Get better fuel mileage by driving slower
Hard acceleration in stop-and-go driving costs you 20 per cent in fuel mileage. If you live your life in rush hour traffic and like to put the pedal to the metal, spend all your extra time at the next traffic light figuring out how you could have spent the money you’re wasting.
Get better fuel mileage by keeping your tyres at the right pressure
Surveys show that 60 per cent of the vehicles on the road have tyres that are under-inflated by at least 30 per cent. That’s at least 9 psi below the manufacturer’s recommended pressure. That can cost you almost 7 per cent in wasted petrol. Plus, low air pressure causes premature tyre wear, and that can cost almost $300 over the life of the tyres. For best results, check your tyre’s air pressure with a digital pressure gauge (from any auto parts store) and fill to the recommended pressure shown on the decal inside the driver’s door or on the driver’s door pillar.
Here are some secret car-buying tips your dealer won’t tell you.
Save on fuel by changing spark plugs
If your 160,000-km spark plugs have 130,000 km on them, they’re 80 per cent worn. Misfires and incomplete combustion occur more frequently during that last 32,000km, costing you hundreds of dollars in wasted fuel. You have to replace your spark plugs anyway, so do it early and pocket the savings. Even if you have to replace the plugs one extra time over the life of your car, you’ll still come out way ahead. And don’t automatically assume your plugs are good for 160,000km. Many four-cylinder engines require new spark plugs at either 50,000- or 100,000-km intervals.