Tips to improve mileage

So you got a new hybrid model and all your worries about the mileage issues are over ! Think a moment before you take out your Insight or Lexus hybrid out of your car shed. Fuel efficiency of a car is partly in your hands. To get the best out of an engine, you need to take care of a few things such as your driving habits, speed and the frequency of driving, etc. The following guidelines will help you save your gas mileage, especially in your hybrid cars.

• Follow a routine examination on the air pressure in the tire. A properly inflated tire will help to improve the mileage performance of your car. The pressure should be checked when the tire is cold, otherwise you may get a false high value. Wheel alignment is another ‘must to do’- don’t allow your car to lose its balance.

• Start slowing down your vehicle minutes before you reach the traffic lights so that you can avoid stopping at it before crossing. The fuel consumption for acceleration for a moving vehicle is comparatively lower than that is stopped.

• Never exceed the speed limit. It is thumb rule for all drivers, especially who wish to fly their vehicles on the highway. Driving above the speed limit will have a drastic impact on the mileage. A rash driving can reduce the gas mileage by about 30 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent in city driving.

• Be on watch of the gas mileage. After every unusual driving, conduct an analysis on the performance of the engine as well as the gas mileage. It will help you improve your driving habits and understand your vehicle better.

• Avoid sudden brake and sudden acceleration. The sudden actions will cause more energy wastage. A smooth acceleration will give sufficient time to the engine to prepare itself for the move.

• Identify the right fuel for your engine. Follow the manufacture’s guidelines while selecting the fuel and also other necessary materials such as the lubricants. Compromising the quality of these will mean a heavy cost on the life of your cruise. Often fuels with detergent additives, which automatically clean the system, are preferred.

• Clean the air filters regularly to avoid blocking of the vents by the dirty soil or oil particles. Be attentive about the other engine parts also; regular lubrication and cleaning is the best thing you can do to your hybrid engines.

• Avoid running air conditioners unnecessarily. You know air conditioners cause a considerable waste of energy, of course. But there is more than just the energy loss about the working of air conditioners. When air conditioners are at action, they run on pulleys attached to the motor. Every time when the air conditioner is on action, it slows down the engine, and ultimately reduces the life of the engine. At highways, often the wind speed is high, and if you open the windows of the car, the wind pressure will resist the movement of the vehicle and in turn affect the performance of the engine. So better turn on your air conditioner at highways.

March 5, 2007 | Filed Under

 

Comments

Leave a Reply