Simple tips that can help you save loads on fuel bills!

If you are reading this, I think I can assume correctly that you are an automobile enthusiast and/or enjoy driving. Yes, I know revving the engine so hard that it feels like its gonna explode is fun..nothing can beat the happiness the upper end of the rev band can give you. But the down side is, under such horrific conditions, your engine might be giving an economy of barely 4-5 kmpl. Some of you must be having a smug smile on your face right now thinking 'ha -ha-ha , suckers! I drive a Maruti/Hyundai...'. Am sorry to say, the same figures apply to you too sir! So here are a few simple tips to avoid this...

• Don’t start and stop engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the gas amount equivalent to when you start the engine.

• Avoid "revving" the engine, especially just before you switch the engine off; this wastes fuel needlessly and washes oil down from the inside cylinder walls, owing to loss of oil pressure.

• Eliminate jack-rabbit starts. Accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop. Don’t push pedal down more than 1/4 of the total foot travel.

• Travelling at fast rates in low gears can consume up to 45% more fuel than is needed.

• Manual shift driven cars allow you to change to highest gear as soon as possible, thereby letting you save gas if you "nurse it along". However, if you cause the engine to "bog down"(KNOCK), premature wearing of engine parts occurs.

• Keep windows closed when travelling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%.

• Drive steadily. Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Also avoid tailgating - the driver in front of you is unpredictable. Not only is it unsafe, but if affects your economy, if he slows down unexpectedly.

• The best way to save FUEL is to ‘THINK AHEAD’ while driving. Do not accelerate unnecessarily.

• Do not rest left foot on floor board pedals while driving. The slightest pressure puts "mechanical drag" on components, wearing them down prematurely. This "dragging" also demands additional fuel usage.

• Avoid rough roads whenever possible, because dirt or gravel robs you of up to 30% of your gas mileage.

• Use alternate roads that are safer, shorter and straighter. Compare travelling distance differences - remember that corners, curves and lane jumping require extra gas. The shortest distance between two points is always straight.

• Signals are usually timed for your motoring advantage. By travelling steadily at the legal speed limit you boost your chances of having the "green light" all the way.

• Automatic transmissions should be allowed to cool down when your car is idling at a standstill, e.g. railroad crossings, long traffic lights, etc. Place gear into neutral position. This reduces transmission strain and allows transmission to cool.

• Park car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear; avoid reverse-forward maneuvering while exiting, to save fuel.

• Regular tune-ups ensure best economy; check owner’s manual for recommended maintenance intervals. Special attention should be given to maintaining clean air filters... diminished air flow increases gas waste.

• Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment. Bent wheels, axels, bad shocks, broken springs, etc. create engine drag and are unsafe at high travelling speeds.

• Inflate all tires to maximum limit. Each tire should be, balanced and checked for out-of-round. Radial designs are the recognized fuel-savers; check manufacturer’s specifications for maximum tire pressures.

• Auto air conditioners can reduce fuel economy by 10% to 20%. Heater fan, power windows and seats increase engine load; the more load on your engine, the less kilometres per litre.

• Remove excess weight from trunk or inside of car - extra tires, back seats, unnecessary heavy parts.

• Distribute passenger weight evenly throughout car.

• While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 100 kph.

• Keep your Engine properly tuned.

• Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emission test,can improve its fuel mileage by 4 percent.Though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

• Check replace Air Filters regularly.Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car’s air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine.

....So there you go, chances are you might already be knowing many of these points, and chances are when you will see the tank half full, you will say screw you economical driving I am going bonkers! But trust me, when you know that you are really low on fuel, efficient driving will take you places you wouldn't have ever imagined, literally.

Wishing you a Safe and Green Drive

The Grease Monkey Team