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Friday, December 6, 2024

Save Gas, Save Money: Gas Saving Tips 101- Part 2

Here are more gas saving tips that will help you to still experience the joys of driving, while helping you save money at the same time.

Gas Saving Tips

1. Avoid prolonged engine warm-ups, especially on cold mornings. The engine will still use fuel even when your are just quietly idling the car. Modern engines are designed to rev higher on cold starts–this actually serves a purpose, as it helps the engine to warm faster.

Don’t be surprised if you start your car and find your engine idling at above 1,000 to 1,500 RPM. The tachometer needle should settle at the normal idling speed once the engine gets a chance to warm up.

However, don’t let your engine idle for too long. You should commence driving immediately within 30 to 45 seconds after starting the engine. Anything longer than that is just money down the drain.

2. Make your car lighter and more aerodynamic. If your car or SUV is equipped with a bike rack or a ski rack, then you should consider removing them, because they will affect the aerodynamic efficiency of your vehicle. The same goes for some aftermarket parts such as spoilers, side skirts, and front bumpers: while aftermarket go-fast goodies look cool, remember that they were not designed to be a part of your vehicle in the first place. Some of them may actually do more harm than good (they may add vehicle weight, and they may reduce the aerodynamic efficiency of your vehicle).

Car manufacturers spend millions of dollars in research and development, and majority of this has something to do with reducing vehicle weight, and designing a slippery yet functional body. This is the reason why sports cars are equipped with go-fast body parts, because they were designed for high-performance and extreme driving.

With that being said, you should unload all unnecessary items from your vehicle, including the trunk or your stuff inside the boot.

3. Avoid speeding. Don’t get us wrong: speed is fun, but you should always adhere to the speed limits when driving on public roads. Travelling at more than 40 MPH will already create a lot of aerodynamic drag. The faster you go, the more drag is produced, and the engine needs to produce more power to overcome wind resistance.

There is no point in speeding. You should always adhere to the speed limits prescribed in your locale. You will not only save gas, but you will also save yourself the hassle of dealing with a speeding ticket.