How To Make Your Car A Lean, Green Motoring Machine

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Author: Ben Jenkins

Article source: http://www.articledeshboard.com/. Used with author's permission.

Eco-friendly motoring is one answer to rising fuel costs. The rising cost of fuel is a significant factor in the modern car drivers expenditure. Making sure your car is performing at optimum efficiency will not only save you money but also reduce your vehicles greenhouse gas emissions and the negative impact your vehicle has on the environment. Here are the top fuel saving tips.

Roof racks, bike carriers and roof boxes will affect a cars aerodynamics and reduce fuel efficiency. If you have to use them make sure you remove them when not in use. Driving with the windows or sunroof open will also decrease a cars aerodynamics.

Change into the highest appropriate gear as soon as possible. Revving the engine in low gear uses lots of fuel. For maximum efficiency you should shift up a gear when the engine is revving between 2000 and 2500 revs.

Maintain a steady speed using the highest gear possible. The most efficient speed is typically around 45 - 50mph. Driving faster than this will greatly increase your fuel consumption. The Department of Transport claim driving at 70mph uses up to 9% more fuel than when driving at 60mph and up to 15% more than at 50mph.

If you anticipate being stuck in a queue of traffic for more than a minute or so then cutting the engine will save petrol and reduce emissions.

Avoid short journeys, car engines use more fuel when cold and catalytic converters take around six miles before they become effective.

Check your tyre pressure regularly. Under-inflated tyres are dangerous and can increase fuel consumption by up to 3%.

Don't turn on the engine and leave it idling simply to warm up your car. This wastes fuel and causes engine wear. If your windows are frosted over scrape the ice off using a scraper. Running the engine for ten minutes to clear frosted windows can use up to a litre of fuel before you've even driven a single metre.

Clean your windows with a good quality window cleaning fluid. Clean windows are less likely to mist up. This will mean you use fuel hungry air-conditioning and window heaters less.

Consider taking an advanced driving schools course. This will give you a driving style which is naturally fuel efficient.

Cars consume much more fuel when the engine is cold. Reverse into your parking or drive while the engine is warm and efficient. Then you can drive straight off in the morning rather than manoeuvring back and forth with a cold, inefficient engine.

Turning on the air condition for long periods of time will significantly increase fuel consumption.

Plan your journeys so that you avoid congestion, road works and getting lost.

Have your car serviced according to the manufacturers schedule. This will help maintain engine efficiency and cut fuel consumption.

For more young driver information see this driving test and driving schools website. A site for learner drivers which provides guides on topics such as the driving theory test and the hazard perception test.