If you’ve never had to worry about the fuel efficiency of your vehicle before now, you’ll definitely get to it with the removal of the fuel subsidy. Especially considering the fact that prices for fuel have increased 4x in the country.
But how could one still afford to maximize fuel in a period like this? How can you keep a tab on the fuel consumption level of your vehicle? If you’re wondering, there are a few ways you can make this happen today.
Below are the driving techniques to practice that’ll enable you to maximize of fuel efficiency in your vehicle as we advance.
- Turn off the Air Conditioner
A common vehicle fuel maximization technique every car owner knows is turning off the air conditioner. A study conducted by Empa, on behalf of the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), showed that turning off a car’s air conditioning device helps with saving fuel.
So, if the weather is comfortable, it’s better to wind your windows down than use air conditioning, as it saps out a lot of fuel from a vehicle.
- Apply Conservative or Slow Driving
Interestingly, the Fuel Data Centre Report compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy shows that speeding increases the fuel consumption level in a vehicle. The research notes that this is a result of tire rolling resistance and air resistance.
The report notes that while vehicles reach optimal fuel economy at different speeds, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50- miles per hour (mph). It also noted that controlling speed on the highway helps drivers maintain a constant speed because vehicles use the most energy when accelerating.
- Activate Vehicle Cruise Control
The Cruise control feature comes on when driving at a constant speed. This electric system allows you to set your car to a specific speed, which lets you take your foot off the accelerator pedal.
There’s an automatic speed control system located at the right side of automatic vehicles’ steering that’s designed for safety, but it also helps to maximize fuel efficiency in the vehicle. For instance, when driving at 112km/h on a freeway, the system calculates and adjusts the car parts to maintain the speed.
- Improve Car Tire Pressure
Driving with a deflated car tire increases the fuel consumption level in your vehicle. Experts note that this increase is about 4% higher than the regular fuel consumption level. It doesn’t just affect the lifespan of your tire but also causes fuel waste. Therefore, ensure that you always attend to deflated car tires to avoid high fuel consumption in your vehicle.
- Turn off the Engine While in Traffic
This one is specifically for those living in cities like Lagos, where the traffic situation is insane. If you suddenly get caught up in Lagos traffic, do yourself the favour of immediately turning off your vehicle’s engine. It saves you a lot of fuel.
Conclusion
Fuel subsidy removal and the increase in fuel prices require that car owners learn fuel management tips that will enable their fuel to last longer. Practising one or two of these tips will help you stretch that fuel a little longer.
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