Using any automobile certainly adds to your carbon footprint because of the environmental impacts of manufacturing and then running that vehicle. Unfortunately for most of us, our auto is a necessary evil and its impact inevitable.
What you can do however, is maintain and use your vehicle in a way that is in keeping with your green lifestyle. You can maintain your auto in a way that lowers emissions, improves fuel efficiency and increases the life and utility of the vehicle. Here are some important factors about car maintenance and use that will help you do this.
Routine Maintenance and Inspection
Regular checking, servicing and timely replacement of engine oil, checking the oil filter, a diagnostic battery test, multi point (including visual) inspection and proper adjustment of all fluid levels is important. Proper engine tuning will ensure that your car gives you the best possible mileage.
The health of your tires is important not only from the fuel efficiency angle but also from the safety angle. Make sure that the tire treads are not worn-out so that your car continues to get good road grip and is less prone to skidding or spinning out of control in an accident. Rotation of tires and regular checking of tire pressure to keep it to optimum levels is also important for the same reasons of fuel efficiency and road safety.
The A/C of your car should also get a once-over to make sure that it’s working optimally. If your car A/C is out of whack you will end up with poorer fuel efficiency as more fuel gets used up to run the A/C.
Maximizing Fuel Economy
To lower your fuel bills and lower emissions, drive in a way that gives you the best mileage. Avoid using the A/C as far as possible; it consumes a lot of energy to run.
Avoid letting your car idle for longer than 20 seconds. Rather, switch off the engine and then restart it when waiting at traffic intersections.
Drive in a non aggressive manner. Avoid sharp braking and rapid acceleration. It’s not a race; you don’t need to jump start and take the lead over other cars by accelerating rapidly. Always drive within the speed range that is recommended by the car manufacturer for optimum fuel efficiency. And lastly, don’t carry unnecessary stuff in the trunk if you don’t need it; the more the car weights, the more fuel it consumes.
