Fuel-Saving Tips for a New Year

FUEL-SAVING TIPS for a New Year Fuel prices aren't likely to drop in the future; worse, their sudden spikes mean your car's fuel- tank can quickly drain your wallet. The good news is there are several things you can do to make your car more fuel-efficient. Follow these tips to help you get the most bang for your buck every time you fill up. LIGHTEN THE LOAD You'd be surprised at how quickly a few items in your car can become a heavy burden. The more weight in your car, the more fuel it will burn. Lighten the load by removing anything you don't need. REDUCE YOUR TOP SPEED Take it a bit slower on the motorway; you'll save on fuel-and speeding tickets. USE A/C CAREFULLY When driving at slower speeds, roll down the windows and cool KEEP IT STEADY It takes more fuel to get a car moving than to keep it moving. So, whatever the pace, keep it steady. yourself with fresh air instead of A/C to save energy. (Note, however, that rolling down your windows at speeds above 90 kph creates enough aerodynamic drag to reduce fuel economy.) PLAN YOUR ERRANDS You can drastically reduce the time and distance you spend on the road each day by planning your trips strategically. Hit all the stops you need to make in one outing. USE FUEL-EFFICIENT TYRES The next time you change your tires, buy the fuel-efficient models, which use less energy when you drive. SAVEONGAS INFLATE YOUR TYRES Under-inflated tyres add rolling resistance, thus burning more fuel. Check your tyre pressure once a month to make sure it's at the recommended level. GIVE YOUR ENGINE A TUNE-UP Not only will a tune-up keep your car running in tip-top shape, it can also increase your fuel efficiency between 4% and 40% REPLACE YOUR AIR FILTER A clogged air filter restricts the air flowing into your engine, hindering performance. Replace your air filter, and add up to 10% more fuel efficiency to ACCELERATE THOUGHTFULLY We all know that redlining your RPMS burns a lot of unnecessary fuel. But, believe it or not, accelerating too slowly also decreases fuel economy. Cars perform less efficiently in lower your car. gears, so you want to accelerate at a pace that allows you to upshift at an efficient rate. SOURCES: NEWYORK.CBSLOCAL.COM • CARS.ABOUT.COM • POPULARMECHANICS.COM Confused.com