Improving Fuel Efficiency from Your Car

If you live in a state that experience cold, snowy winters, you may have noticed that the gas
stations switch to a specially blended fuel mixture every winter for driving in the cold
weather. The sluggish economy has caused many people to reevaluate their driving patterns
and to search for ways to improve fuel efficiency. After you have slashed the excessive
usage of fuel in your home, you now turn to your car and wonder what you can do in the
winter that will help you save some money this season. If you alter your driving habits,
maintain your car, and make other minor changes to your routine, you will see instant
savings in your fuel costs.

Driving Habits Needs to Change

If you alter your driving habits, you may find that you use a lot less gas. Cut out all of the
extraneous trips to places that you can easily get to on foot. If you must drive your car
everywhere, drive at slower speeds. The snowy and icy road conditions will slow you down
automatically, but slower speeds on dry pavement will ensure that you use less gas. Use the
freeway as much as possible to boost your gas mileage. You will burn less gas because you
will not have to stop and start repeatedly. The freeway offers you passages to your
destinations that are free from stop signs, stoplights, and railroad crossings. Late model cars
are able to operate without warming up. You should make an effort to limit the amount of
time you spend idling.

General Car Maintenance Needs to Happen

You can save a lot of money on not only fuel costs but also car repair costs just by
maintaining your car. Make sure that you adhere to a regular general car maintenance
schedule that is recommended by the car manufacturer. Regular maintenance should include
a tire inspection, oil change, and fluid checks. A tire inspection will make sure that your
tires are inflated at the proper air pressure level. If you do not know what pressure you
should be using, you can find it on a sticker that is posted on the doorjam of the driver’s
side door or in the owner’s manual. When you perform your oil changes, you should make
sure that you are using the correct grade of engine oil. Your owner’s manual should list the
grade and weight of oil you should be using. Remember to change the oil and air filters
when you change your oil. Dirty filters will keep air from freely flowing through the engine
and cause you to burn more fuel. A tune-up will improve your car’s fuel economy and
should be regularly performed.

Other Things That Needs to Happen

Keep the cargo load as light as possible because a heavier car consumes more fuel. You
should keep items, especially bulkier items, off your roof rack if possible. The wind
resistance will cause you to use more fuel to propel the car forward through the air. If you
have more than one place to go, combine your trips and plan them so that you can complete
all of your stops in a complete circuit rather than crisscrossing the city several times.

Keeping Your Car Running

For most people a vehicle is a crucial part to their everyday lives. It’s required to go to and from work, to link them up with loved ones and to take them where they need to go. Taking armloads of groceries onto a bus is unappealing to everyone, and a car helps to save you from all that trouble. In fact some places don’t even have a bus system, so those groceries would be dead weight you have to carry all the way home. However for all the help a car is to you and your everyday life, it needs to be taken care of as well. The relationship between driver and car is mutually symbiotic, and so long as they take care of each other, everything will continue in peace.

General Maintenance

The driver of a car takes many things for granted as they use the vehicle, but it’s important they at least keep certain things running. Maintaining air pressure in the tires, gas in the tank and windshield washer fluid full are all small things that every driver should do simply because these things all affect their everyday performance. Since the driver is behind the windshield, for example, it’s very important they keep the windshield washer fluid full so when they push that button, the wipers will clean the glass and allow them to see again; something which is vital to all drivers. If it doesn’t come clean perhaps it’s time to look into windshield wiper replacements, easily available at auto parts stores, where service representatives can help you find the right type for your model of car.

Inspections and Routine Maintenance

Most people don’t have a thorough knowledge of the inner working of their vehicle, however they can sense when something is off. The car might slowly veer to the left or right, for example, or take bumps particularly hard on occasion. Little things can tip people off that there’s a problem either started or forming in their vehicle. When this happens it’s crucial that these warning signs are not ignored and the vehicle is brought in for inspection. Usually these things are caught, however, during routine maintenance performed. Tire rotation should be performed quite regularly, as well as oil changes and routine check-ups.

Improving Longevity

Most people seek to make their vehicle last as long as possible. There are many things you can do to increase the longevity of a car and also increase its performance. Checking tire pressure, keeping the oil fresh, replacing the engine coolant and all those little things help add months, if not years, onto a vehicle’s life. Keeping it clean both inside and out can help prevent rusting or deterioration of the material that makes the car. Taking it inside from the rain or covering it if it’s stored outside for a long period of time, as well as making sure the gas tank is never completely empty, help it for long term storage, and in such a case turning it on and running it for a short period of time can make sure it requires little maintenance when taken out of storage.