TOM's Top Pick This Week: Tips to Gain that Extra Mileage

Tips to Gain that Extra Mileage - by Sunny Tan

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1 Use Air Conditioner sparingly
Air conditioners can use about 10 per cent extra fuel when operating and is a super drain on your engine's efficiency, so don't use it unless you really need it. If you're within one or two minutes of your destination, turn off the air conditioner and let the fan continue to circulate the cold air in the car. It won't become unreasonably warm in that length of time.

And don't buy into the myth that it always takes as much gas to drive with the windows open as it does using the air conditioner. There is some disagreement on the subject, but most advice says that at low speeds and stop and go traffic, it costs less to drive with the windows down, but on the highway, using an air conditioner is cheaper.

2 Drive slow and steady
Drive between 45-55 kmph. The faster you drive, the more wind resistance your vehicle will face. If you speed above 60 kmph, you will waste your petrol. Tests have shown that you can get up to 40% extra mileage at 45-55 kmph as against 80 kmph. I know this will be frustrating to all our dear Malaysian drivers, but heck, isn’t this all about petrol saving tips? I'm not saying we should all travel around at 55km per hour, but if you reduce your speed by even a small amount the rewards are substantial.

3 Switch accessories before start
Switch off all power consuming accessories before switching on the ignition so as to minimize battery load during the next start.

4 Strut tower/anti-sway bars
Purchase and install strut tower and anti-sway bars. They increase control, which allows you to corner without loosing speed - which makes it easier on the brakes and requires less gas to accelerate.

5 Avoid Jack Rabbit Start
Eliminate jack rabbit starts (sudden acceleration from idle). It wastes fuel. Accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop. Don't push pedal down more than 1/4 of the total foot travel. This allows carburetor to function at peak efficiency. Roughly 1% in fuel economy is lost for every mile per hour driven above 55 mph.

6 Putting your car gear into neutral or park position
When sitting at a set of traffic lights or in traffic for an extended length of time, put your car into neutral or park. This can save a significant amount of fuel.

7 Clutch and Accelerator play
Don’t manipulate the clutch and accelerator to stay stationary because it wastes fuel. Use handbrake instead.

8 Shut your Windows.
Shutting all your car windows while driving will make your car more aerodynamic. This will improve your car's fuel efficiency. Driving with them open drastically reduces your fuel efficiency, far more so than putting the air conditioning on when motorway driving. An open window can increase fuel consumption by up to 20 per cent. For a person who spends RM100 a week on petrol, 20% savings could mean saving RM20 a week, which adds up to RM80 a month. That is money one could pay towards his/her bond or be money saved for a rainy day.

9 Check & Replace Air Filters Regularly.
Air filter prevents dust from Fouling the engine. Dust causes rapid wear of engine components and increases fuel consumption. Cylinder bores wear out 45 times faster in engines without air-cleaners. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent in petrol consumption. Your car's air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine.

10 Switch off accessories before start
Switch off all power consuming accessories before switching on the ignition so as to minimize battery load during the next start.

11 Get your engine tuned up!
Tests on a large number of cars prove that you can save as much as 6% by tuning your car regularly. If your engine emits black smoke, has poor pulling power or consumes large quantities of oil, get it checked immediately at a reputed garage. A delay may prove more expensive in terms of petrol and oil as compared to the cost of an overhaul.

A poorly maintained engine can cut gas mileage by 10 to 20 percent. Make sure the spark plugs are firing properly. Replace them if they are due. Be sure to use the proper thickness of fluids in the engine, transmission, and axles. Otherwise, an engine has to work too hard and unnecessarily consumes more fuel. Dirty engine oil is also thicker, making engines less efficient. An engine with fouled plugs, dirty air filter, erratic timing, a sputtering carburetor, or weak compression will gobble up fuel and perform dismally. Always make sure the engine timing is appropriate.
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