Healthy habits to reduce fuel consumption

Healthy habits to reduce fuel consumption

Do you have the bad habit of changing your car's oil at the last minute? Do you drive the car with the same tires all year round? These are two of the habits that can cause a much higher fuel consumption, but there are others that you might not have thought of.

There are a lot of factors that can influence fuel consumption. Starting from standing still with the engine running, to listening to music at high volumes, there are plenty of habits that can contribute to the increase of fuel consumption.

Healthy habits to reduce fuel consumption

Creating "healthy" habits for your vehicle can significantly reduce fuel consumption, but it may also increase the car’s durability. Therefore, it is important to keep in mind the following aspects:

  • Tire pressure – when driving a long distance without checking tire pressure, it is likely that it reduces significantly and that the drag resistance is higher. Thus, a larger amount of fuel will be consumed. Check tire pressure every few days if you use your car every day. If you do not use it for a longer period of time, before a long trip, make a visit to a filling station or to the nearest vulcanization garage to make sure that the tire pressure is optimal.

  • Do not leave the engine running when stationed – if you have to stand still for more than a minute, it is recommended to turn off the engine in order to not consume fuel unnecessarily. Also, when you start your car in the morning, there is no need to let it warm up more than 1 minute.

  • Check the car’s weight in an effective manner – try not to overload the car you are driving unless it is really necessary. Empty the trunk of unnecessary heavy objects and remove the roof rack if you do not need it while traveling. By doing this, you will keep the car's aerodynamic properties, allowing it to move faster without necessarily consuming more fuel.

  • Do not excessively accelerate with the engine cold – if you have just started away and hurry to get somewhere, try to avoid aggressive acceleration because the engine will consume very much fuel in this situation.

  • Use the right engine oil for your car’s needs – the use of inappropriate oils, with a too low viscosity, can lead to a high fuel consumption. It is very important that the mechanism is properly lubricated, which is why it is recommended the use of top quality synthetic oils, such as the Mobil 1 oils, available in Romania through the authorized distributor Star Lubricants.

  • Plan your trip and avoid peak hours – a much lower fuel consumption can also be achieved if you plan your trip in advance, setting a well-established route. Thus, you will not lose time and fuel on wrong routes. At the same time, making plans by using various mobile apps can help you avoid congested routes.

  • Do not postpone the periodic technical inspection – the oil and filters changes and the detection of possible problems of your car can help you save a lot of money. A proactive behavior will help you achieve an optimal consumption and a car free of technical problems.

  • Park your car in the shade – even if you probably have never thought of this, parking in the shade can help you save fuel. When the car is sitting in the sun, it needs much more power to cool the engine and the interior of the car if you use air conditioning. By parking the car in the shade you will avoid unnecessary consumption.

Follow the above tips to reduce your car’s fuel consumption and to have a preventive behavior. Remember! Economical driving will help you not only save money, but also maintain the health of the engine and of the entire vehicle for a longer period of time.

Do you want to learn more tips on economical driving? See 10 simple tricks that teach you to drive economically, whether you have a petrol engine or a diesel one.