Check out these eco driving and vehicle maintenance tips to reduce emissions and improve your mileage.
Can’t afford a hybrid or electric car right now? No worries, you can make a difference in reducing carbon dioxide emissions by changing your driving habits and maintaining your vehicle properly.
There are many good driving practices and ways to maintain your vehicle to reduce your emissions and to improve your mileage.
EcoDriving USA talks about these driving practices and many more:
Green Driving Practices:
- You can do it! Believe that you can make a difference by doing everyday simple actions to reduce your emissions.
- Avoid sudden starts and stops: Accelerate and brake gently and you will improve your fuel economy and your safe driving habits.
- Roll in traffic: Maintain a constant speed and avoid repetitive stopping and going, and roll in traffic.
- Use air conditioning at higher speeds: Air conditioning reduces mileage by a lot at low speeds, but it may be surprising that due to aerodynamic drag, driving with your windows open at high speeds actually spends more energy than the air conditioner.
- Maintain an optimum highway speed: Highway driving over 60 mph uses more fuel.
- Navigate: Plan your driving trips, and with the help of a navigation system, determine the shortest distances between your destinations to save fuel and reduce emissions.
- Don’t idle: Turn off your engine even when waiting for a short period of time.
- Drive the vehicle to warm it up: Current vehicles don’t need to warm up before driving it; at most it will need is 30 seconds before it is ready to drive. The car will reach optimum temperature faster when you are driving instead of idling.
Tips for Vehicle Maintenance:
- Read the owner’s manual: The owner’s manual is specific to your model and engine, and may have a section on fuel economy.
- Use the recommended motor oil: Check the owner’s manual for the recommended motor oil grade. Also be sure to change the oil regularly according to their recommendations.
- Replace air filters: Replacing a clogged air filter can increase mileage by 10%.
- Check tire pressure monthly: Fuel efficiency decreases if the tires are under inflated.
- Reduce aerodynamic drag: About 50% of engine power is used to overcome aerodynamic dray at highway speeds. Increase your mileage by removing roof-top carriers, ski racks, etc.
- Tighten the gas cap: Gasoline can easily evaporate and escape via a loose gas cap.
- Lighten the vehicle: Remove any excess weight from your car and save energy.
