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–People often spend more money on fuel than on rent or food, and when oil prices suddenly rise to unprecedented heights, the situation becomes particularly difficult. Matas Buzel, a car specialist at carVertical, shares some simple solutions to help reduce fuel costs.
1. Drive smoothly
Fuel consumption increases when driving aggressively, increasing speed sharply and braking sharply. Research has shown that this driving style can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 40 percent.
To solve this problem, it is important to avoid sudden increases in speed and use gears for braking. Aggressive driving shortens the journey by just one or two minutes, but it doesn’t compensate for higher fuel consumption. In addition, driving slower also saves engine, tires and suspension.
2. Reduce air conditioning costs
Climate control systems in modern cars often turn on air conditioning even when it’s not necessary. The air conditioning compressor is an extremely powerful unit and can increase fuel consumption by up to 30 percent.
Air conditioning systems come in handy on hot summer or rainy autumn days as they both cool and dehumidify the air. However, in order to save fuel, it is very important to use it in moderation.
3. Check the tire pressure regularly
For each model, the car manufacturer calculates the optimum tire pressure required to achieve the best balance between performance, comfort, safety and fuel economy. Low tire pressure increases rolling resistance, so the engine uses more fuel to maintain speed.
For this reason, it is a good idea to check your tire pressure regularly (at least once a month). According to research, a 1 percent drop in tire pressure increases fuel consumption by 0.3 percent. However, carVertical experts warn that tires should not be inflated too much, as higher pressures can lead to uneven and excessive wear.
4. Reduce unnecessary weight
Fuel consumption increases with the weight of the vehicle as more power is needed to drive a heavier car. Automotive engineers are giving up spare wheels and opting for aluminum or even plastic instead of steel to minimize the weight of the car.
You can also lose weight yourself. Tidying up the cabin and trunk and removing heavy objects will make the car more economical, mobile and spacious.
5. Avoid congestion
In order to use less fuel, congestion should be avoided as much as possible. Continuous braking and re-acceleration put additional strain on the engine, suspension and gearbox. Many know that one of the main reasons why driving in the city is considered the most uneconomical is traffic jams. It is often more convenient to drive a longer route where the traffic is less heavy.
Avoiding peak hours can save a lot of fuel and time. In most cities they are around 7-9 p.m. and 4 pm-7pm.
6. Plan your trips in advance
Another reason why short-distance drivers experience the highest fuel consumption is that engines use significantly more fuel before they warm up. The engine must warm up in the same way as the human body before exercising – excessive load without warming up can damage the engine.
It’s worth trying to get more done in one go – it’s a lot more rewarding than going several times on the same day. In addition, the use of a cruise control system when driving on highways avoids excessive speed increases and decreases, which results in more efficient fuel use.
7. Choose a fuel-efficient car
A great start towards more economical driving is to buy a car that uses less fuel. Heavy SUVs and powerful sedans will never be as economical as small, family-friendly cars.
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