12 unbelievably simple tips to increase your car’s fuel efficiency and save you money

The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) reduced the price of petrol

and diesel by Rs.2/- a litre (excluding local levies) starting the

midnight of 15th July 2015. The current price of diesel in

Bangalore is Rs.52.59 per litre and the price of petrol is at

Rs.70.70 per litre. But nobody is cheering. A quick look at the

statistics below shows that there is obviously nothing to

cheer about.  In fact it’s a huge concern, especially for car

owners.

http://www.carservo.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Diesel-Prices-BLR.png

(Source: http://www.mypetrolprice.com/)

Does anyone remember the price of petrol and diesel in the

year 2000? Rs.25.94 and Rs.14.04 respectively.

(Source: http://goo.gl/RCUZY). Hard to believe! Isn’t it?

Why the prices are where they are today is a good topic for

another article. However, let’s look at what a car owner can

and must do to make the car fuel efficient and make car

ownership easy on the pockets.

While we have no control over the price movement of fuel

(which is ultimately incremental) we certainly do have a LOT

of control over its consumption.

Do not disregard that statement yet. Stay with us here and

we’ll show you how you can increase the fuel efficiency of

your car and sleep peacefully at night. Alright, we

exaggerated a little there! But on a serious note, you are

spending anywhere between Rs.4000/- to Rs.6000/- a month

on gas. We are sure you are looking at ways to cut down this

expenditure.

So here goes:

TIP #1: SERVICING YOUR CAR WHEN ITS DUE

First things first! Is your car past the service due date?

Servicing your car when its due is one of the best ways to

save fuel and cut costs. Your ride can guzzle a lot of gas if

the engine is poorly tuned. Did you know that replacing a

dirty air filter can increase your car’s mileage but

10%? Change the air filter, engine oil, spark plug, oil filter

and also get the wheels balanced & aligned. Follow

manufacturer instructions for car servicing intervals but also

get your car checked by car service stations authorized by

manufacturers if you find a sudden dip in mileage and other

noticeable strain on the car’s engine. Regular car service

and maintenance can increase fuel efficiency at least

10 % – 40%.

CarServo aims to provide a hassle-free service experience by

connecting you to ideal car service stations. You can sign-up

and book your car service online in a few simple steps.

TIP #2: CAR TYRE PRESSURE MAINTENANCE

Tyres lose air pressure every day. We forget about them

because most of the time they look like “fine” to us, Did you

know that tyres lose 1 – 2 pounds of air pressure per

month? Its higher when the weather is warmer.

Therefore it is very important to follow tyre pressure level

recommended by the manufacturer. Filling air pressure is

equivalent to filling gas. Make it a habit to check every time

your fill fuel. Even a 1 point drop in psi (Pounds per

Square Inch) can increase fuel consumption. Experts

say that maintaining accurate tyre pressure is equivalent to

an engine tune-up. You not only save fuel but also increase

the life of the tyres and prevent accidents.

While we are on the topic of tyres, also do keep in mind that

oversized tyres are not good for fuel efficiency.

TIP #3: LOSE SOME WEIGHT

(Image source: wheelsforwomen)

It’s easier in the case of cars. Excess weight can increase fuel

consumption. Unload unnecessary luggage/cargo and keep

your car light. Travel light even when you are on a road trip.

Needless to say do not unload the spare tyre, jack and other

necessary tools. 

TIP #4: NO NEED FOR SPEED OR IS THERE?

Are you a fan of the Fast & Furious franchise? A lot of us are.

That is no reason for aggressive acceleration and hard

braking unless you are shooting for an action sequence in a

movie set. These are known to drastically increase fuel

consumption of your car. Do not be in a hurry to get to your

destination. It’s better to plan ahead and reach on time than

put your life and that of others in danger by speeding.

Drive at an optimum speed, accelerate gently and do

not exceed 60 to 70 kmph in city conditions.

TIP #5: DON’T BE A CLUTCH RIDER

(Image source: nytimes)

Don’t fall in love with the clutch.  Many drivers do not take

their foot off the clutch when they are not changing gears.

