#.1 firstly, empty your vehicle of all items which are not required on a daily basis. Get rid of any rubbish you have accrued (do not forget under the seats, in glove compartment and boot / trunk.)
Clean your dashboard of junk and thoroughly clean the inside of your vehicle. Keep it this way.
#.2 now cleans the exterior of your vehicle thoroughly, not forgetting to wash under the wheel arch area's to loosen and eject build up of dirt.
These first two steps have already saved you fuel on your next trip!
#.3 Now check the tyre pressures on your vehicle (including the spare wheel) and adjust as necessary, this is important for two three main reasons-vehicle handling, excessive tyre wear if pressures are incorrect, greater fuel usage. Make sure you check these on a regular basis. It is amazing how many people disregard their tyres until they LOOK like they need adjusting!.
#.4 DO YOUR MAINTENANCE CHECKS REGULARLY!.
It pays to check the oil, water and other fluid levels on a daily basis, giving you a heads up early for problems like leakage and making sure that all components are getting the lubricant or coolant required to keep them working to their full potential.
How often do you check?. Optimum performance = optimum fuel usage.
#.5 Do have your vehicle maintained at regular service intervals to keep it in tip top shape, maintaining brakes and exhausts is just as important to fuel economy as your tyres. A well maintained vehicle is operating to the maximum of the manufacturer’s specifications and will perform better. Better performance, less wear, parts functionality at their peak. This will save you cash in the long term!.
#.6 Journey time. This is so easy but often overlooked. Leave earlier on your roadtrip. It is as simple as that. The more time you allow to complete your journey, the more relaxed you will be and the options you choose during your journey will be better. Speed will be reduced, no rushing! Safer, cheaper, less stress. You may add a short time to your trip, but you have saved in every other way!.
#.7 Route selection is important, use the most efficient route tp your destination. The fastest routes are not always the most efficient. The quickest routes are not always the most efficient, trial and error, evaluate your costs for each alternative. At worst you will learn all routes to that destination in times of traffic congestion.
#.8 Sat navs and maps work best TOGETHER!. Learn not to rely on your electronic equipment at all times, the basic skill of map reading from point a - b is both easy and satisfying, satellite navigation equipment frequently makes mistakes in my experience and on many occasions YOU may well already know a better route, after all the sat nav is just a promoted back seat driver!.
#.9 Concentration is paramount whilst you are in control of your cash guzzling vehicle. The more attention you pay to your driving technique, road conditions and all of the above points and the points to follow, savings will be made as you adjust to my fuel saving techniques. Think about your driving and other road users all the time you are behind the wheel adjust and save.
#.10 Acceleration eats fuel however you do it, but the more conservative you are with that gas pedal, the higher your savings!. Its not rocket science, drop your speed appropriately to suit road conditions. Move away from junctions at a steady speed, do not be tempted to overuse this pedal, the harder you push it, the more you are spending!. Imagine it is cash you are spending, the more you depress the pedal, the more you spend!.
#.11 Braking is also important. Use the engine to gear down on manual or stick change gearboxes. It should be a smooth downward transition in speed through the gears as you adjust accordingly down to a reduced speed or complete halt. DO NOT JUMP DOWN THROUGH THE GEARS!. It is not efficient and wears component parts in both the gearbox, clutch and engine.
#.12 Your speed on longer routes should be constant, depending on conditions and other road users. Fluctuations in speed are unnecessary unless you are overtaking and should be avoided. An even regular midrange speed will give greater fuel economy as well as cutting down on wear and tear. Do not be tempted to sit in the fast lane at higher speeds, it sucks money from your fuel tank!.
#.13 Speed limits are there for a reason!. Safety first. Remember most speed limits are a MAXIMUM allowed without breaking the law. Traveling below this speed (as long as you are not obstructing other road user's by moving too slowly) will benefit your fuel economy and save on general wear and tear over the long term in the life of your vehicle.
#.14 Choose the right gear for the situation you are in. Too high or too low and you are not optimizing your drive train to its full potential. Do not over strain the engine revolutions in any gear. Keep your gear changes smooth and well within the parameters of that gear. Listen to the engine noise, if it is straining you are wasting fuel and wearing components unnecessarily.
#.15 All powered equipment in your vehicle adds to the drainage pull from the battery. The more facilities like cd player, lights, fan, air conditioning and heated screens, mirrors and seats in use at any none time put a load on the electrical generating and recharging abilities of the engine. Less power being drained, less cost. All the above add a cash cost to your trip. Minimize your usage and save.
#.16 This is possibly one of the most important. Other road users have their own agenda, they are doing things their way, do not allow them to influence your driving style by bullying. There are many types of driver and the aggressive type that 'own the road' sing from their own hymn sheet with scant disregard for you or anyone else. Focus on all the above points and reach your destination safely and cost effectively, Just because they are hanging in your rear view mirror or tailgating you, DOES NOT MEAN you should change your driving, by the sound of it they should change theirs, on the flip side, never get involved in altercations with them, it is both fruitless and time consuming, been there, done that.
#.17 Premium fuel prices. You know the ones. 'Better fuel economy, more mileage from your fuel.
Forget them, they are a very, very expensive mistake to take on, I have tried them, they actually cost you more from start to finish.
