Minimising fuel your car consumes

By JAYNE AUGOYE

JAYNE AUGOYE explores various ways to conserve fuel especially in the face of current hike in prices, occasioned by subsidy removal

In the wake of rising costs of living and doing business associated with subsidy removal by the Federal Government, it is time to devise various means to survive. The fact that one now has to buy petrol at prices above N140 per litre makes it imperative to get proactive.

 With the increment, one question on the lips of many is how best to keep the costs minimal. At a time like this, the argument may be in favour of owners of smaller cars, as they consume less fuel. But in the long run, it makes little or no difference if you drive a 1.0 litre car or a V8 SUV, as chances are that a driver may be forced to buy more fuel than usual.

Luckily, some fuel saving tips can help a car owner achieve fuel economy and, in turn, ease the effects of the price increment on the 'wallet'. These work  irrespective of  the model of your car.

Slow Down: One of the most popular means devised by car owners to conserve fuel is driving slowing. It is also a commonly known fact that as speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially. Although many drivers would not hesitate to drive fast,  especially when the road is free, a BBC report has showed that fast driving increases the drag (turbulence) and, in turn, increases fuel consumption.

Nationalgeographic.com also adds that aggressive driving, which includes excessive acceleration and frequent braking, wastes fuel. In turn, it is advised that the driver goes with the flow of traffic and not try to always overtake other cars. This is not only a  safer option, but it can also improve your mileage by up to 33 per cent on the highway or 5 per cent in town.

Reduce excess weight: It is also important to avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones.  According to usatoday.com, an extra 100 KG in your vehicle could reduce your Miles per Gallon (MPG) by up to 2 per cent. The reduction, they say, is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones. As a result, it is best to keep only what is necessary in the car, as the heavier the car, the more the fuel consumption and this is applicable to most cars.

Tyre Pressure: According to ehowhow.com, under-inflated tyres are one of the most commonly ignored causes of heavy fuel consumption.  The website says that tyres lose air due to time (about 1 psi per month) and temperature (1 psi for every 10 degree drop) while under-inflated tyres have more rolling resistance. This analogy translates to the fact that a driver burns more petrol to keep a car moving.  It is, therefore, important to buy a reliable tyre gauge; check your tyres at least once a month when they are cold, since driving the car warms up the tyres along with the air inside them.  Experts say that checking a tyre when warm naturally increases pressure and gives a falsely high reading. Use the inflation pressures shown in the owner's manual or on the data plate in the driver's door jamb,  the website advises.

Use less air conditioning: In a very hot weather, the internal cooling system of a vehicle provides comfort to the occupants. However, it is advised not to run the air conditioner regularly because it puts more of a load on the engine, which can decrease fuel economy. Some people opine that opening the windows at highway speeds can increase fuel consumption as the air drags the vehicle further at top speed.

Also, robinchung.com says that the truth is that turning on the AC reduces fuel economy. So,  it is best to switch off the AC when the weather is cool and you are not in traffic. A driver can also park his or her car under a shade so they do not have to keep the AC working so hard and the car temperature is kept minimal. Alternatively, one can also turn off the AC five minutes before  reaching one's destination so the coolant is not kept working, until the last second.

It is also important to cultivate the habit of cleaning air filters regularly. Clogged air filters increase fuel consumption by restricting airflow to the engine, and thus should be cleaned and replaced when necessary.

Clogged air filters are said to increase fuel consumption by up to 10 per cent.It is advisable to reduce idle time in traffic. When in Traffic, and a driver can foresee he/ she will not be moving for more than 30 seconds or 1minute, it is best to turn off the engine.  Keeping a car engine running in traffic,  especially with the AC on, increases fuel consumption over time.