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Tips for driving economically
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Keep your tyres inflated correctly - rolling resistance is a major drag factor at lower speeds. Note it doesn't go away at higher speeds; air resistance just becomes much bigger.
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Don’t warm the engine up with the car at a standstill. Drive off right away instead the car will get to the normal operating temperature with the minimum of fuel.
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Braking wastes energy; Lots of it. You get that energy back if you brake less by stopping accelerating sooner, and not having to accelerate afterwards. Anticipate corners and back off early, driving smoothly through them.
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Don't carry more than you need to in the car. If you don't need that oil or toolkit on every journey, take it out and put it back when you think you'll need it. Likewise remove the roof rack (if you have one fitted) when not in use.
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Keep the speed down. I can't remember the figures, but driving at 80 compared to 70 uses a significantly higher amount of fuel - air resistance increases proportional to the square of your speed. Unless it's unsafe to do so, don't be too rigid about your speed - using more fuel to stick at 70 rigidly up a hill then having to brake on the way down isn't smart. If you're not in a rush and can do so without holding people up try dropping to 60 on dual carriage ways.
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Use gears! Making the engine labour at low revs isn't always economical, but once you're at the desired speed change into a higher gear. You can still enjoy acceleration (within reason!) without it having too much of an effect on economy.
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Car share; okay, slightly cheating here, but while carrying another passenger is a lot of weight, it's still far more efficient to do one journey in place of two.
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Don’t use your air conditioning when it’s not required. If it’s cool; keep your windows closed and if it’s warm, open your window at slow speeds. As speed builds up then switch on your air con as you close your window. Disturbing the aerodynamics simply kills what was an efficient vehicle.
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Taking short journeys will use more fuel, as the more times you start the engine the more fuel you will use, also if the engine cools down between starts this again uses more fuel to get back up to normal operating temperatures.
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If you're not moving but your engine is running, you're getting zero miles per gallon. Idling at a traffic light is a fuel-economy killer, as is waiting to clear road works or sitting at a railway crossing. Shifting your automatic or manual transmission into neutral calms down your engine note and drops the rpm; in turn saving fuel. Keeping an automatic transmission in drive puts an extra load on it, which again uses more fuel. Ideally switch off the engine when stationary.
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A half a tank of fuel weighs about 40Lbs or 20 Kg, so best not to fill the car up as the more weight you haul around, the more fuel you'll burn. Of course if you regularly drive long distances, it's in your interest to keep a generous supply of Fuel. Fill up first thing in the morning, when it’s coolest. Fuel is denser at lower temperatures so you’ll get more for your money even though the pump shows the same total. The exception is during periods of rapid price hikes. Then the difference could amount to more than pennies. So pay attention to current prices in your area.
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Don't drive with a foot resting on the brake pedal, however lightly. Even the slightest application of the brakes while moving will cause friction and drag down fuel economy. You'll also wear out your brakes rapidly, as well.
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Don’t slow down for pedestrian crossings. Braking wastes energy and requires more fuel to get back up to speed. People produce CO2 so if you kill a couple, you're really helping the environment!
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Also, last but not least, don’t give fat people a lift. Make them walk!
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