Car Service Tips

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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ACE Mobile Mechanics
Car Service | Roadside Assistance | Vehicle Inspection
CALL 13 20 42
www.acemobile.com.au

12 Hints on How to Save Money and Improve Fuel Economy

When the price of petrol and the cost of living are so high who wouldn’t want to save money on fuel costs?

The following hints are provided to assist in improving your fuel economy, our definition being the amount of fuel consumed (measure in litres or cost) for a given distance travelled, so you can drive further for less.

Only a few people measure their average fuel economy (litres of petrol consumed per 100 kms) on a consistent basis. Today, most cars, even basic models, have an onboard computer that provides a readout or display of the car’s petrol consumption per 100 kms. It should be noted it has been observed many times onboard readouts tend to be on the optimistic side, on average varying 5% or more from actual results.

How do you measure your average fuel economy? It’s very simple.

1. Start with a consistent point of reference – Start with a full tank (always fill your tank until the petrol bowsers pump cuts off as they generally cut off at the same point, filling the car to the same level each time), then reset your trip computer to zero
   
2. Next time you fill the car up with petrol (filling the tank until the petrol bowsers pump cut off), take a note of the number of litres you have put in and the trip counter reading
   
3. Divide the distance travelled (in kilometres) since the last fill up by 100
   L/100km = Litres / (Kilometres / 100)
   
4. Then divide the number of litres used to fill up the car by the number you calculated in #3 above and you have a true figure for L/100km
5. Reset the trip computer again to zero and log somewhere convenient the L/100km calculation

This process should be repeated at least five (5) times and the average then calculated. This should give an accurate reading to start with and initial figure to compare future results. This process can be performed consistently or periodically such as every 3, 6, 9 or 12 months and compared to a previous result.

Now, to follow are 12 important hints that can assist in improving your fuel economy and save you money.

About the Author
ACE Mobile Mechanics
Car Service | Roadside Assistance | Vehicle Inspection
CALL 13 20 42
www.acemobile.com.au

How to top up the transmission fluid

It’s very important to use only the transmission fluid specified in your owner’s manual to prevent the need for a car repair and an unscheduled car service.

For example, some Chrysler transmissions need a specific fluid and regular fluid like Dexron II may even destroy the transmission. Add a small amount of the fluid through the dipstick pipe and do not overfill it.

Wait for a few minutes – let the fluid flow down. Start the engine. Check the level again.

About the Author
Home Tune Mobile Mechanics
www.hometune.com.au
PHONE: 1300 368 863