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Basic Car Setup for Better Fuel Economy
Although every car is different, there are some basic things that apply to all cars, first of all let’s talk about car servicing. When people complain to me about poor fuel economy, the First question I ask is ‘has your car been serviced recently’, and the answer is usually ‘no’. is also one of the most overlooked aspects of car set up, sometimes the blatantly obvious just escapes some people. When I talk about servicing your car, I don’t mean have you checked your oil or water, that is something you should be doing on a weekly basis anyway, I am talking about leaving your car into a garage for a full service. To keep costs down, it is nearly always best to avoid the main dealer, a good independent garage will do the same job for less money, even a simple oil & filter change, new plugs and an air filter, for under £50 at a fast fit type outfit, will go a long way towards improving fuel economy.
Tyre Pressure
Let’s move on to tyre pressure, this subject seems simple enough but is often overlooked. People do strange things when it comes to tyre pressure. Most people know that the correct tyre pressure for your car, is written on the sidewall of the tyre, but they tend to ignore this, and set the pressure to what they think it should be. If your vehicle is fitted with aftermarket Alloys etc, the correct tyre pressures will most likely differ from that stated in your car owners manual, so always check the tyrewall for the correct figures. When it comes to fuel economy, this mistake can cost you dearly, with increased fuel consumption and excessive tyre wear. Often, people have owned many cars over the years, and decide that 30-35PSI in all four tyres is a safe bet. Car tyre pressures can vary from 22-55PSI, the wrong pressure can make a huge difference to the handling of a car, while also having an adverse affect on fuel economy. I strongly advise you to pay attention the correct tyre pressures for your car, and inflate them to 2 or 3 PSI over the recommended pressure. Tyres are tested well beyond the recommended pressures, so it should be perfectly safe to try this method, it also allows for natural fluctuations. Please be aware that in warmer weather, tyre pressure naturally increases a little, likewise in cold weather, tyre pressures naturally decrease a little, please allow for this in your calculations.
SAFETY TIP 1: In icy conditions, higher tyre pressures offer less grip, and can make handling tricky. In normal road conditions, this should not be a problem, and you will benefit greatly from lighter steering, sharper handling, faster acceleration & much improved fuel economy. It is amazing how much of a difference, this one small thing can make to any car.
SAFETY TIP 2: Do not confuse PSI with BAR pressure, On a standard air line at your local Filling station, there are two metered sides to the air gauge. On one side of the gauge, there are higher numbers like 10,20,30,40,50 this is the PSI measurement, on the other side are lower numbers like 1,1.5,2,2.5,3,3.5 etc, this is the BAR measurement, if you get it wrong, your ears and pocket will suffer!
Unnecessary Weight
Q: What’s the difference between a fat wife, and a skinny one?
Ans: I’m guessing about 1.7 MPG!
I’m not suggesting for a moment that you trade in your overweight wife/girlfriend, for a slim 6ft blonde with sparkling blue eyes & perfect DD’s. – Who am I to rock your big chubby boat? – Not me, I’m just stating the facts, although you would save £75 a year. – (I have tried many times, but slim 6ft blondes with sparkling blue eyes & perfect DD’s don’t cook, clean, wash dishes or iron, they’re ALMOST useless!)
On a more serious note, clear all the unnecessary junk out of your car, like the tool boxes, the fishing tackle, the wellies etc. If you have a roof box fitted, it should be removed when not in use, including the roof rack it sits on. If there is an unused towbar fitted to your vehicle, it’s the weight equivalent of carrying a sack of coal around in the boot, so have it removed and possibly sell it through the classifieds.
