Get better fuel mileage by driving slower

Get better fuel mileage by driving slower
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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.

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Get better fuel mileage by keeping your tyres at the right pressure

Get better fuel mileage by keeping your tyres at the right pressure
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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.

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Save on fuel by changing spark plugs

Save on fuel by changing spark plugs
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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.

Get better fuel mileage by changing your air filter

Get better fuel mileage by changing your air filter
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Your engine sucks in 53-million litres of air through the filter every year. On older vehicles (pre-1999), a dirty air filter increases fuel usage by almost 10 per cent. On newer vehicles, the computer is smart enough to detect the lower airflow, and it cuts back on fuel. So your engine will lack power and pick-up. Check the filter when you change your oil and replace it at least once a year, or more if you drive in dirty, dusty conditions.

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Save on fuel by keeping your car aligned

Save on fuel by keeping your car aligned
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If your tyres are bowed out of alignment by just 4.2cm, it’s the equivalent of dragging your tyre sideways for 164km for every 32,000 you drive. That’ll cost you hundreds a year in wasted fuel. It will also wear your tyres faster, costing you hundreds more. Here’s an easy way to check your alignment without taking your car in to the shop: Buy a tread depth gauge and measure the tread depth on both edges of each tyre (rear tyres too). If one side of the tyre is worn more than the other, your car needs to be aligned.

Get better fuel mileage by replacing a broken or missing spoiler

Get better fuel mileage by replacing a broken or missing spoiler
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The plastic air dam (aka “spoiler”) that’s broken or missing wasn’t installed just for a sporty look. If your car had an air dam, driving without it or with a damaged one can reduce your fuel mileage. The air dam literally “dams off” airflow to the undercarriage of your car, forcing the air up and over the hood. That helps your car cut through the air with less drag. It also increases airflow to the A/C condenser and radiator, reducing the load on your car’s electrical system.

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Get better fuel mileage by reducing drag

Get better fuel mileage by reducing drag
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Yes, you’ve heard it before, but how about some real world numbers to drive the point home? Aerodynamic drag is a minor concern in city driving, but it really kills your petrol mileage at speeds over 90km/h. In fact, increasing your speed to 105km/h increases drag by 36 per cent! If you do a lot of highway driving, getting to your destination a few minutes early could cost you hundreds of dollars extra a year. Keep it closer to 90km/h and use your cruise control. It will pay off.

Get better fuel mileage by replacing oxygen sensors before the dashboard warning light goes on

Get better fuel mileage by replacing oxygen sensors before the dashboard warning light goes on
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Oxygen sensors monitor the efficiency of combustion by tracking the amount of oxygen remaining in the exhaust. But they degrade over time and that can cost you up to 15 per cent in fuel mileage. When they fail, the computer lights up your “service engine soon” light, forcing you to incur a diagnostic fee. (Here’s why you should never ignore your car’s check engine light.) On pre-1996 vehicles, replace your oxygen sensor every 96,000km to keep your mileage at its peak. On 1996 and newer vehicles, replace the sensors every 160,000km. Oxygen sensors vary in cost, from around $65 to over $300. Some vehicles have as many as four, but the sensors installed behind the catalytic converter rarely fail.

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Replace a failing thermostat

Replace a failing thermostat
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A thermostat that opens too quickly or stays open can dramatically lower the coolant temperature and put a mega-chill on your fuel mileage. All you need to check it is an inexpensive infrared laser thermometer. Simply aim it at the thermostat housing. If your engine is warmed up and the thermometer reads less than 70 degrees Celsius, you’re wasting fuel and it’s time to replace the thermostat. (To reduce reflection errors, spray the thermostat housing with black paint prior to testing.) A new thermostat is inexpensive and easy to replace.

Check for brake drag

Check for brake drag
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Brake drag can really sink your mileage. Brake calipers have a nasty habit of rusting, binding and dragging down your fuel mileage. How can you tell if your brakes are dragging without having them checked at a shop? Easy! Buy an inexpensive non-contact infrared laser thermometer (from any home centre), remove the wheel cover (if equipped), and aim the laser at the wheel hub after a drive. Compare the readings from the right and left sides. If they vary by more than 20 per cent, you’ve probably got a dragging brake or a wheel bearing problem, so take it in for repairs.

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