I don’t have to tell you that fuel consumption is currently the hot topic of conversation. But what I will tell you are some ways in which to get more bang for your buck, and cut down on things that may be hitting your pocketbook hard. Many times it comes down to defensive driving. Here are a few ways in which to practice them:

•    Hard and/or fast acceleration is one of the biggest gas guzzling exercises one can do, not to mention it wears out your tires and engine prematurely. Try to anticipate traffic disruptions so that you can maintain a steady speed. Take your foot off the gas pedal well before you have to, so you can glide to the next red light, instead of braking at the last moment. Who knows? The light may even turn green before you get there so you can maintain your speed.
•    Aggressive city driving saves little time but increases fuel consumption and emissions. A recent European test concluded that “Jackrabbit” starts from lights and hard braking reduced travel time by only 4% (equivalent to 2 ½ minutes out of a 60-minute trip). The flip side proved that this same exercise increased fuel consumption by 37% and some toxic emissions were more than 5 times higher!
•    It takes energy (and fuel) to get a vehicle up to your cruising speed. Every time you slow down unnecessarily, like approaching another vehicle too quickly, you lose that energy. Leave plenty of room between vehicles for safety as well as fuel economy.
•    Cruise control is another way in which some people like to save fuel. In certain situations, though, a skilled driver can actually get better fuel efficiency by driving according to the terrain. For instance, if in a hilly situation, let your speed drop going uphill and build it up again going down the decline. Keep in mind that with most vehicles, increasing your cruising speed from 100 km/h to 120 km/h will spike consumption by about 20%. However, if you reduce your speed from 100km/h to 90km/h you should see an increase of about 10% to the good.
•    Some motorists drive with their left foot resting on the brake pedal; a bad habit which increases fuel usage as well as wearing out their brakes before their time. It will also cause heat buildup in the brakes, reducing their braking power. And think about it – if you’re constantly on the brake, your brake lights will always be on, which will not give the driver behind you any indication to when you’re actually applying the brake or slowing down.
•    To get the full benefit from a manual transmission, shift up to the next gear as soon as possible and always keep your vehicle in the highest gear possible without lugging. Most vehicles can run in top gear even as speeds below 60 km/h.
•    Minimize air conditioning usage. Instead use your vehicle’s flow-through ventilation system. The impact of aerodynamic drag is relatively small at low speeds, so you will hardly feel increased drag by an open window. If you still must use you’re a/c, use only when necessary and keep your windows closed.
•    Front-mounted bike racks, ski racks and luggage racks increase vehicle drag. Remove these items when not in use.

It really comes down to common sense, but sometimes we just get caught up in our own busy lives and forget. Even if you can do one or two things I’ve suggested, you will be amazed at the difference it can make to your wallet!

Karen J. Williams is a Sales and Leasing Consultant with Okanagan Chrysler Jeep Dodge. You can reach her at (250) 861-1040 or email at karenw@okanagandodge.com

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