Driving Habits to Avoid Driving Up your Gasoline Usage
With Fall well underway and the holidays on the horizon, here are a few tips to keep in mind as you plan your holiday travels – and travel budget.
Whether you are staying in Mooresville, NC traveling locally throughout Lake Norman or going the distance to visit friends and family, following these tips will ensure improved gasoline mileage for your car.
- Avoid sudden accelerations and braking. Erratic starts and stops guzzle gas and put extra wear-and-tear on the engine, transmission, brakes, steering and suspension system.
- Driving at posted speed limits saves fuel and potentially, speeding tickets. Each 5 mph over 60 mph is like paying an additional 10 cents per gallon! For distance travel, use cruise control to maintain your speed.
- Lighten the load by removing excess items from your trunk – and mud on the undercarriage of your car. More weight equals more drag. Less weight means better gas mileage. Did you know that for or every 100 pounds of weight in your car fuel economy decreases by 1- 2percent?
- Consolidate errands and eliminate unnecessary driving. This will also save you the cost of restarting your engine, which uses a lot of gas.
- Keep tires properly inflated and aligned.If your air pressure is low, you force the engine to work harder and burn more gasoline.
- Avoid idling. Turn off the engine if you have to sit in your car for more than a couple of minutes.
- Limit car warm-ups in winter to no more than 30 seconds. Your car warms up faster when being driven. Idling does nothing for your vehicle except waste fuel.
Of course, never ignore the recommended regular auto maintenance checks.
Regular maintenance of your car– such as oil, spark plug and air filter changes — can keep your car operating efficiently, prevent costly future repairs, and prolong the life of your car. As part of holiday travel planning this season, add a stop to Brawley Tire & Automotive – Lake Norman’s foreign and domestic auto specialists – to the list to make sure your vehicle is prepared for road trips, near or far!
