Dealing with soaring fuel prices
Regular maintenance is crucial to maximize efficiency
If COVID-19 wasn’t forcing people to stay home, then it might be the cost of gasoline. Gas prices in Nova Scotia have hit a record high, reaching between $1.753 and $1.787 per litre in the Annapolis Valley.
Other than staying home, driving less, and using more active and public transportation, are there other things motorists could be doing to make sure their vehicles are operating efficiently to save on fuel?
Butt’s Auto Service in Kentville, which has been in service since 1979, takes care of vehicles from bumper to brake lights. Their primary focus is to encourage proper maintenance as suggested by the vehicle’s manufacturer. They strive to provide honest, knowledgeable, trustworthy service.
With that in mind, Clinton Townsend, president of Butt’s Auto Service, along with his auto tech team, have weighed in with their best tips and advice to help motorists live through these new fuel prices.
REGULAR MAINTENANCE
“With gas prices on the rise, you can help improve your fuel mileage by ensuring you perform routine maintenance,” says Townsend.
This includes doing simple things such as having proper tire inflation, checking spark plugs, replacing air filters, having routine inspections, changing oil regularly and having quality tires that are appropriate for the season and wear evenly.
Routine maintenance is the best option to ensure fuel economy as well as overall reliability, says Townsend.
DRIVING HABITS
Also, he says to check your driving habits.
If you think about wartime movies, many people are driving really slowly to ration gas. Although we no longer have to go to this extreme, Townsend says that driving habits definitely change fuel economy.
Fuel economy can fluctuate depending on acceleration and braking habits. All vehicles differ in their fuel economy at certain speeds
however most vehicles achieve optimal fuel economy between speeds of 80 to 100 km/h, he says.
TYPE OF GAS
Higher-grade fuels have a higher-octane rating which can be required by certain vehicles, explain Townsend and his auto tech team. There can be a difference in power and performance when burning higher octane fuels, however this won’t extend the fuel life by any noticeable amount.
TIME FOR AN UPGRADE?
When considering newer vehicles, Townsend says the industry continually strives to improve fuel mileage. Newer engines typically do run more efficiently when it comes to fuel and emissions, particularly after their initial breakin period.
“Hybrid vehicles offer the best bang for fuel economy with their battery and gas engine combination that allow much less use of the fueldriven engine when around town under certain speeds,” he says.
Electric cars are certainly the path of the future and can require much less maintenance than their gasolinedriven counterparts, says Townsend.
Just keep in mind that electric cars require fewer parts, however, when parts do need replacement, they are harder to get, and are much more expensive. The vehicle itself comes at a higher price tag to purchase initially and if the battery system needs replacement, it is very costly, he says.