In this blog entry, the professional Chicago roadside assistance service experts here at Towing Chicago will detail some useful tips for fuel efficiency.
Useful Fuel Efficiency Tips
Properly Inflating Tires
Tire pressure has a huge effect on fuel economy. When tires are under inflated, they have more rolling resistance – causing your engine to burn more fuel and work much harder. We recommend checking tire pressure once a month, and always before embarking on any long trip. Follow the recommended PSI of your vehicle manufacturer. You can also purchase a digital tire gauge for your glove box to more easily stay aware of the health of your tires.
Routine Vehicle Maintenance
We recommend performing regular vehicle maintenance including regular oil changes, spark plug inspections, and air filter replacement. This boosts your engine performance and lowers your fuel consumption.
Lowering Vehicle Loads
The heavier your vehicle is, the more fuel it will burn. Remove unnecessary items from your backseat, roof rack, and trunk. Your MPG can be reduced by 1% for every 100 extra pounds of weight. If your car ever breaks down because of overloading, our professional Chicago emergency towing team is on hand 24/7 to transport your vehicle.
Limiting Aggressive Driving
Speeding, sudden hard braking, and rapid acceleration wastes fuel. Aggressive driving can lower your gas mileage on highways by 30%, and city driving gas mileage by 40% according to estimates by the US Department of Energy. Drive more smoothly, anticipate stops and starts in advance, and use cruise control whenever it is safe to do so. This will reduce wear on engines and brakes, as well as saving fuel.
Limiting Engine Idling
If you’re going to be idling for more than 2 minutes, we recommend shutting off your engine. Modern vehicles can handle regular starts and stops without engine damage. This is ideal for long weights or long traffic jams.
Proper Fuel Use
Always use the proper fuel grade as recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. Make sure your fuel meets your manufacturers recommended fluid viscosity guidelines. Proper engine oil can reduce friction, efficiency, and extend engine life.