performance tyre in the garage. For long road trips, the stock wheels give a smoother ride and better economy.

7. Use the Right Octane
Most new cars will run well on any grade of fuel, but many claim of older cars getting better economy from higher-octane fuels. Try a tank or two, record your mileage, then do the math, translating cost-per-liter and kilometer-per-liter to cost-per-kilometer. The expensive stuff just might turn out to be cheaper.

8. Fuel up during the Coolest Hours
Buy fuel during the early morning hours or evening when the air temperature is coolest. Fuel densest during the cooler hours. Fuel pumps measure volumes of fuel and not the density. You will get more for your money during the cooler hours.

9. Slow Down
The greatest enemy is aggressive acceleration and braking. Minimize braking! Doing everything you can to keep from having to use your brakes when driving is one of the most powerful means to improve fuel economy, particularly around town. This means pacing yourself in traffic. When you see a red light ahead, brake gradually or let the car coast up to it, trying to time our arrival for the green. Roaring off to brake for the next light is a disaster for fuel efficiency. Avoid sudden acceleration and “jack rabbit” starts - accelerate smoothly. If your car has overdrive gears, use them whenever they will pull the car smoothly. Overdrive can save fuel around town, not just on the freeway. Also avoid rush-hour traffic when possible. Driving aggressively and at high speed uses more fuel and causes more pollution. An aggressive driving style can increase fuel consumption by up to 10%.

10. Don’t Drive
Not a popular thing to say on a car site but the fact is that if you can avoid driving, you’ll save fuel. Take the train, ride your bike, carpool, consolidate your shopping trips. And always ask yourself: “Is this trip really necessary?”