Not everybody drives a performance car. In fact, when it comes to India, there are more people who prefer efficiency over performance and would love to get as much mileage as possible from their cars.
It is a no-brainer, the lighter and slower you move, the more mileage you can squeeze. But do you know what else could return absolutely insane fuel efficiency? Here are a few tips:
Measure your tire pressure every month
Driving a vehicle with tires under-inflated by 56 kilopascals (8 pounds per square inch) can increase fuel consumption by up to 4%. It can also reduce the life of your tires by more than 10,000 kilometres. Find the right tire pressure for your vehicle on the tire information guide. Most Indian car manufacturers recommend a cold tire pressure between 32-35 psi on all four.
Use air conditioning sparingly
Air conditioning can increase a vehicle’s fuel consumption by as much as 20%. Open the windows when you’re driving in the city, and use the flow-through ventilation system with the windows up on the highway. If you do use air conditioning, use the re-circulate option. It will minimize the impact.
Use Cruise Control when on the highway
Another fuel-saving tip is to avoid unnecessary speed changes when driving on the highway. Hence, use cruise control. Also, when driving uphill, there is no need to step your foot on the gas as the engine is already consuming a lot of fuel. Instead, drive at a steady pace.
Don’t get dragged down
Don’t leave your roof bars and roof box on because they create wind resistance and cause your car to burn more fuel through the ‘drag’ effect. This increases as fast as you drive.
According to a survey, an empty roof rack adds 16% drag when driving at 120kmph. At the same speed, a roof box adds 39%, making your vehicle much less fuel efficient.
Even those little flags you affix to your vehicle to show support for your political party during elections can decrease your mileage! Driving with an open window also has a similar effect.
Track your fuel consumption
How long can you go without filling your tank? Two weeks? A month? Challenge yourself to refill as seldom as possible and your monthly costs will come down.