Top 10 tips to make your drive greener and save on gas
On Earth Day this year (it was April 22) Toyota Canada encouraged people to take a moment to think about the environmental and financial impact of what they drive, how they drive it and how they maintain it.
Next time you grab your keys, keep these top 10 driving and maintenance tips in mind and you’ll be reducing your carbon footprint and saving up for that summer road trip in no time:
1. Be light on your foot – These five driving techniques will help you maximize your vehicle’s fuel efficiency: (a) accelerate gently, (b) maintain a steady speed, (c) anticipate traffic, (d) avoid high speed and, (e) decelerate carefully;
2. Get an oil change – Change your oil every 16,000 kilometres or 12 months, using synthetic oil, and use oil system cleaner every 60,000 kilometres;
3. Breathe easy – Have your engine’s air filter inspected every 8,000 kilometres. A dirty filter constricts the engine’s ability to breathe, hindering its efficiency;
4. What’s stopping you? – Have your brake system inspected every 8,000 kilometres, and change your brake fluid every 48,000 kilometres;
5. Say goodbye to winter and switch out those winter tires – Proper seasonal tires will provide optimal rolling resistance as well as peak stopping performance;
6. Size matters – Altering the overall tire height of a vehicle will change its efficiency and performance. Check the manufacturer’s recommended tire size for your vehicle;
7. Gauge your tire pressure - The sticker on the inside of your vehicle door jam - and NOT the pressure indicated on the tire itself - indicates the optimal tire pressure for your vehicle based on factors such as size and weight;
8. Nitrogen vs. Oxygen – We’re not all good at chemistry, but here’s why you should pump your tires with nitrogen: Nitrogen maintains temperature better, reduces pressure fluctuations and, should there be a leak, it will occur more slowly with nitrogen (because nitrogen particles are larger than oxygen particles!);
9. Reduce drag and weight – Remove non-essential items, roof racks, and cargo boxes whenever possible to optimize the aerodynamics and the weight inside your vehicle; and,
10. Choose a hybrid as your next vehicle! There are different hybrid vehicles available to meet the versatile needs of Canadians.
These simple tips should help you keep the environment in mind and save on gas: a winning formula!