Oakville drivers can combat high fuel prices by following a few simple tips
Published March 4, 2022 at 5:09 pm
Oakville drivers are shelling out big money to fill the gas tank these days, but there are a few tips one can follow to help reduce the hit on your bank account.
Gas prices are reaching an all-time Canadian high at the pump as a result of high inflation and Russia’s attack on the Ukraine putting more pressure on the oil market.
According to Canadians for Affordable Energy president Dan McTeague, the price of oil has gone up 45 to 50 per cent from this time last year.
Drivers can save themselves a few hundred dollars a year by following a few simple tricks.
Here’s how with the Canadian Automobile Association’s (CAA) easy fuel-efficient driving tips:
Accelerate Gently
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According to one study referenced by Natural Resources Canada, frequent “jackrabbit” starts and hard braking reduce travel time by only 4 percent, but increase fuel consumption by 39 percent. To maximize your fuel efficiency, take five seconds to accelerate your vehicle up to 20 km/h from a stop.
Coast to Decelerate
By looking ahead at how traffic is behaving, you can often see well in advance when it’s time to slow down. You can conserve fuel and save money by taking your foot off the accelerator and coasting to slow down instead of using your brakes.
Keep up with regular car maintenance
Underinflated tires increase fuel consumption by up to four percent. With regular maintenance services you can help your vehicle run more efficiently.
Don’t Idle
Parked and waiting for someone? You waste 1 litre of gas every 20 minutes you idle. If you are going to be stopped for 60 seconds or more, try to turn of the engine.
Avoid Speeding
As you increase speed, more power is needed to push the car through the air. Driving at lower speeds can greatly reduce fuel consumption. Using cruise control on highway helps maintain a constant speed and saves gas (but be careful in wet or icy conditions and consult your owner’s manual for safe instructions on the use of cruise control).
Decrease Drag
Take off roof and bike racks when you’re not using them. They decrease the aerodynamics of a vehicle. Remove unnecessary items from your trunk.
Combine Trips
Whenever possible, plan your route to combine many stops into one trip. Your vehicle is more fuel efficient when it is warmed up, so several short trips with a cold engine can use twice as much gas than one longer trip.
Other simple times include avoiding gas stations near the highway which are usually more expensive and filling your tank on Monday which is the best day to purchase gas.
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