Drive better to save fuel: Improve your car's km/l numbers by mastering these tips

Driving a car these days is like riding on a rollercoaster as gasoline and diesel fuel pump prices continue to rise and fall, only to go up once again. Motorists have no choice but to deal with its impact, which means getting less fuel amid rising costs. But don't despair. There is hope.

Aside from properly maintaining our vehicles, another way to save fuel is by simply changing our driving habits. Here’s a short list of practical tips that should also make us better drivers. The key takeaway here is that we can all save gas without having to bolt on dubious fuel-saving devices or put out cash for a hybrid or fully electric vehicle.

Engine Warm Up

Avoid prolonged engine warm-up, even on cold mornings – 30 to 45 seconds is plenty of time as today’s modern electronically controlled cars are designed to be driven almost immediately.

Try to accelerate slowly when starting from a complete stop, especially during a traffic light, brake gradually, and avoid sudden stops when driving.

Filling Up the Tank

Buy gasoline during the coolest time of day – early morning or late evening is best where gasoline is densest.  Avoid filling the gas tank to its fullest, as overfilling will only result in fuel sloshing over and out. It is also added weight to your car. If your vehicle requires Regular fuel, don’t spend money on buying Premium. You won’t get any better mileage or performance. Check your owner’s manual to find out the recommended fuel type to use.

Thrifty Driving Habits

Traveling at fast rates in low gear consumes up to 45% more fuel. Use the proper gear for what is needed. The higher the gear your car can be on while cruising, the better. You'll notice lower RPMs at higher gears and that usually translates to better fuel economy as the engine is working more efficiently at a given vehicle speed. 

Drive steadily and conserve your vehicle's speed as much as possible. Unnecessarily slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel and puts a strain on your drivetrain. Remember, the more you brake, the more you'll need to step on the accelerator to get up to speed again. Use alternate routes that are safer, shorter, straighter, and with less traffic.

Brake Smoother

Braking hard raises fuel consumption by as much as 40%. Not to mention causing premature damage/wear to the brake pads, discs, and rotors. Be aware of the vehicle in front and anticipate their actions so that you can slowly ease on the throttle without having to brake hard.

Anticipate What’s Ahead

Look ahead while driving to see what is happening or coming up. Keep a comfortable distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. By looking closely at what’s happening and what other cars are doing and imagining what they’ll do next, you can either anticipate this and take action, or if it’s all clear, you can maintain a steady speed and use less fuel.

These are doable everyday tips that will help improve your car's fuel consumption. Master them to get more mileage from every liter of fuel. At the end of the day, the best fuel-saving device your car can ever have is the one that sits behind the wheel.