Basic eco-drive training for everyone

Maintain your vehicle –

•   Do regular car maintenance checks –

By doing some routine checks you can cut down on the cost of owning a car as well as fuel emissions.

•   Use the right motor oil –

Go for “energy conserving” performance symbol on the label oil which can save your 1 to 2 percent of gas mileage.

•   Check the tyre pressure –

The accurate tyre pressure boosts your mileage about 3 percent and prevents your tyres from bust out before their time. Incorrect tyre pressures can cause excessive fuel consumption. The accurate tyre pressure is written on the label on the driver’s-side door or in the car manual.
25% too low tyre pressure increases rolling resistance by 10% and your fuel consumption by 2%.

•   Don’t buy higher-octane fuel –

Normal cars do not need high performance fuel. Higher-octane fuel won’t make your car run faster unless and until your car needs it. The right fuel is recommended in car manufacturer’s manual.

Before you start off –

•   It is must to use car?

Avoid using your car all the time. Consider alternatives. Ride a bike or walk.

•   Combine your journeys –

Warmed-up engines produce lower emissions, so try to combine short trips into one to save fuel and cut down on pollution.

•   Eliminate unnecessary weight from the vehicle –

Remove roof-rack or luggage boxes when not needed to reduce air resistance and reduce gas mileage by up to 2 percent. It makes your car burn up even more fuel.

•   Plan your journey-

Plan your journeys to avoid congestion and road works, and to make sure you don’t waste fuel or time in the journey.

While driving –

•   Stay within the speed limit –

Use the highest gear possible and drive with low engine RPM.
Driving within the speed limit is safer as well as being the law and reduces fuel consumption.

•   Switch off the air conditioner or dehumidifier –

Switch off the climate control when they are not required.

•   Avoid sudden braking and accelerate smoothly –

Avoid aggressive driving.
Look ahead as far as possible and anticipate to surrounding traffic.
When you have to slow down or to stop, decelerate smoothly by releasing the accelerator in time, leaving the car in gear.
Sudden braking wastes fuel and it’s hard for car as well. Lightly pedal in town; use speed control when on the motorway.

•   Use the gears selectively-

Using a high gear uses less fuel as compared to lower gear. Select the gear you required and use the highest gear you can unless you specifically require lower one.

•   Switch off the engine-

When you are stuck in the traffic, switch off your engine.
No extra fuel is needed when you restart the car.
So turn off the engine if you’re going to be stationary for more than couple of minutes.

Courtesy: PRLog