Hike on gasoline: follow these tips to reduce consumption

Given the imminent rise in fuel pricewhich will start gradually in October, here are some tips to make your tanking work better.

Make sure of its size (displacement), find out what its costs, tank capacity and its consumption are. It is usual that it spends more fuel than it says andl manufacturer due to handling conditions different from those in laboratories.

(Read: Mintransporte evaluates gasoline subsidy for people transport).

A basic rule to know the consumption is to fill the tank, reset the odometer and once the gasoline runs out, fill it up again, hopefully at the same station, divide the mileage tour by the number of gallons that went in. This way you will know how many kilometers you travel for each gallon.

Research which ones are more reliable and which ones are cheaper to fill the tank on.

According to studies carried out by European clubs such as ADAC, 100 kilos of extra weight can mean up to 0.3 liters more fuel consumption every 100 kilometres. This has more effect in urban traffic due to the constant stops and starts.

That’s why they recommend remove drink crates, skates, and similar items from the vehicle. And remove luggage racks, roof boxes and bike racks. A roof rack can increase consumption by between one and two liters per 100 kilometres.

Try to travel at a constant speed. Avoid hard acceleration and braking. Try to anticipate the path of the road or the ctraffic light changes slowing down or avoiding excessive braking.

If your car has the ECO function, use it, and if it has a mechanical transmission, change gears between 2,000 or 2,500 rpm, but occasionally accelerate much more to avoid sludge and excessive carbon in the engine. Drive calmly, for every ten kilometers of top speed consumption increases about 9 percent.

(Read: 49% of Colombians prefer to telework due to rising gasoline).

Do good maintenance, timing, check fuel and air filters, will make it more efficient. Maintain the correct tire pressure, failure to do so increases friction, which in turn increases fuel consumption. Driving with a pressure of 0.5 bar (7 pounds)less than correct reduces fuel efficiency by 2 percent in urban areas and 4 percent on highways.

When the air conditioner hooks up it puts more load on the engine and of course there is more consumption. Use it only when you really need it.

Plan your trips in advance to keep the route as short as possible and avoid heavy traffic. A cold engine uses more gas than a hot one, so it’s more efficient to take a longer trip where you run more errands rather than multiple trips.

(Keep reading: Soat: price would rise and insurers should expand their coverage).

VEHICLES – WEATHER