Want your car to consume less gas - use these methods
(Baonghean.vn) - Most people think that whether a car is fuel-efficient or not depends entirely on the manufacturer, not knowing that proper driving habits are the best way to help you effectively reduce fuel costs.
1. Inflate the tire sufficiently
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Properly inflated tires can improve fuel efficiency by up to 3.3%. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. Under-inflated tires can reduce fuel efficiency by 0.3% for every psi drop in pressure across all four tires... Don't rely on a tire pressure monitoring system to detect under-inflation; check your tires with a proper gauge once a month and consult your vehicle owner's manual for more information.
2. Clean the air filter
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A dirty air filter makes the engine work harder and allows contaminants to easily enter and damage the engine. Replacing a dirty air filter can reduce fuel economy by up to 14%, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In modern cars, replacing a dirty and clogged air filter can also improve the car's acceleration.
3. Eliminate inventory
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Cargo makes your car work harder and use more fuel. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that every 100 pounds of cargo increases fuel consumption by 2 percent, and even more in smaller cars...About 0.25 liters of fuel is used to counteract wind resistance, so carrying cargo on the roof will reduce fuel efficiency. Even empty roof racks can affect aerodynamics, so remove them when not in use.
4. Use smart air conditioning
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Air conditioning reduces fuel efficiency by up to 10%. If the outdoor temperature and air quality permit, consider using a higher fan speed to circulate the air instead of lowering the air conditioning temperature.
At speeds below 40 mph, consider rolling down the windows if the air quality is acceptable instead of using the air conditioning; At speeds above 45 mph, wind resistance will cause more drag and will use more fuel than running the air conditioning.
5. Cruise control
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If your car has cruise control, turn it on, especially when driving on the highway. Cruise control prevents acceleration and thus saves fuel by accelerating and decelerating moderately.
This feature is most effective when used in conjunction with the transmission setting in "economy" or "auto". Do not use cruise control in heavy rain or on extremely wet roads.
6. Drive slowly
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Accelerate gently through intersections and stay away from traffic lights; avoid sudden acceleration or driving at high speeds and hard braking, as these actions can reduce fuel efficiency by up to 33% on the highway and 5% in city driving.
You can get 10 to 15 percent more mileage by driving 90 km/h instead of 104 km/h. According to Natural Resources Canada, the most fuel-efficient speed is between 50 km/h and 80 km/h.
7. Avoid idling for too long
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If you're stuck in a long traffic jam and it's not too hot outside, turn off your engine. A car can burn a liter of fuel without moving a meter if it's idling... Although restarting your car will use a small amount of fuel, idling for 15 minutes can burn almost a liter of fuel.
8. Let the car drift or shift to a stop.
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When driving an automatic in heavy traffic, you can let the car coast forward because cars with automatic transmissions can move forward without using engine power. If driving a manual transmission, downshift to a stop. Do not keep your foot on the accelerator pedal while the car is moving. Modern engines will use almost no fuel, just enough to keep the car from stalling. The engine will use more fuel when idling in neutral.
