20 Fuel Saving Tips Save money every time you drive If you make every drop really count, you’ll make your fuel and your money go further. Why not print them out and put them in your glovebox? 10 tips for you and your car
1 Service your engine Did you know a poorly maintained engine can increase your fuel consumption by up to 50%? Just replacing dirty spark plugs can improve your fuel consumption by up to 5%. 2 Keep your tyres at the right pressure If your tyres are under inflated by just 1psi, your fuel efficiency can be reduced by up to 3%. So pump up those tyres up once a week or whenever you fill up. 3 Avoid carrying excess weight For every extra 100 lbs (45 kg) you carry, your fuel efficiency can drop by 1-2%. So clear your car of unnecessary items that just add weight to your vehicle when you can. 4 Take the roof rack off If you’re not using your roof rack or your roof box, remove it. A roof rack can affect the aerodynamic efficiency of your vehicle, creating drag which can result in your car using up to 5% more fuel. 5 Check the air filters Air filters keep impurities from damaging your engine. Replacing a clogged air filter can help improve your fuel economy by as much as 10% and can help protect your engine. 6 Use the correct oil Using the manufacturer's recommended lubricant like Shell Helix can help improve fuel efficiency by 1-2%. Higher quality motor oils also help your engine operate more efficiently. 7 Check the seal on your fuel cap Fuel evaporates every time you open the fuel cap. Make sure your cap is properly screwed on every time after every fill up. 8 Plan your trips Cutting down on the time spent in the car is the easiest way to conserve fuel. To reduce driving time, combine all your short trips and errands into a single journey or call ahead to avoid wasted journeys. 9 Keep hydrated Don 't forget to drink water. When you 're well hydrated, you concentrate better. Keep a bottle to hand as you drive and make sure you drink to help keep yourself cool and focused when you drive. And remember, if you ever feel drowsy while driving, pull over and rest at the first opportunity. Like this tip? Read more on keeping hydrated at www.Shell.com. You can use the search function in the website with the word "rehydrate". 10 Keep calm That way you’ll be able to drive smoothly and anticipate what’s going on ahead of you. When you keep calm, you also drive with plenty of distance between your car and others. 10 tips on how to drive more efficiently
1 Drive smoothly If you drive aggressively, you can burn up to a third more fuel than if you drive smoothly. Avoid accelerating or braking too hard and try to keep your steering as even as possible. 2 Use higher gears When you drive in higher gear, you’ll use less fuel, so change up a gear whenever you can. 3 Keep the windows closed Wind blowing through an open window can slow you down. And, to compensate, you’re likely to speed up. Instead of opening windows why not use your car’s internal ventilation system, just so long as this doesn’t make you feel drowsy. 4 Use cruise control Using cruise control on major roads can help you maintain a constant speed and helps you make all those drops count. 5 Avoid excess idling Stuck in a jam? Idling gets you nowhere, but still burns fuel. Turn the engine off when you’re in a queue until you need it. As a rule, if you’ve stopped for over 10 seconds, switch off your engine. 6 Avoid over-revving Change gear in good time when you pull away or when you’re accelerating. Never ‘redline’ the rev counter. 7 Avoid high speeds The faster you go, the more wind resistance you 'll encounter and the more fuel your vehicle will consume just to maintain speed. At around 110 km/ph you could be using up to 30 per cent more fuel than at 80 km/ph. So keep it slow. 8 Use air-conditioning sparingly Sometimes it’s hard to avoid using your air-conditioning, but remember that it does put added strain on your engine on hot or cold days. And, it increases your fuel consumption by up to 8%. On temperate days, you can always use your car’s internal ventilation system instead. 9 Avoid rush hour If you can travel outside of peak times, you’ll spend less time stuck in traffic and use less fuel drops as a result. 10 Keep a constant speed Instead of coasting when you reach a downward slope, maintain steady engine revs. This will help you to maintain a constant speed rather than picking up speed and is likely to have a positive effect on your fuel consumption.
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