With no end in sight to rising gas prices, consumers who modify their driving habits and properly maintain their vehicles will get more kilometres per litre. Be Car Care Aware Canada recommends the following ways to drive smart and save gas money:
Observe the speed limit. Fuel efficiency decreases rapidly above 100 km/h.
Avoid excessive idling. Idling gets zero kilometres per litre. Warming up the vehicle for one or two minutes is sufficient.
Avoid quick starts and stops. Aggressive driving can lower fuel efficiency by 33 per cent on the highway and five per cent in the city.
Consolidate trips. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much gas as one longer multi-purpose trip.
Don't haul unneeded items in the trunk. An extra 45 kilograms in the trunk reduces fuel efficiency by 1 to 2 per cent.
Check the gas cap. Damaged, loose or missing gas caps allow gas to vaporize into the air.
Replace dirty or clogged air filters on older vehicles to improve fuel consumption by as much as 14 per cent.
Replace dirty spark plugs, which can decrease fuel efficiency by .85 kilometres per litre.
Change oil regularly to gain an additional .5 kilometres per litre.
Keep your car properly tuned to improve fuel consumption by an average of 4 per cent.
Keep tires properly inflated and improve fuel consumption by 3 per cent.
"Some motorists think they are saving money when they put off needed vehicle maintenance. What they don't realize is that neglecting routine maintenance can end up costing a lot more," Patty Kettles, Manager, Marketing and Communications, Be Car Care Aware. "Keeping your car running efficiently and adjusting your driving behavior are the best ways to improve your vehicle's fuel consumption and keep more money in your pocket."
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