Take notice of all the above and you will save, absolutely no question. Thank you and happy motoring.
Clean your dashboard of junk and thoroughly clean the inside of your vehicle. Keep it this way.
#.2 now cleans the exterior of your vehicle thoroughly, not forgetting to wash under the wheel arch area's to loosen and eject build up of dirt.
These first two steps have already saved you fuel on your next trip!
#.3 Now check the tyre pressures on your vehicle (including the spare wheel) and adjust as necessary, this is important for two three main reasons-vehicle handling, excessive tyre wear if pressures are incorrect, greater fuel usage. Make sure you check these on a regular basis. It is amazing how many people disregard their tyres until they LOOK like they need adjusting!.
#.4 DO YOUR MAINTENANCE CHECKS REGULARLY!.
It pays to check the oil, water and other fluid levels on a daily basis, giving you a heads up early for problems like leakage and making sure that all components are getting the lubricant or coolant required to keep them working to their full potential.
How often do you check?. Optimum performance = optimum fuel usage.
#.5 Do have your vehicle maintained at regular service intervals to keep it in tip top shape, maintaining brakes and exhausts is just as important to fuel economy as your tyres. A well maintained vehicle is operating to the maximum of the manufacturer’s specifications and will perform better. Better performance, less wear, parts functionality at their peak. This will save you cash in the long term!.
#.6 Journey time. This is so easy but often overlooked. Leave earlier on your roadtrip. It is as simple as that. The more time you allow to complete your journey, the more relaxed you will be and the options you choose during your journey will be better. Speed will be reduced, no rushing! Safer, cheaper, less stress. You may add a short time to your trip, but you have saved in every other way!.
#.7 Route selection is important, use the most efficient route tp your destination. The fastest routes are not always the most efficient. The quickest routes are not always the most efficient, trial and error, evaluate your costs for each alternative. At worst you will learn all routes to that destination in times of traffic congestion.
#.8 Sat navs and maps work best TOGETHER!. Learn not to rely on your electronic equipment at all times, the basic skill of map reading from point a - b is both easy and satisfying, satellite navigation equipment frequently makes mistakes in my experience and on many occasions YOU may well already know a better route, after all the sat nav is just a promoted back seat driver!.
#.9 Concentration is paramount whilst you are in control of your cash guzzling vehicle. The more attention you pay to your driving technique, road conditions and all of the above points and the points to follow, savings will be made as you adjust to my fuel saving techniques. Think about your driving and other road users all the time you are behind the wheel adjust and save.
#.10 Acceleration eats fuel however you do it, but the more conservative you are with that gas pedal, the higher your savings!. Its not rocket science, drop your speed appropriately to suit road conditions. Move away from junctions at a steady speed, do not be tempted to overuse this pedal, the harder you push it, the more you are spending!. Imagine it is cash you are spending, the more you depress the pedal, the more you spend!.
#.11 Braking is also important. Use the engine to gear down on manual or stick change gearboxes. It should be a smooth downward transition in speed through the gears as you adjust accordingly down to a reduced speed or complete halt. DO NOT JUMP DOWN THROUGH THE GEARS!. It is not efficient and wears component parts in both the gearbox, clutch and engine.
#.12 Your speed on longer routes should be constant, depending on conditions and other road users. Fluctuations in speed are unnecessary unless you are overtaking and should be avoided. An even regular midrange speed will give greater fuel economy as well as cutting down on wear and tear. Do not be tempted to sit in the fast lane at higher speeds, it sucks money from your fuel tank!.
#.13 Speed limits are there for a reason!. Safety first. Remember most speed limits are a MAXIMUM allowed without breaking the law. Traveling below this speed (as long as you are not obstructing other road user's by moving too slowly) will benefit your fuel economy and save on general wear and tear over the long term in the life of your vehicle.
#.14 Choose the right gear for the situation you are in. Too high or too low and you are not optimizing your drive train to its full potential. Do not over strain the engine revolutions in any gear. Keep your gear changes smooth and well within the parameters of that gear. Listen to the engine noise, if it is straining you are wasting fuel and wearing components unnecessarily.
#.15 All powered equipment in your vehicle adds to the drainage pull from the battery. The more facilities like cd player, lights, fan, air conditioning and heated screens, mirrors and seats in use at any none time put a load on the electrical generating and recharging abilities of the engine. Less power being drained, less cost. All the above add a cash cost to your trip. Minimize your usage and save.
#.16 This is possibly one of the most important. Other road users have their own agenda, they are doing things their way, do not allow them to influence your driving style by bullying. There are many types of driver and the aggressive type that 'own the road' sing from their own hymn sheet with scant disregard for you or anyone else. Focus on all the above points and reach your destination safely and cost effectively, Just because they are hanging in your rear view mirror or tailgating you, DOES NOT MEAN you should change your driving, by the sound of it they should change theirs, on the flip side, never get involved in altercations with them, it is both fruitless and time consuming, been there, done that.
#.17 Premium fuel prices. You know the ones. 'Better fuel economy, more mileage from your fuel.
Forget them, they are a very, very expensive mistake to take on, I have tried them, they actually cost you more from start to finish.
Take notice of all the above and you will save, absolutely no question. Thank you and happy motoring.
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