This causes the vehicle to consume more fuel and also

causes the clutch to wear out quickly. If your car doesn’t

have a dead pedal get one fixed from a car service station or

a car mechanic.  Dead pedal ensures that you do not rest

your foot on the clutch and also acts as a foot rest.

TIP #6: CHOOSE YOUR GEARS

Driving in low speed at a higher gear and being in a lower

gear and accelerating hard is detrimental not just to fuel

consumption but also to the vehicle. Shift up your gears as

soon as possible without flooring the accelerator and

straining the engine too much.

TIP #7: 3 SECOND DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CARS

(Image source: latimes)

What is the ideal distance between your car and the vehicle

ahead of you? Use the 3 second rule to determine the ideal

distance. Here’s how you do it – In an ideal weather condition

you must spot an object on the road ahead of you such as

building, tree or lamp post and observe the car in front of you

pass it. Start counting “one thousand one, one thousand two,

one thousand three” and if you reach the object before your

count ends you are too close to the vehicle. Distance

between cars gives you time and distance to react in case of

obstructions ahead of you. Braking aggressively at the

last minute is unsafe and severely affects your car’s

fuel efficiency.

TIP #8: TURN OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER

You must think it’s a crazy suggestion given our sweltering

weather conditions most of the year. We are only saying that

use the air conditioner only when it’s necessary. If the

weather is pleasant and you aren’t in an overcrowded traffic,

roll your windows down and enjoy the exhilarating puff of air!

TIP #9: KEEP THE WINDOWS SHUTIf you are driving at high speed or on highways, its best to

keep the windows shut. The reason? When your windows are

open, the car is less aerodynamic and it puts more pressure

on the engine resulting in increased fuel consumption.

TIP #10: TURN OFF THE ENGINE AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS

Let’s be honest here. Most of us do not follow this.

Switching off the engine if you are going to wait at the traffic

signal for more than 60 minutes saves a lot of fuel. It may be

a little difficult to do it in Indian traffic conditions. Here’s an

example – You switch off the engine and the car ahead of you

suddenly starts moving because the driver is keen to use up

all the space ahead of him. Before you can close the gap, you

have a motorist or an auto-rickshaw beat you to it. Don’t fret

about it. While this can be frustrating, here are some facts to

consider

25% of the time behind the wheel is spent in idling

Idling increases CO2 emissions and increase pollution

10 minutes of idling can cost 1/10th of litre of gas

So you might want to think about whether you need to be

idling at traffic signals, when waiting to pick up someone or

waiting at railway crossings.

TIP #11: CARPOOLINGRide-sharing, car-sharing, lift-sharing – it has multiple names

but very few takers in India because of various cultural and

privacy factors.

Did you know that carpooling originated during World War II

in the United States? It was a tactic used to ration gas during

the war. Here’s an interesting poster used to promote

carpooling during that period

(Image source: Wikipedia)

Statistics show that 60% of cars carry no passengers

contributing to congestion and pollution not to

mention the fuel costs one incurs. With carpooling you

can significantly cut down on fuel costs, reduce traffic on the

roads and also ultimately contribute to a greener

environment.

Speak to your colleagues and neighbours and find out ways

to share a ride. Better, check out some of car sharing

solutions available today. You must seriously consider

carpooling unless this is your motto in life is – “I love to

spend more on fuel”

TIP #12: A LITTLE PLANNING HELPSIf your commute is long or if you are planning on a weekend

trip plan ahead and leave early. Getting stuck in traffic is

frustrating. Needless to say you waste a lot of fuel in rush-

hour traffic. While it may not be feasible to plan ahead

everyday find opportunities to do it. Plan your outdoor tasks

in advance and avoid multiple trips.

Car ownership doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket.

Following these simple tips will save a lot in the long run.

What else would you add to this list? Please tell us in the

comments below.

___________________________________________________________CarServo is the smartest way to connect to car service centers in Bangalore for all your car maintenance needs. You can book a service with a Maruti Service Center, Hyundai Service Center or choose a service center of your choice based on the brand of your car. Our network also includes authorized service centers for Renault, Honda, Chevrolet, Nissan, Datsun, Volkswagen and more.