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The percentage increases at the pump are multiplied by the kilometre – adjusting driving habits can’t completely ease the sting, but remembering to accelerate gently and keep your tires inflated will help.
Panda Tire & Auto owner Curtis Moggey says regular maintenance can literally pay off by increasing your fuel economy. Money paid to the mechanic might be a wince-inducing lump sum, but it can increase the value of each tank of gas you buy and make you back the investment.
“New direct fuel injection systems are prone to getting carbon buildup,” Moggey said. “And that can really cost in fuel economy as well as making the vehicle not as enjoyable to drive.”
He also had some advice about the check engine light – don’t ignore it.
“The check engine light’s main purpose is to tell you that your vehicle is wasting fuel and polluting the environment.”
Moggey clarified that the system tells drivers there’s something wrong with their engine mostly by monitoring emissions.
“If the vehicle is not burning fuel efficiently, then it’s sending unburnt fuel out through the exhaust system,” he explained. “And that’s costing the operator in fuel. And it’s also polluting the environment, contributing to greenhouse gasses.”
A summary of the parts of the vehicle that benefit most from regular maintenance – and can save you the most per fill – includes:
- Engine air filter – a clogged air filter can increase fuel consumption by up to 8 per cent
- Spark plugs – if these get dirty or worn out, the engine won’t fire as smoothly
- Don’t ignore your check engine light – its primary purpose is emissions monitoring
- Tire pressure – Check your tire pressure at least once a month. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance and can increase fuel consumption by up to 4 per cent. They are also more vulnerable to heating up and blowing out
- Fuel injection system – cleaning the fuel injection system can help your engine run at maximum smoothness
- Keep the vehicle light – remove unnecessary items from the trunk. Take the kayak or storage bin off the roof to reduce drag
Increase efficiency while driving
Keeping your vehicle well maintained is important. Being fuel-conscious while actually driving it might be even more important.
The largest use of fuel while driving comes from acceleration. Aggressive acceleration and braking don’t significantly reduce travel times – there are too many other factors outside of driver control, such as lights, stop signs, and other drivers.
On the other hand, frequent aggressive starts and hard braking can increase fuel consumption up to 39 per cent.
The average vehicle uses one litre of fuel for every 20 minutes of idling. If you’re going to be sitting for a while, turn the engine off.
The faster the car is going, the more air resistance it must push through. Driving at lower speeds saves fuel and also reduces the risk of an expensive ticket.
Cruise control is another excellent method of increasing fuel economy. A consistent speed over long periods is the most efficient way to operate an engine.
Plan trips to combine all the stops you need to make. Not only is this a common-sense way to reduce driving times, but it also costs fuel to warm an engine up: it’s best to only warm it up once.
