It is closed to 4 months now since I was the proud owner of a spanking new Mazda Cx-7. Call it mere selfish indulgence but the look of the CX-7 with its curvy streamline facade will make any guys melt and jump at any opportunity to be behind its wheels. As my friend once said to me, a ride is very important in determining whether you get laid or not. Personally, I have never seen that materialise, so I cant say that the statement bears any truth behind it. Driving a CX-7 on the road sure give you a good feeling, the sense that you are the king of the road. I dare say that it has made more than a few eyes and head turns especially when I drive slowly through a crowded street with my undercarriage blue lights gleaming bright illuminating the tarred road below.
However the joy of driving the car has always been short lived when it hit you hard with the realisation of how it is going to pinch you hard on your pocket when you need to drive in into the pump station. Everytime I have to visit the pump and insert the nozzle into the car, it will set me back by more then $ 150 for a full tank of petrol.
The only comfort that I have is that I seldom drive the car as I used to. I supposed the parking lot infront of my house is more closely acquainted with my car then I am. Any other person the thought of selling their ride seems to be an inviting and logical option opened. Many of my friends have ditch their once proud ride for public transportation. But for me the thought of going public after driving for more then a decade just seems unappealing.
The only option available for me is to limit petrol wastage and practise these few petrol savings tips.
It's not a competition
I supposed it is a curse in many fast developing countries where the number of cars almost equal to the population that everyone on the streets is always rushing off to somewhere. If we are not rushing to work or home we are hurriedly heading to appointments. Without fail man of us have this temptation of weaving in and out of traffic. Cutting across people's path and trying hard to get ahead the pack. However do note that driving aggresively often means sudden accelaration and braking, which wastes petrol and will make you unpopular with other road users. At the end of the trip you should not be expecting any price but you may expect angry curses or if you are unlucky a friendly up your ass finger.
Too fast, bill furious
There is an old adage, slow wins the game. You can get 35 percent better fuel mileage out of your current vehicle by using a device most drivers already have. That would be your right foot. No need to spend hundred of dollars on fuel saving devices that will not have any effect at all on your fuel consumption. Just lighten your load on your foot. Most drivers agonizing over the cost of petrol failed to realize the enormous impact their driving style has on fuel consumption.
Keep to the speed limit. While different cars have different speeds at which they are the most fuel efficient, it is a good idea not to drive too fast. It will be safer too. If you want a big gain in fuel mileage, though, you need to seriously lay off the pedals when driving around town. Accelerating more slowly away from green lights and stopping more gradually for red lights cut fuel consumption. Slamming down the gas pedal pushes more fuel into the engine while it also keeps the engine running faster. You can also save a lot of gas by just lifting your foot off the accelerator as soon as possible when approaching a yellow or red light or a stop sign. For one thing, letting up on the gas sooner gives your car more coasting time.
Get in tune
Car is like us. At times we need a visit to the doctor's office to get us up and going again. The engine that keeps the car running needs regular checks too. Check the engine and air filters regularly. A properly tuned engine and clean air filters will leave you and your car purring with delight. Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emissions test can boost gas mileage by about 4 percent. So be sure to give your car regular tune-ups. You'll also want to watch out for worn spark plugs. A misfiring spark plug can reduce a car's fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent. Keep a close eye on your engine's air filter. When the engine air filter clogs with dirt, dust and bugs, it causes your engine to work harder and your car becomes less fuel-efficient. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent and save you 15 cents a petrol. It's a good idea to have your engine air filter checked at each oil change.
Fill up with a lower-octane gasoline.
Buy the lowest grade or octane of gasoline that is appropriate for your car. Unless your car requires premium gasoline, filling up your car with high-octane fuel is a waste of money. That pricey premium fuel won't boost your car's fuel economy or performance in the least, so skip it. If you're not sure what grade of fuel works best for your car, open up your owner's manual and take a look. As long as your engine doesn't knock or ping when you fuel up with regular unleaded, you're good to drive on this much cheaper gas. Passing on pricey premium gasoline could save you hundreds of dollars a year.
Don't top off.
Don't bother topping off when filling your car's gas tank. Any additional gas is just going to slop around or seep out. Why waste your money paying for gas your car won't use? Stop pumping at the first indication that your tank is full when the automatic nozzle clicks off.
Tighten up that gas cap.
Gas will evaporate from your car's gas tank if it has an escape. Loose, missing or damaged gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate each year, according to the Car Care Council. So be sure to tighten up that gas cap each time you fuel up your car. "
Go for the shade.
The hot sun that makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna also zaps fuel from your gas tank. If you let your car bake in the sun there's going to be a greater amount of evaporative emissions that take place than if you park in the shade. So park your car in the shade of a building or tree whenever possible. And buy a good windshield shade. A windshield shade blocks sunlight and helps to keep heat out of the inside of your car.
Pump them up
Don't idle
Waiting for someone? Consider turning off the engine if it is going to be more than a five minute wait. When the car is the only reasonable way to get from a to b, you can save fuel by cutting back on idling. If you idle for more than thirty seconds, you are better off turning off the car and restarting it. Plus, the more gas burned, the more carbon dioxide enters the atmosphere. So turn the ignition off at long stoplights and other lengthy hold-ups. And rather than using the drive-through, just park and go in.
Lose Weight
Are you carting junk around in your boot? Lose it. Carrying extra weight just means you burn more petrol lugging it around. And if you needed more incentives to lose weight, here is another: You'll be doing something good for the environment. You may also consider loosing the spare tyres that we seldom use at all. I do. Mine is now part of my bed post. In current context help is just a call away when you run into a flat tyre.
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