Making Your Vehicle More Eco-Friendly
Being “green” and “eco-friendly” is something many individuals, businesses, and manufacturers are striving toward, which has shown more and more car manufacturers producing “green” vehicles. While the idea of being nicer to the environment is great, the cost of these environmentally friendly vehicles can be very high. Regardless of if your vehicle is old, new, large, or small, there are some preventive maintenance steps you can take to help make it eco-friendlier – here’s how!
Drive Smarter
How you drive your vehicle has everything to do with fuel economy. By avoiding sudden starts and stops, going the speed limit, and minimizing the number unnecessary miles you drive, you can help improve the vehicle’s fuel economy. Other tips to help improve fuel economy include:
- Use air conditioning only when needed.
- Use cruise control whenever possible.
- Avoid driving over 50 mph whenever possible (most vehicles begin to lose fuel efficiency at and above 50 mph).
Replace Air Filters Regularly
When an air filter becomes clogged with dust, dirt, and other debris, it cuts off the air supply and creates what is known as a “rich” mixture that can cause the engine to lose power. By replacing clogged air filters, it can help greatly improve the vehicle’s acceleration and performance. It is important to note, however, that this likely does not have any effect on the vehicle’s fuel economy. The vehicle’s air filter should be inspected every time the oil is changed and should be replaced when needed.
Fill-Up Properly
When filling up the vehicle with gas, make sure to not overfill the tank – when the gas pump shuts off, the tank is full and no more gas should be added. “Topping” off a fuel tank can often release harmful vapors into the air, which harms the environment, and not to mention it can also be a waste of money. A vehicle’s gas tank needs some extra space to allow the gasoline to expand, which is why gas pumps are programmed to shut off when the tank reaches a specific “fullness.”
Strive for Peak Performance
A properly maintained vehicle performs at a much higher level, making it more efficient than vehicles that are not well maintained. Make sure to have regular engine maintenance performed – this helps the vehicle burn less gasoline, which ultimately pollutes the air less and prevents additional vehicle issues down the road. Gas mileage can be improved by an average of four percent with a proper tune-up and up to 40 percent when a serious mechanical issue has been addressed.
Think you or someone you know is need of Behind the Wheel Training? Training Wheels is an Atlantic City driving school specializing in teaching new teen drivers how to stay safe on the road. For more information on our lessons, please click here.
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