Even if your vehicle has a tire pressure monitoring
system, check the pressure once a month. Tires can be hogging gas even if
they’re not seriously underinflated enough to trigger the safety warning.
Check when they’re cold and fill them to the
pressure recommended in the owner’s manual or on the label in the driver’s
door jam. Don’t go by the number on the tire, which is the maximum it can
hold.
Drive smoothly
Hard acceleration and start-and-stop driving chew
up fuel at a furious rate. Press the throttle gradually instead of stabbing
it. When approaching slower traffic, let off the throttle instead of rushing
up and jamming on the brakes. It’s much safer and you can get right back up
to speed smoothly again.
Pay attention to what your right foot is doing. Far
too many drivers are on the gas, off the gas, on the gas even on a straight,
flat stretch of road, and they’re not even aware they’re doing it. (Their
passengers are, though – it’s very annoying to ride with someone who does
this.)
Make an effort to learn consistent throttle
pressure to maintain your speed. Or use your cruise control.
Watch the brakes
Don’t use your left foot to brake: if your foot
rests on the pedal, you’re burning fuel to overcome it. Many people use the
brakes more than is needed when slowing down.
Brake moderately, let off, and apply them again
when necessary, which also helps keep the brakes cooler. If you’re replacing
your brakes frequently, the problem may be in the way you drive.
Use the right gear
If you have a stick shift, use the highest gear
whenever possible. If it’s an automatic with a “sport” button, keep it
turned off and in normal mode to engage the higher gears sooner.
Slow down
According to Natural Resources Canada, you’ll burn
about 20 per cent more fuel at 120 km/h than you will at 100 km/h, while
you’ll save 10 per cent at 90 km/h versus 100 km/h.
Go in for your coffee
Natural Resources also says that if all drivers
avoided three minutes of idling each day, it would add up to 630 million
litres of fuel saved each year.
So avoid the drive-through (it’s dangerous to eat
while you’re driving anyway), let the car warm up for only a minute or so in
the morning, and shut the engine off if you’re sitting for more than a
minute.
Maintain your vehicle
It’ll pay off at the pump. Clogged air filters,
worn spark plugs and dirty oil take their toll on fuel efficiency.
source: http://www.wheels.ca/column/article/795287
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