Cars, SUVs, and trucks are getting more and more efficient. However, you still need to put in a little bit of effort to make sure that you keep your fuel economy up. Luckily, getting your vehicle to meet or exceed its fuel efficiency ratings is as simple as maintaining your vehicle and driving correctly. Here are some of the most important factors that can help with this goal.
Drive Smoothly
Aggressive driving does more than increase your risk of a collision and cause excessive wear on your vehicle; it also lowers your efficiency. Simply driving smoothly instead of aggressively can actually boost fuel economy by up to 33 percent, depending on other factors. Instead, try to brake softly and do so earlier, keep in your lane when safe, and accelerate smoothly. You will make fewer stops at the gas station, and your tires and brakes will last longer.
Use Cruise Control
When driving on the highway, using your vehicle’s cruise control can help you maintain top efficiency. It does so by ensuring that you keep a steady speed, eliminating many of the issues mentioned above. It also helps you avoid accidentally speeding.
Drive Slower
You may want to get to your destination as quickly as possible, but unfortunately, speeding will waste fuel. Most estimates agree that driving above 50 mph will cause a dramatic decrease in fuel efficiency, with a much more dramatic change at about 65 mph.
Reduce the Weight
Lowering the amount of weight that your vehicle is carrying around can also do wonders for your fuel economy. Just getting rid of 100 pounds will boost fuel economy by as much as 4 percent! While it isn’t always possible to remove excess weight, you can do some things. If you keep your sports gear in your car, try leaving it in your garage until you truly need it. You probably shouldn’t take out your emergency kit, spare tire, or similar items, though; your safety is more important than fuel economy.
Keep up with Maintenance
One of the most important tricks for maintaining fuel economy is taking care of your vehicle. Every component can affect your efficiency, but pay special attention to the engine and tires, as they will have the largest impact.
The Service team at any Berglund dealership can give you more tips for boosting fuel efficiency when driving around Virginia. Visit our service center to make sure your vehicle is in good shape with the engine, tires, and other components performing properly. A quick visit can be enough to improve your efficiency dramatically if you’ve noticed it dropping recently.
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