How to drive your current car more efficiently
PrintThere are things you or the driver in your family can do to have a more fuel-efficient vehicle without buying a new car.
- Drive smoothly and sensibly, and eliminate as much stop-and-go behavior as possible. Aggressive driving—weaving in and out of traffic, speeding up and slowing down abruptly—uses more gas. On the highway it lowers fuel efficiency by 33%; around town it reduces it by 5%.
- Slow down. Driving the car at a speed of 89 km/h (55 mph) burns fuel more efficiently than driving at faster speeds. Every 8 km/h (5 mph) over 97 km/h (60 mph) uses 7-23% more gas.
- Don’t carry excess weight in the car. Remove unneeded heavy objects. Heavier cars use more fuel at a rate of 1-2% more per 45.4 kg (100 lb).
- Running the engine while the car is not moving wastes gas. Shut the car off if you have to wait for someone.
- If your car has the cruise-control feature, use it on the highway to maintain a consistent speed.
- Use the overdrive gears to lower engine speed.
- Maintaining the car is important. A properly tuned engine can save you 4% on gas. Clean air filters can save up to 10%. Properly inflated tires save up to 3%. Using the proper grade of motor oil saves 1-2%.
This content has been re-published with permission from SEED. Copyright © 2024 Schlumberger Excellence in Education Development (SEED), Inc.