FUEL SAVING TIPS

So your destination requires you to take the car. Here are a few helpful tips to make your driving more efficient. They'll save you money, reduce engine wear and minimize vehicle exhaust.

• Watch Your Speed. Keeping your engine speed under control helps with fuel efficiency. Driving 90 km/hr burns 10 per cent less fuel than driving the same distance at 100 km/hr.
• Drive Smoothly. Starting and stopping quickly is hard on both your vehicle and your pocketbook. Sudden acceleration burns extra fuel. Keep your eye on the traffic and adjust your speed accordingly.
• Reduce Air Conditioning Costs. Air conditioning consumes gasoline. While driving in the city, opening your windows may provide ample breeze to cool you off. On highways, avoid using your windows or sunroof. The extra wind resistance and drag from these openings causes the engine to work harder. Try using your flow through ventilation system instead.
• Reduce Vehicle Idling. ( link : same page, Idling section.) Shutting your engine off and starting it up again consumes less gasoline than 10 seconds of idling and is less taxing on your engine. In winter, try warming your vehicle for 30 seconds rather than five minutes. Vehicles today are designed to handle short warm-up periods. It is much easier on your engine and will take half the time if you let your car warm as you drive. You could also try a block heater, timed to turn on an hour before departure. Natural Resources Canada says that using a block heater can improve your fuel economy by as much as 10%.