All Slick, No Shine

In case you find this surprising, dude, my life don't just revolve around parties, soirees & more parties. I can't help it if i get invited to so many of 'em! Ah-huh wot? I may be a drama queen but i ain't no blonde IPG*.

Here's one drama i've stuck my finger into and is currently fueling the global headlines. I ain't about to sit still and fume. Not-uh! Sept 22 was "Dun fill 'er up but stick it up their arse" day. Now that's past, let's shift gears & move on...

The li'l tweety just confirmed another hike in oil prices in the coming months. So here r some tips on how to minimize fuel consumption so that we don't feel the pinch so much. (courtesy of a credible friend*muah*)

1) Pump up ur tyres
Keep ur tyres inflated. If a range is recommended by the manufacturer, use the higher pressure to maximize fuel efficiency. Deflated tyres run hot, jeopardize safety & cause tyres to wear out prematurely, thereby affecting the vehicle adversely & hurt the fuel economy by increasing the rolling resistance.
Tyres lose about 1 psi pressure per month due to air loss caused by hitting holes, bumps & kerbs. So check ur tyres at least once a month. Just 1 tyre deflated by 2 psi will result in a 1% increase in fuel consumption.

2) Drive at moderate speed
NO high speeds = safe driving + better fuel economy. In highway driving, over 50% of the engine produced power is used to overcome aerodynamic drag. Fuel consumption increases rapidly at speeds above 90km/h. On average, a car uses about 15% more fuel at 100km/h, & 25% more fuel at 110km/h vs 90km/h.
But it doesn't mean the lower the speed, the better the fuel economy either. Fuel consumption of an average car increases sharply at speeds below 50km/h.

3) Clean the air-filter regularly
Clogged air filters can increase fuel consumption up to 10%, by restricting airflow to the engine. So go clean/replace it when necessary eh!

4) Use thinner tyres
Tyres with thick width may improve ur car's handling but it'll also increase ur car's fuel consumption. Thicker tyres means more rolling resistance means it'll consume more fuel.

5) Start up the car properly
U don't have to prime your car's engine by pumping the accelerator pedal repeatedly. Do not crank the engine excessively. This only wastes fuel. It needs only 30 seconds to warm up when u start the engine. It'll warm up faster on the road. Just avoid sudden acceleration b4 the engine has warmed up sufficiently.

6) Travel light
Dump the excess baggage eh! On average, every additional 50kg load in your car will increase fuel consumption by 2%.

7) Oy, stop tailgaiting!
U can reduce fuel consumption up to 10% by anticipating traffic conditions ahead & adjusting the speed accordingly. Tailgating cause unnecessary braking/ acceleration/deceleration which wastes fuel. Minimize braking & abrupt stops by not following too closely. Slow down gradually when approaching a red light. It takes up to 6 times as much fuel to move a car from a dead stop vs moving it at just a few km/h.

8) Don't step on it
Fuel consumption remains at a minimum during steady driving at moderate speed of about 90km/h. Each time u accelerate, the engine goes into a "fuel-enrichment" mode of operation that wastes fuel. Keep the acceleration gradual & smooth. If u've got cruise control, use it on highways to help maintain a constant speed & reduce fuel consumption.

9) Don't let your engine idle
U save more fuel by stopping the engine vs keeping it idle. Idling more than a minute consumes much more fuel than restarting the engine. U save more fuel from switching off the engine than from the burst of fuel involved in restarting it. The net increased wear + tear from this practice is negligible.

10) Use the a/c sparingly
Air conditioners can use about 10% extra fuel when operating. However at speeds of over 80 km/h, use of a/c is better for fuel economy than an open window.

Last words - if u still feel the pinch after this - start walking...especially if those boots are made for walking ;P

*IPG- International Party Girl