sb.scorecardresearch

Published 18:07 IST, September 14th 2024

How to Maintain Your Car for Better Mileage

For first-time buyers, fuel efficiency is a key priority area. To improve the fuel efficiency of the vehicle, here are the five tips for maintaining the car.

Reported by: Vatsal Agrawal
Follow: Google News Icon
  • share
Maruti Suzuki Swift
Maruti Suzuki Swift CNG has a claimed fuel efficiency of 32 km/kg. | Image: Republic Business

Tips for better mileage: The fuel efficiency of a car is a prime factor for the manufacturer and the user while planning or purchasing a car. For the first-time buyers, the fuel efficiency is one of the key priority areas for them. Fuel efficiency refers to the kilometers driven by the vehicle in a single litre of fuel. The more the fuel efficiency, the lower the cost of running the vehicle. With the emission norms becoming more stringent by the government, the fuel efficiency of the vehicles manufactured by automobile companies has also become one of the key areas of focus.

Individuals users who wish to own a car and need to drive regularly, either buy a new one or a used car. It is very necessary to maintain car fuel efficiency as it can take a big bite out of their monthly finances. Let us look at the five tips that we should keep in mind to get better fuel efficiency from the vehicle:

1. Maintaining proper tyre pressure:

The fuel efficiency of the vehicle depends on the tyre pressure. If the tyre pressure is lower, it will result in more contact area and more torque required for the rotation of the wheels resulting in burning or more fuel. Keep a regular check of the tyre pressure and adjust as necessary to ensure optimal performance from the engine.

2. Practice smooth driving habits:

Smooth driving habits consist of shifting gears under 2000 RPMs and maintaining a constant speed. Rapid acceleration to higher RPMs will lead to degrading the life of the engine and drop the fuel efficiency. To obtain optimal fuel efficiency from the engine, keep the revs low and maintain steady speeds.

3. Reduce use of air conditioning:

The air conditioning system of a car is a major factor that affects the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. It can even reduce the fuel efficiency of the vehicle by 20-25 per cent. Excessive usage of AC can strain the engine and reduce mileage. To enhance fuel efficiency, limit the usage of the AC or open windows for short distances or if the weather is pleasant.


4. Keeping vehicle light:

The weight of the vehicle also plays a key factor in the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. Keeping additional weight in the boot space can result in more fuel consumption and hence reduce fuel efficiency. So to keep the fuel efficiency high, remove the extra items from the vehicle.

5. Regular maintenance checks of vehicle:

The maintenance of the vehicle is a prime factor to either enhance or degrade the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. If the vehicle is not serviced timely and the engine oil and the gear oil are not changed timely, the fuel efficiency can drop drastically. A well-maintained engine works more efficiently and leads to better fuel economy.

Updated 18:08 IST, September 14th 2024