15145 NE 90th Street RedmondLuke's Car Tips & Auto Maintenance Advice
Luke's posts regular blogs to offer you great information and advice about your car maintenance. Check back often for new posts. Search for a specific topic!
Luke Shaff
Did you know you can save considerably at the gas pump just by modifying your driving habits? Regardless of the type of car you drive, good driving habits contribute to better fuel economy, which in turn saves money!
Perform Routine Mintenance - Your car needs the right proportions of air and fuel to run efficiently. A well-maintained vehicle will run at its best.
Fill your gas tank when it is halfway - Driving your car on gas that is on the lower half of the tank can do more damage to more than one thing in your car. If you fill up the gas when it is on the halfway mark, then you will always have gas and it will last longer because you will get better mileage!
Keep tires rotated and inflated to ideal pressure - To help evenly distribute the wear and tear on your tires, the recommendation is to have your tires rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. Under-inflated tires tend to decrease mileage. (They're dangerous, too.) Check your manufacturers' recommendations and make sure your tires are inflated to the maximum PSI, it is best to measure them when they are cold.
Glide into stops - As you approach a stop sign or light, take your foot off the gas pedal earlier and let your car downshift before applying the brake.
Accelerate gently - The harder you accelerate the more fuel you use. In the city, you can use less fuel by easing onto the accelerator pedal gently. To be as fuel-efficient as possible, take 5 seconds to accelerate your vehicle up to 13 miles per hour from a stop. Imagine an open cup of coffee on the dashboard. Don’t spill it - it's HOT!
Combine your short trips - Warm engines run more efficiently than cold ones. Planning your errands so you travel in a sequence instead of backtracking is an efficient way to save time, as well as gas.
Drive at a moderate speeds - While every vehicle is different, mileage decreases rapidly over 50 mph in most cases. To save gas, stay at or under the speed limit, and drive at a consistent rate of speed. Use cruise control on long trips.
Drive friendly - Aggressive driving habits such as gunning the engine, speeding, screeching around corners and jamming on the gas pedal are major fuel wasters. Avoid fast acceleration and generally drive in a measured and moderate fashion to achieve top fuel savings.
Use air conditioning sparingly - Air conditioning can increase a vehicle’s fuel consumption by as much as 20%. Open the windows when you’re driving in the city, and use the flow-through ventilation system with the windows up on the highway. If you do use air conditioning, use the re-circulate option. It will minimize the impact.
Travel light - Extra weight in the car creates a drag on the engine and consumes extra gas. Don't haul around heavy loads if you don't have to. Check the trunk and back of the vehicle for unnecessary items that may be safely stored elsewhere.
Keep your car aerodynamic - Good aerodynamics affect your car's fuel efficiency by reducing drag, especially at high speeds. Keep windows and moon roof closed on the freeway. Even keeping the car's exterior clean can make a difference.
Use the highest feasible gear - Driving at high speeds in lower gears burns excessive fuel. On a manual transmission, pay attention to RPMs as you accelerate and shift into high gear as soon as you reasonably can.
Avoid excessive idling - Idling uses a surprising amount of fuel — more than restarting the engine. If you need to wait in your parked vehicle for more than a minute or two, switch off the engine and only start up again when you're ready to continue driving. In extreme weather, it's nice getting into a comfortable car but be conscious of how long the vehicle is idling so fuel isn't wasted.
