Cost Effective Tips for Your Car’s Regular Fuel Consumption

Fuel prices are increasingly becoming too steep for the average car owner. This has become a constant frustration to motorists all over the world. Drivers are left with only a few options when it comes to saving up on fuel. Every day, we are faced with a myriad of challenges, hence the need to be on the road more often than we’d want to. Instead of sharing your car with your spouse, all with the intention of reducing your fuel consumption, we’ve lined up some of the most cost-effective tips for your car’s regular fuel consumption.

Use fuel cards

Also known as fleet cards, fuel cards are used as payment cards when fueling vehicles. On the other hand, they can also be used to pay for the maintenance of the vehicle as well as in paying other operational costs at the discretion of the car owner. The best thing about fuel cards is that they come with so many benefits. They include;

• Updated fuel prices and discounts
• Fuel rebates
• The ability to offer cash advance
• Discounts on maintenance and other services

Fuel cards can be used by owner-operators as well as in helping keep track of company vehicle fuel consumption. Using fuel cards for trucking companies is increasingly becoming a necessity, given the fact that they’ll be avoiding the additional costs of employing factoring companies. This is also a great move that helps companies to grow.

Ensure that your tires are well inflated

It’s very important to always ensure that your tires are inflated to the right pressure. One thing you need to avoid is inflating your tires to the pressure listed on the tire itself. This is a common mistake most drivers make. Those are the digits indicating the maximum pressure the tire is able to hold. To do this the right way, check the vehicle owner’s manual or otherwise on a sticker right by the driver’s door.

Inflating your tires to the right specifications helps to reduce the surface area that is in contact with the road and thus reducing drag. The failure to do this will tip off your fuel economy.

Fuel right

If your engine burns regular unleaded gas, the first thing you want to do is check the octane rating before fueling. Such cars are only designed to consume gas with an octane rating of 87 for regular and 91-94 for premium. The octane rating determines the fuel’s resistance to knock. You, therefore, want to avoid fueling with a higher octane rating than the minimum required as this will increase your fuel consumption while at the same time decreasing your engine’s efficiency.

Ensure regular service and maintenance

Whether you are driving a brand new Bentley Continental GT or a 1964 Pontiac GTO, it all boils down to one thing, car maintenance. Most of us, as long as the car is still movable, delay servicing our vehicles. Though it’s important to schedule for your car’s maintenance, there are times when it’s of utmost necessity. This will go a long way in not only helping keep your engine at optimal efficiency but also help you to save on fuel. Below are important car maintenance tips to help you save on gas;

Service your car as per the manufacturer’s instructions

When changing engine oil, use the right oil, preferably synthetic oil or otherwise the manufacturer’s recommended oil. Also, make sure to do the following:

• Change air filters and oil filters
• Always keep an eye on the coolant
• Wheel alignment

Change Your driving habits

Most of us drive on the first lane. While this may be beneficial to your time management, you also want to improve on your vehicle’s efficiency. This doesn’t mean that lower speeds are more efficient in terms of fuel consumption. Nevertheless, it’s important that your speed matches that of your car’s aerodynamic specifications. Maintain moderate speeds and hesitate to accelerate after braking.

Being fuel savvy in driving and using your car is more than finding cheaper fueling stations. It may, as mentioned earlier, require you to change your driving habits such as your driving posture and learning how to use the clutch the right way. The above tips will go a long way in not only helping you to save on fuel but also in extending the longevity of your car.