Car Engine Air Filter

#6 Clear the Lungs – Better Air is Better Mileage

Your cars air filter is usually located within a plastic mounted box in the engine bay. The car’s air filter, filters and cleans the air that is used by the car’s engine during the process of combustion. The air filter performs a role of protecting your engine from dirt, dust, particles and other imperfections in the air which can cause car engine problems.

Through normal use and over time the air filter will collect these imperfections and this build up will lead to increased resistance of airflow, restricting the amount of airflow through to the engine. In most cars the engine management system will make the mixture richer to compensate for the reduced amount of air flowing through and hence uses more petrol to keep the engine running smoothly than would normally be needed.

You will improve the car’s fuel economy by having the air filter replaced regularly. Most car models recommend the air filter being replaced at every car service or every other service.

Call 13 20 42 for your ACE Mobile Mechanics should your car be due for a service or you would like to improve your cars fuel efficiency.

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Reduce You Cars Air Resistance

#5  Air Resistance – Less Is More, Leave it all behind

Roof racks are usually great for creating more room for carrying more gear, however for fuel efficiency leave the roof rack, bike racks, ski racks and roof boxes off your car unless needed and being used.

Air resistance causes aerodynamic drag (friction), requiring more energy and therefore more fuel to be used to overcome the friction.

Despite how fancy or aerodynamic these additions may look, they add drag and decrease your fuel economy. You will be rewarded with better fuel economy for taking a little bit of time and effort to remove these additions from the car.

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Correct Tyre Pressure

#4 Get Your Tyres Right to Drive You Further

Tyre Inflation: Something that is simple and easy is to check your tyre pressures. This should be part of a regular routine such as once a week or as frequently as every time you fill your petrol tank or every second or third time. Some service stations may offer this service for you.

Your tyre pressures need to be right. If your car has low tyre pressure it will increase the rolling resistance of the tyre against the road surface, increasing the amount of energy the engine must produce to overcome the resistance. A separate issue of low tyre pressure is it will also cause premature wear of the tyre and decrease its lifespan adding further costs unnecessarily.

The manufacturers recommended levels will be contained in the owner’s manual and many times on the vehicle. Ensure your tyre pressures are maintained to this level as a minimum.

Tyre Rolling Resistance: There are tyres that are designed for and feature low levels of rolling resistance. Tyre makers are able to produce low rolling resistance tyres via a combination of tyre design and material. This tyre feature has increasingly more common and has been proven to improve fuel economy.

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Fuel Watch Websites

#3 Find Low Cost Petrol Stations – Utilise the Internet and Information

A simple way to be more cost effective in managing your fuel costs and save money, is to make yourself aware of the locations of lower cost petrol stations. There is likely to be one or more internet sites that can provide information on petrol prices within your local or travelled area.

Petrol is considered a commodity product usually with a fairly standard quality across stations, but sticking with major brands will minimise any risk should this not be the case. On the internet, use your favourite search tool to find an information source suitable for you. There may be websites servicing your area that can regularly provide price information to you or on demand.

Some of the many other options include using loyalty cards or programs, discount vouchers or discount cards, with many major outlets providing discounts for using certain credit or debit cards at their outlets.

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Choose the correct fuel type for your car

#2 Selection of Fuel – Octane Content of Petrol

When you visit most petrol stations and definitely the major petrol stations, you are provided a number of options for petrol with different octane content amounts. For managing fuel economy and fuel cost, and as long as higher levels of octane are not “needed’ by your car selecting the regular fuel would be better for your pocket.

On the other hand, if have a high-compression engine which could be at risk of detonation (pinging), or it is specified for your vehicle such as for some European models and performance cars, higher-octane levels in petrol may be needed.

In high-performance cars with high-compression engines higher-octane petrol will enable the engine management system to work at peak efficiency. Higher-octane petrol decreases the risk of engine pinging or engine detonation and the need for costly car engine problems or an unscheduled car service.

Refer to your car’s owner’s manual and if it says your car can take regular unleaded petrol, then you’ll save your money by sticking to this recommendation. You should check with your cars handbook to verify this.

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Acceleration and Speed - Manage your right foot

#1 Acceleration and Speed – Managing Your Right Foot

This may be the simplest and most effective hint for getting better fuel economy. The more rapid you accelerate the more petrol your car will use.

This of course means that your fuel economy will go down. The slower you accelerate the less petrol your car will use.

In relation to speed, even throughout acceleration, wind resistance increases its impact on a vehicle the greater the speed at which the vehicle is travelling. Did you know that cars are much more efficient when driving at around 75 km/hr than they are above 100km/hr or more?

The same vehicle may notice a difference of 15% or greater in fuel economy between travelling at 75 km/hr and 110 km/hr. As the car’s speed increases, air resistance causes friction and this consumes more power output and hence more fuel.

What can be done?

When travelling on freeways, maintain a constant speed and try to brake less if possible.

Moderate your acceleration and deceleration. When approaching red traffic lights or places where you need to stop, don’t race up to them and then suddenly stop. It is better to safely moderate speed on such approaches and improves your fuel economy. If traffic lights change from red to green and traffic ahead moves along, that will help if you are able to move with the traffic without stopping. Accelerating from a stationary position consumes more fuels that from a forward moving position. This technique will improve your fuel economy.

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Checking your Transmission Fluid

To check your transmissions fluid and the fluid level, park your car on level ground and start the engine.

Set transmission lever to the “P” (Park) position, and let the engine idle (on some cars this procedure may be different, please check the owners’ manual for details).

Pull the transmission dipstick (check your owner’s manual to find where transmission dipstick is placed in your car if you don’t already know where it is).

Wipe it with a lint-free clean rag or tissue. Then insert it back carefully all the way down into its place.

Pull again and check the fluid level. If the engine is cold, it should be above the “COLD” mark. If the engine is hot, the level should be at the upper end of the “HOT” mark. If it’s just a little bit lower you don’t need to worry. If required top it up.

Checking the Fluid Condition

If the fluid is black and has a burnt smell, your transmission isn’t going to last. Normally it should be clean and transparent. New transmission fluid is red in colour. Over time it turns brownish. If it is brown, check your owner’s manual, it may be time to change it. Some manufacturers require transmission fluid changed at 60,000km, others specify that you never have to change it – check your car’s manual for information pertaining to your car.

If you follow these tips you should decrease the chance of needing a car repair or unscheduled car service.

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