Australian Mechanical

6 Ways to Improve Fuel Efficiency

Fuel is a necessary evil that we all have to pay for. Increasing the efficiency of your fuel is a great way to extend times between fill-ups and save money at the pump. Here are a few easy ways that you can improve your car’s fuel efficiency.

Check Your Tyre Pressure & Wheel Alignment

Regularly checking your tyre pressure and alignment is a great way to save money on fuel. Tyres slowly deflate over time even if they are in perfect condition. Deflated Tyres Makes it hard for your car to accelerate, using more fuel and costing you money. Click here to find out how tyre pressure can affect your car in other ways.

Wheel alignment slowly causes your tires to stop facing forward. This increases the amount of wear on your tyres and forces the engine to work harder to accelerate and maintain speed. Having your wheels aligned is a quick and easy way to save fuel.

Driver Technique

This is the trick that has the most potential to increase your fuel economy. Efficient driving technique can save up to 30% at the fuel pump. To put that in perspective, if you’re average fill up costs $65 a week, you would be saving just shy of $20. Aggressive driving, quick acceleration, speeding and heavy braking can lower your mileage by 30% on highways and around 20% in city areas.

Regular Maintenance

Having your car regular serviced ensures that it is always running at peak efficiency. All engines wear over time, and a poorly maintained engine can quickly become a fuel drinker. A clogged air filter means the engine isn’t getting enough air, so more fuel is used. Worn spark plugs can’t ignite the fuel and are mixture efficiently, reducing fuel economy. If your oil is dirty, it reduces the amount of lubrication in your engine. This increases wear and, you guessed it, fuel efficiency. If you’d like to learn more about regularly maintaining your car, click here.

Refuel in the morning, not in the afternoon.

This scientific trick could save you up to $10 a month on fuel. Petrol stations store their petroleum tanks underground and throughout the day the temperature rises. Cooler temperature makes petrol molecules denser, meaning more petrol can fit into your car. During the heat (10 am – 3 pm) is when the molecules are more spread, so filling up during the day means less fuel.

Check Your Petrol Cap

Petrol has a lower boiling point than water, which is great for running an engine. It allows the fuel to vaporise in the engine cylinder and create efficient power. However, this also means petrol can evaporate out of your car’s tank. Making sure your petrol cap is tight every time you finish filling up is an easy way to save fuel. Always make sure your petrol cap closes correctly and turned until it clicks 2 or three times. The rubber seal in the cap can wear out over time. If your petrol cap doesn’t work properly, consider replacing it.

Lower Drag And Reduce Weight

Reducing your car’s drag isn’t as technical as it sounds. Simply removing unnecessary items such as roof racks or bike racks can lower your cars weight and wind resistance, helping it glide through the air. Closing your windows when driving above 50km/h can reduces drag significantly. Driving at a high speed with the windows down allows the air to push back the inside of the car, making the engine work harder for the same speeds.

If you are unsure about tyre pressures, need to replace your current tyres or have any questions, give the team at Australian Mechanical a call on 07 3356 1538 or book online using our easy quote and booking form.

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