7 Steps to Maximise Mileage

Any car can become a gas guzzler given the rough and tough driving conditions in a city like Mumbai. The trick is to maximise mileage even in such circumstances. Here are 7 simple yet smart steps for achieving this goal.    

1. Follow the basics
The Petroleum Conservation Research Association, New Delhi, has a thumb rule - drive slow and steady. The faster you go, the more wind resistance your vehicle will face. If you go at speeds above 60 kmph, you will waste fuel. Tests on Indian cars prove that you can get up to 40 % extra mileage at 45-55 kmph as against 80 kmph.
 
2. Keep engine healthy
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 fuel and oil as compared to the cost of an overhaul.

3. Check the tires
Check your tire pressure at least once a month. Under-inflated tires burn more fuel. The Union of Concerned Scientists, USA, points out that keeping your tires properly inflated and aligned saves fuel by reducing the amount of drag your engine must overcome. Select the narrowest possible tires for your vehicle that will satisfy your driving style and demands. Narrow tires have less frontal area, thus reducing aerodynamic drag.

4. Be weight-conscious
Do not carry around items you don’t need. For every 45 kilos of weight in your vehicle, fuel economy decreases by one to two percent. Also, reduce drag by putting bulky items inside the vehicle or trunk instead of on a roof rack.

5. Park in the shade
Minimise evaporation of fuel and keep your vehicle cooler by parking inside the stilt portion rather than outside. Similarly, they say it is better to tank up on fuel early morning or late night rather than in the middle of the day.

6. Fuel purity matters
Auto enthusiast Ankit Maheshwari bloggs that adulterated or less quantity of fuel dispensed by your petrol pumps would indicate poor mileage too. “Personally, I would recommend that you should try out different near-by fuel pumps and measure the mileage figures and then stick on to the best pump. I at times travel upto 5 kilometres extra just to get the fuel filled from my preferred fuel station as I know I will get 1 kilometre extra average per litre getting fuel from there and since I always get a tank full done; additional 5 kolometres will give me around 35 kilometres extra running,” he emphasises.

7. Follow ‘hypermiling’ techniques
Some experts believe only 15% of the fuel you put in your car is what is used to make your car run while 85% is used for other aspects. ‘Hypermiling’ is a set of simple techniques and practices that aim at maximizing your car’s fuel efficiency through calculated and safe driving. Switch off the engine only if you are stopping for more than one minute. Avoid ‘revving’ the engine. Combine errands into one trip.

Top 10 tips
1.    Avoid accelerating or decelerating unnecessarily.

2.    Avoid banking by anticipating stops and curves well in advance.

3.    Drive in low gear till the engine warms up.

4.    Change to a higher gear when you are sure the engine will not struggle.  

5.    Incorrect gear shifting can lead to as much as 20% increase in fuel consumption.

6.    Check binding of brakes as an engine consumes more fuel to overcome resistance.

7.    Use clutch only when you change gears, riding the clutch causes loss of energy.

8.    Use of bi-metallic spark plugs saves over 1.5% fuel and reduces exhaust emissions.

9.    Get your car serviced at every 5000 km.

10.    Switch-off the air-conditioner when not required.