posted by Catherine on Nov 20
Less miles is good, but fuel-efficient driving is even better!
I know that driving your car less is a great way to lower your carbon footprint, and that always will be true - but you could improve the fuel used when driving by following the golden rules below:
1) Different Day - Different Car
We all have certain things in the car that we need there all the time, like a map-book and a car jack, etc.
But, just because we use the roof rack occassionally or that baby seat for the weekend there is no need to drive them to work every day - or to the stores for your shopping. And that 5 litres of oil in the back is costing you more in gas - every day it’s there!
Every extra pound in your car is using more fuel, so make sure that everytime you plan a day out, you make sure that the car only contains those things that it needs for that one time.
However, that doesn’t mean have less people in your car or only car share with skinny people! Cars are designed to carry 4 or 5 people, so make sure that yours does. Always offer to car share for work and vacations. Just 1 less car on the road in your region every hour can make huge savings over the year - and over the whole country!
2) Bike Racks & Trailers
There are times when you want to have your bikes on the back or the roof, or a small trailer attached to your car to move those awkward items about - but consider the aerodynamics!
There was a recent survey where different bike racks were used on the same car to drive 2 bikes a long distance - and there was quite a staggering difference in fuel economy depending on where the bikes were positioned.
Some bikes created huge drag as the wind hit them when driving at speed and others just created an instability in weight distribution causing the car to perform differently over distances.
And of course they would produce much less drag (and so save more fuel) if they were inside the vehicle - so maybe a longer car is better for certain people?
So, before you buy your next car, van, trailer or bike rack - read the facts about it. Ask the retailer or check online for more details about fuel efficiency - or you could be costing yourself a lot more in fuel than the amount you saved on your purchase!
3) Creating a Draught
The same goes for having your windows or sunroof open as well. The air flowing into the windows or over the sunroof cause drag on the car, making it use more fuel to keep the same speed.
Close them for most of the faster portions of your driving to be more fuel efficient, using your vents to create a cool draught. Using the air conditioning uses a lot of fuel too - and make the engine work harder, putting it under more strain than it needs!
4) Clean Cars
Do we all really need them? Using an inefficient automated car wash can use over 100 litres of water per wash - that is just totally unnecessary - and that’s what younger brothers and scouts are for!
With a bucket of warm soapy water and a sponge - you could save endless gallons of water being wasted - and help earn someone some extra pocket money!
Although, make sure they wash on gravel or grass rather than the road - otherwise the soapy bubbles will flow straight down the drains rather than percolating through the soil - so could possibly cause low level pollution or diseases!
And anyway, as long as your vehicle has clear windows, lights and licence plates - the rest doesn’t matter really if you are on vacation - or driving through woods or countryside. Why clean something that is going to get dirty again? Save it for a special occasion……..
November 21st, 2009 at 5:02 pm
The new eco friendly waterless car wash is a great alternative to having a clean car with out wasting or even using excess water!
Green Wash Mobile
Gwmhouston.com!