How to Trim Your Fuel Costs With These 11 off Beat Tactics

Reducing your expenses on fuel is not all that difficult if you adopt a few simple strategies.

1. Keep your tyres properly inflatedThe drag experienced while driving is primarily due to the resistance tyres create on contact with the road. This resistance can seriously reduce fuel efficiency, and hence, should be tackled as soon as a drag is noticed.Modern tyres are engineered to minimise friction and drain out water from under the tread to keep hydroplaning at bay. The sidewall and bead of the tyre are also indicators of the maximum and minimum pressures that the tyre can handle efficiently.The rise and fall in temperatures alter the pressure of the tyres. Keeping car tyres properly inflated prevents premature wear and tear and maximises fuel efficiency. It is estimated that if one tyre is underinflated by 2 psi, the gas mileage is reduced by 0.6%.
2. Replace deteriorated spark plugsYou should observe the sound of your car's engine. When the engine feels sluggish and makes more noise than usual, there might be a need to replace the spark plugs. It should be noted that a deteriorated spark plug reduces fuel efficiency by 30%.Also, even if you don't find any issues with the spark plugs it is good to replace them every 5 years to improve fuel efficiency and boost mileage.
3. Don't hit the clutch and accelerator togetherWhen you hit the accelerator while the clutch is already pushed down, there is a surge of power that will ultimately impact your fuel consumption.
4. Turn off your engine at signalsIf you are going to be at a signal for more than 1 minute, it is advisable to turn off your engine. Doing this at train crossings can also save a considerable amount of fuel. With the advent in automobile technology, modern car engines are resistant to wear and tear that arise from turning them off at signals.
5. Drive at the optimum speedIn most cars, driving at 45 kmph is ideal for saving fuel. However, this differs based on the car's transmission. You should identify the speed at which your car shifts into gears, and that is the speed at which you get the optimum mileage. So, it is advisable to regularly monitor your speed on the dashboard indicator while driving.
6. Remove unwanted things from inside your carIf you are in the habit of leaving unwanted luggage in the boot of your car, then it is time to change. It should be noted that every additional kilo of weight that your car carries uses up extra fuel and reduces the mileage.
7. Refill your tank when it is half emptyThe scientific reason behind this is a simple fact. When you have more fuel in your tank, there is less space for air. When petrol or diesel comes in contact with air, it evaporates faster. Also, fuel tanks have a floating roof on the inside which restricts evaporation by providing zero clearance between the fuel and the atmosphere.
8. Reduce speed of filling fuelIf the fuel is filled at high speed, there are chances of evaporation. So, it is important to advise the attendant at the petrol pump to fill it slowly.
9. No need to "warm up" cars before drivingModern cars do not require warming up before being driven. Keeping your car started and idling is a totally unnecessary activity. This only wastes fuel and brings about wear and tear in the engine's moving parts. The design of vehicles today enable them to warm up faster when driven and quickly reach peak efficiency.
10. Repair damage to the body of the vehicleAnything that distorts the flow of air over the body of the vehicle reduces the fuel efficiency to a certain extent. Hence, it is important to get all car body damages fixed in an efficient manner.
11. Clean the filtersWhen the air or oil filter of your car is dirty/clogged, fuel consumption is increased. You should get the filters cleaned or replaced, and service the engine regularly for better fuel efficiency and mileage.The above points can be implemented without too much effort; so follow them diligently to minimise fuel expenditure during times of inflated prices.Also Read: Do You Have A Motor Accident Policy?

GST Update: GST of 18% is applicable on car insurance effective from the 1st of July, 2017