Fuel saving tips

This article briefly talks about fuel saving tips
Regular vehicle maintainance and modified driving habits can reduce fuel consumption and lower vehicle emissions.

The following maintenance, driving and consumer tips practiced together can make a noticeable difference in your monthly fuel bill.

Perform regular maintenance A poorly maintained vehicle can increase fuel consumption by as much as 50 per cent.

Change the engine oil every 5,000 km or six months unless you regularly do long distance highway driving, then change it at a maximum 12,000 km intervals. Use an energy-conserving oil that is suited to the season. Check tire pressures at least once a month and watch for signs of unusual tire tread wear that might indicate an alignment problem. An under-inflated tire has a greater rolling resistance. A 20 per cent drop in pressure will increase fuel consumption by about 10 per cent and reduce tread life by 15 per cent. A faulty cooling system thermostat that doesnt allow the engine to quickly reach or maintain its correct operating temperature can dramatically increase fuel consumption and affect the performance of an electronically controlled engine.

Make fewer and more efficient trips Combine tasks into a single trip rather than making several trips throughout the day. And, because an engine also consumes more fuel during its warm-up period, try picking up groceries and the dry-cleaning on your way home from work instead of making a special trip.

Drive smarter Dont warm up your car unnecessarily. Driving the vehicle slower and keeping the engine speed low until its normal operating temperature is reached, is a more fuel-efficient way to warm up your car. Look ahead and adjust your speed. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, about 50 per cent of the fuel consumed in city driving is used during acceleration. When accelerating, do it gently and steadily and never exceed posted speed limits. Driving on the highway at 90 km/h rather than 120 km/h can reduce fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent. Lighten the load, and avoid carrying non-essential heavy items such as tools and skis. Remove roof racks when they are not being used. Use air conditioning sparingly. Shutting off the air conditioning and rolling down the windows will save fuel in city or low speed driving. Reduce wind resistance. Open windows at highway cruising speeds will substantially increase drag (wind resistance) in todays aerodynamically efficient vehicles, and cause an increase in fuel consumption. Avoid excessive idling. Leaving a car running unnecessarily (i.e., in a ferry line-up or while chatting with a neighbour) is wasteful. Shutting off and re-starting the engine generally consumes less fuel and emits less pollutants than allowing a car to sit idling for long periods of time.

Shop wiser Purchase gas from companies that offer loyalty programs that best suit your needs. Taking advantage of rewards is one small way to offset the cost of gas. Dont pay extra for something you dont need. Most cars run on regular gasoline, and dont require higher cost premium grade fuels. If unsure, check your owners manual.Visit http://venturemall.tripod.com for autoparts and accessories.

About the Author

Ajay Patole is a qualified management professional working as sales manager and runs a site 'Venturemall',a cool hangout to play money games,buy and sell in auctions,date and photochat.It is available at URL http://venturemall.tripod.com and newsletter to rediscover true colors of life at http://www.topica.com/lists/venturemall.Also he runs a community 'Venturecon', for entrepreneurs which is available at URL http://groups.msn.com/venturecon.