Author : Thomas Yoon
Our previous article talks about good maintenance of your
vehicle and how it relates to better mileage.How about good planning? If it is the bottom line you are
after, then it does help in some way. Today's topic is not
so much about engineering, but more about using your common
sense when traveling.Plan your trips so that you can combine all your errands
into one trip. It saves you time and money. A warm engine
is more efficient. Several short trips taken from a cold
start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multi-purpose
trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.By planning your trip well, you make sure that all your
traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient.If you are forgetful, you might find that sometimes you
have to make several trips to a certain locality to complete
your errands. Spend a bit of time to plan your route. Write
down what you have to do. Have a mental picture of your
first stop, your next stop and so on...With a little planning of the route to take, you can avoid
retracing your route and reducing the distance you have to
travel as well. You not only save fuel, but also reduce wear
and tear on your car.Carpooling is one good way to save on fuel consumption. If
you have friends who are willing to share with the traveling
expenses, this is an excellent idea. Instead of paying for
all the fuel consumption cost, now you can share it out
equally. You just pay for a fraction of the cost.By carpooling you can obtain better mileage for the same
distance. Sometimes, many urban areas allow vehicles with
multiple passengers to use special lanes. You can travel
faster and more efficiently.Related to good planning is choosing the time to travel. In
the city, if your car has to crawl along busy streets during
peak hours, it is not going to be very efficient. While you
are waiting in the queue, your fuel burns away unproductively.If you can stagger your work hours, it makes good sense to
travel only during off-peak hours. You will spend less time
sitting in the traffic and spend more time moving towards
your destination.Smaller and lighter vehicles usually give better fuel
efficiencies. It's because they have less excess weight to
carry when empty. Their frames, chassis and components are
lighter. If you have more than one vehicle, it makes better
sense to drive the one that has better gas mileage whenever
possible.Related to weight, try not to carry unnecessary items,
especially heavy ones. An extra 100 lbs in the trunk reduces
a typical car's fuel economy by 1~2 percent.Do not carry too many items either, especially if you cannot
fit everything inside the trunk of your car. Some vehicles
have roof racks or carriers for additional cargo space. Try
not to use them. A loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel
economy by 5 percent due to increased aerodynamic drag caused
by wind resistance.There you have it - planning does help in achieving better
fuel efficiencies. Do keep them in mind in your quest for
getting better mileage.Thomas Yoon specializes in cartoon
illustrations that will make an impact on people's opinions.
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Keyword : planning, traveling, fuel, time, money, carpooling, mileage, traffic, fuel efficiency, roof rack
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