we of indian vehicles mileage are passionate about. Before we buy a car (whether new or used), one of the most relevant questions we ask is “kitna deti hai” (what is the average price of the car). In fact, this obsession with mileage has brought companies like Maruti Suzuki to the top of the sales charts, while others are following the lead in their quest to achieve the highest average numbers for their cars. Knowing the average of a car is good in many aspects. Firstly, it will help us to save fuel cost as fuel is the major component of cost of ownership. Secondly, fuel-efficient cars emit less pollution which ultimately helps in reducing environmental degradation due to vehicular pollution.
How to increase the mileage of your car?
In the most asked question, how to increase the mileage of your car? The simplest answer is to change your car and buy a new car that claims to be more fuel efficient. Frankly, this option may not be liked by many. Luckily, there are other easy and cost-effective ways that will help you increase the mileage and at the same time allow you to stick with the same car.
avoid rough driving
It is easy to get carried away by emotions while driving. Consider a situation when you are driving comfortably but suddenly someone overtakes you from the wrong side; Due to which your driving honor gets hurt. In this situation many people increase the speed to catch the overtaking car and sometimes these situations turn into fights or worse accidents. Now think about it calmly – do you really need to chase the overtaking car: probably not. Being a responsible citizen, it is your duty to drive carefully on the road and ignore such incidents which could possibly land you in trouble. Maintain your composure and continue driving in a restrained manner. Along with keeping you safe, this driving style has an added benefit of increasing fuel efficiency. Similarly, when you stop at a traffic light and start moving again when it turns green; Make sure you accelerate slowly instead of pushing the throttle down all at once. The linear build of the accelerator will help you get the maximum mileage per liter of fuel.
avoid overloading
The less weight you put on your car, the less fuel-air mixture it needs to run, and hence the higher the mileage. Not only for the average, avoiding overloading of the vehicle is also beneficial for its longevity. Do not fill the car with more people than the rated seating capacity and most importantly, do not convert your car into a utility vehicle by overloading it with stuff, bags and luggage. Remember, your car is likely to perform at its best in every parameter when it is driven without overload. Even mechanical hardware like brakes and suspension will work most optimally when there is no extra stress on the car.
aerodynamic system
Most of us are unaware of the impact of aerodynamic systems on the performance of our cars. It is one of the most important components of the idea when the manufacturers first visualize the car on the drawing board and then proceed to test its prototype. A rough estimate suggests that aerodynamic forces can reduce the fuel efficiency of your car by 2-8% when you drive between 50-60 kmph. If you cross triple-digit speeds ie above 100 kmph, aerodynamics can reduce your car’s average by up to 25%, which explains the rationale for not driving aggressively. Another important implication related to aerodynamics is to resist the urge to equip your car with cosmetic enhancements like body-kits, spoilers, roof rails etc. All these accessories will increase the drag coefficient
Regular Servicing and Maintenance
Needless to say that the actual condition of the car has a huge impact on its mileage. One of the easiest ways to increase the average is by faithfully following the regular servicing and maintenance schedule of the car. It is like if you follow a balanced diet plan, exercise regularly and take preventive measures, you are less likely to fall ill and require medicines. Similarly, taking your car to the service center as per the schedule will make it more fuel-efficient and help it last longer. Some specific measures that you can take to further improve the performance include using synthetic engine oil instead of conventional oil, taking care of wheel balancing and alignment.
tire care
Even though it may sound insignificant, but wrong air pressure is one of the main reasons behind low mileage. Maintaining air pressure goes a long way in increasing mileage – do not under or over inflate than what is recommended by the manufacturer. Also, you need to closely monitor the tread pattern on the tires and replace them immediately if you find them worn. During replacement, you should consider fitting tires with low rolling resistance to your vehicle. This is definitely going to increase the fuel efficiency and help you maximize the kilometers per liter.
Maxing out a car is an art
Getting the most out of your car is an art that requires several factors to come together in perfect harmony. For example, you may be very careful about your car’s tires and maintenance schedule, but all these gains can be easily nullified if you resort to an aggressive driving style or overload your vehicle. Hence, one must learn to balance these things which will ultimately help you get the best out of your car.