Note to Reader: As is customary with most of my previous blog posts, I’m dividing this topic into different posts. And now, on to the actual article.
Everywhere around the world, gas prices are skyrocketing—whether it’s the workings of tough politics or we truly are running out of usable fuel, the fact remains that the people who suffer most with the increase of gas prices are the civilians, like you and me, who consider even the minute price increase, a big dent on our personal savings. While most of the time, the oil price hike is not anything bigger than a few cents to a dollar, this amounts to hundreds of dollars added to our expenses every month or so that we require a full tank.
While the typical solution to the oil price hike is to simply fill our fuel tanks before the actual price increase, this solution is incredibly temporary. Another proposed solution is to head out to the freeway and to search for remote gas stations that sell cheaper gas or you can use your gas rewards credit card—but this method is no longer as effective as it used to be. The best way to save gas is to drive more conscientiously and to exercise correct car maintenance.
The following are five tips on how you can warm up your engine properly to help you save gas.
Tip #1: Don’t take too long when warming up your car’s engine. While warming up your vehicle’s engine is necessary in ensuring that your car is always running at its best, most drivers have a tendency to let the engine “warm up” for a few minutes. Correct this old habit by letting your engine run 45 seconds at most, even during the cold season.
Tip #2: Don’t “rev” that engine needlessly. I don’t really know why most drivers tend to rev up the engine right before they switch the engine off. Whether they’re checking the engine’s condition, or it’s out of sheer habit, this practice is a sure way to waste precious fuel. Revving your engine a lot can also wash down the oil that is found in your cylinder walls, which can conversely result to the loss of oil pressure in your vehicle.
Tip #3: Stop start-stopping your engine pointlessly. We all know that starting the engine requires a lot of gas, but did you know that idling your engine for even just a minute can consume just as much gas as when you first start your car? As much as possible, don’t let your car sit idle with the engine still working for long periods of time.
Tip #4 Stop the practice of letting your engine run while you’re parked for long periods of time. If you have to run an errand that lasts more than 10 minutes, then don’t leave the kids or your significant other in the car. Aside from the fact that I’m pretty sure leaving your kid or your baby in the car is considered child cruelty, it also consumes a lot of gas if you keep your engine running while you’re parked.
Tip #5: Stop employing the jack-rabbit start method. If you’re coming from a dead stop, accelerate slowly and don’t push on your gas pedal more than one fourth of its capacity. This light-footed starting method allows the carburetor to function at its best. It also saves you some gas.
Tip #6: Prevent the wrong gas and air mixture by making sure your automatic choke is disengaged after your car’s engine has warmed up. Bad air and gas mixture can burn more fuel than what is needed. By making sure your automatic choke isn’t stuck after starting your car, you get to save some gas.
Follow these easy engine-care tips to increase your gas mileage. In my next post, I’ll be tackling some easy-to-follow tips on how to buy gasoline.
