Chevrolet’s fuel-efficiency tips for turbulent times

THE PRICE of oil is 50-percent higher than a year ago, and in many Southeast Asia countries, core inflation is rising too, according to Bloomberg

Economics. While inflation has prompted governments across the region to provide relief to consumers through fuel subsidies, customers can help themselves by following these fuel-saving tips recommended by Chevrolet Certified Service:

TUNE UP: A properly tuned engine can improve fuel economy about four percent, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Fixing a serious issue — such as faulty oxygen sensor — can boost mileage up to 40 percent. And don’t ignore a check engine light.

PUMP UP: Properly inflated tires improve gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent. They also are safer and last longer. Under-inflated tires can lower fuel economy by 0.3 percent for every one-psi drop in pressure of all four tires.

UNCLOG: It’s hard to run if you can’t breathe. An air filter full of grime makes the engine work harder and can let in impurities that damage the engine. Replacing a severely clogged filter improves fuel economy by up to 14 percent. USE THE RIGHT OIL: Because oil reduces engine friction and friction makes an engine work harder, using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of oil improves fuel economy by one to two percent. CHECK THE CAP: Loose or poorly fitting fuel caps not only can trigger a “check engine light” warning, it can

cause millions of liters of fuel to evaporate every year. A missing or poorly fitting cap can reduce fuel economy by one to two percent. AVOID OVERSIZED

WHEELS/TIRES: It may look cool filling the wheel well of a vehicle with oversized rims and ultralow profile tires, but this increases fuel consumption. Larger rims and tires also increase rolling resistance and unsprung weight and affect aerodynamics, using more fuel and affecting ride quality.

PLAN YOUR TRIPS: Taking your kids to school? Grocery shopping? Plan routes and timing to avoid heavy periods of traffic congestion.

UNPACK: An extra 45kg reduces fuel economy by up to two percent. A loaded roof rack cuts fuel economy by up to five percent. About a quarter of each liter of fuel goes toward overcoming wind resistance, so when cargo rides on top of the vehicle, fuel economy is reduced. Even empty roof racks can affect aerodynamics, so remove them when not in

use.

SLOW DOWN: It takes more fuel to get a vehicle moving than to keep it moving. Accelerate smoothly out of junctions and away from traffic lights. Avoid hard acceleration, excessive speed and hard braking, which can lower fuel economy by 33 percent on the highway and five percent in city driving. You can improve your mileage 10 to 15 percent by driving at 90km/h rather than 104km/h. The most efficient range for most vehicles is between 50 km/h and 80 km/h. AVOID EXCESSIVE IDLING: If you have to wait in bumper-to-bumper traffic when it’s not too hot outside, turn off the engine. Idling burns fuel without adding mileage. 15 minutes of idling can burn nearly a liter of fuel. USEAIR-CONDITIONING PRUDENTLY: Airconditioning reduces fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent. If outdoor temperatures allow, consider using a higher fan speed to circulate the air instead of lowering the temperature setting, and avoid using the aircon at speeds below 64 kph by rolling down the windows if air quality is acceptable. At speeds above 72 kph, wind drag uses more fuel than running the AC. USE HIGHER GEARS: When driving with a manual transmission, use the highest gear possible to keep engine revolutions low, because lower revs use less fuel. Do not overdo this and “lug” or stall the engine. If you are driving with an automatic transmission, ease your foot off the accelerator to allow the transmission to “change up” to a higher gear. All Chevrolet models with automatics feature six-speed transmissions with taller-ratio top gears to reduce engine revs at cruising speeds, saving fuel. CRUISE CONTROL: If your vehicle comes with cruise control, use it, especially on the highway. Cruise control prevents speeding and helps improve fuel economy via gentle acceleration and deceleration. It is most effective when used in conjunction with the transmission in “economy” or “auto” mode. Do not use cruise control in heavy rain or on extremely wet roads. COAST TO A STOP: When driving an automatic transmission vehicle in slowmoving traffic, you can creep up to the car ahead without stepping on the gas pedal because automatic transmission vehicles creep forward. With manuals, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down while the vehicle is in gear. A modern engine uses almost no fuel when your foot is off the accelerator — just enough to keep it from stalling.