With the hike in fuel price here to stay, car owners across the country would have to find ways to survive despite the increased cost.
Whether to work, a drive to purchase groceries at the mall, pick up a partner or attend religious meetings, conserving fuel while on these journeys has now become pertinent.
To ensure, as a car owner, you save on fuel; here are ways to go about it:
Slow Down and Drive Conservatively
Speeding increases fuel consumption and decreases fuel economy as a result of tire rolling resistance and air resistance. While vehicles reach optimal fuel economy at different speeds, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 miles per hour (mph). For light-duty vehicles, for example, every 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying N16O more per liter of petrol (based on the price of fuel at N617 per liter). Reducing your speed by 5 to 10 mph can improve fuel economy by 7%–14%.
Using cruise control on the highway can help drivers maintain a constant speed; vehicles use the most energy when accelerating. Obeying the speed limit, accelerating and braking gently and gradually, and reading the road ahead can improve the fuel economy of your vehicle by 15%–30% at highway speeds and 10%–40% in stop-and-go traffic. Driving more sensibly is also much safer for you and others.
Combine Trips
Combining trips can save you time and money by avoiding unnecessary stopping and starting of your vehicle, which can be an issue in colder climates where it takes longer for your engine to reach its most fuel-efficient temperature. Shorter trips can use twice as much fuel as one long, multi-purpose trip that covers the same distance, when the engine is warm and at its most fuel-efficient temperature. Engine and transmission friction increases with cold engine oil and other drive-line fluids, making the engine less efficient. Trip planning can reduce the distance you travel and the amount of time you drive with a cold engine.
Reduce Vehicle Load
The additional weight of items left in a vehicle requires more fuel to propel your vehicle. An extra 100 pounds in your boot, for example, could reduce your fuel economy by about 1%. Hauling rooftop cargo also increases drag, which can reduce fuel economy from 2%–8% in city driving, 6%–17% on the highway, and 10%–25% at 65–75 mph. Offload any unnecessary items to reduce the fuel consumption of your vehicle.
Tighten Up Preventive Maintenance
Improper maintenance has the potential to decrease your vehicle performance and in consequence, bear on fuel consumption. It is important you keep an eye on failing oxygen sensors, dirty or clogged air filters, bad spark plugs, bad fuel injectors, and defective coolant sensors or engine thermostats.
Unaligned wheels that fight each other will also waste fuel. Putting fleet vehicles on tighter lube, oil, and filter replacement schedules allows technicians to spot these issues before they mushroom.
