From buying and using a car to maintaining it, here are some small tips for saving fuel. With the continuous rise in oil prices, saving fuel has become the most concerning topic for car owners. The following is a summary of many experienced drivers' fuel-saving experiences:
The amount of fuel consumption is closely related to the vehicle itself, such as the vehicle's weight, external design, engine displacement size, and whether it is manual or automatic, all directly affect the fuel consumption index. Generally speaking, vehicles that are lighter, have a round and smooth exterior design, smaller displacement, powerful engines, and manual transmissions tend to be more fuel-efficient.
Maintenance: Regular maintenance plays a crucial role in reducing fuel consumption. First, the engine needs regular care because any problem with the engine can lead to increased fuel consumption; secondly, air filters and gasoline filters should be changed frequently, otherwise, it will result in incomplete gasoline combustion and reduce fuel efficiency; thirdly, tire pressure and tire wear should be checked regularly. Low tire pressure can increase fuel consumption, and tires should not be replaced arbitrarily. Wider tires mean greater wheel resistance, which wastes fuel unnecessarily.
Driving Habits: Good driving habits can help you save a lot on fuel costs. Therefore, besides planning your route before departure, avoiding traffic jams, and reducing unnecessary items in the trunk to lower the vehicle weight, the following points need attention:
1. Timely and quick gear shifting, especially when driving uphill, shorter gear-shifting time saves more fuel. Driving long distances at low gears and high speeds consumes more fuel.
2. On ordinary roads and under suitable temperatures, use the air conditioning as little as possible. However, turning off the air conditioning and opening the windows at high speeds is not advisable, as the wind resistance after opening the windows consumes more fuel than the air conditioning system.
3. Reduce idling, especially prolonged idling and running the air conditioning while idling consumes more fuel.
4. Drive at economical speeds. The economical speed for general sedans is between 60 km/h to 80 km/h. Cars are most fuel-efficient when running at economical speeds.
5. Reduce the use of brakes. When passing through intersections or going downhill, it’s best to release the throttle early to allow the car to naturally decelerate.
6. Turn off the engine when appropriate. If the car is not moving for several minutes, the fuel consumed would exceed the extra fuel used during one start. Turning off the engine both saves fuel and reduces emissions, protecting the environment.
7. Start smoothly by gently lifting the throttle. Avoid sudden acceleration, braking, or rushing into gaps, as these actions increase additional fuel consumption.
Additionally, due to the thermal expansion and contraction of fuel, which is sold by volume, it is more cost-effective to refuel in the morning or evening rather than during midday.
Related thematic articles:
- Accurate grasp: No need to warm up the engine in the morning after starting
- The force generation in Tai Chi
- The explicit, implicit, and transformational forces in Tai Chi
- The role of practicing standing桩 (Zhuang) exercises