If you are a person who cares about the environment but you don’t have an electric or a hybrid car, there are still ways for you to make your car greener. Surely an ordinary gasoline car is not going to beat an electric car in terms of energy efficiency, but then again, there is no reason for you not to make even a small difference for our planet if there are ways for you to do that, right? 

Read on to discover tips on how you can make your car more eco-friendly.

Weight of the Car

The operating principle of an average vehicle is simple: if your car is heavy, the engine will burn more fuel, and if your car is lighter, it will need less fuel. Bigger vehicles like SUVs and trucks use more fuel because they are heavier, so if you want to have a more eco-friendly car, you can consider buying a smaller car. They use less fuel and it is also easier to park them if you live in a city. On top of that, you should make sure that you don’t carry things you don’t need in your car. Another useful tip would be to fill your tank half the way to make the vehicle even lighter. 

Fully Inflated Tires

Modern cars notify you on the display if the pressure of your tires has changed, but if you own an older model, you will have to make sure that the tires are fully inflated. Not only do under-inflated tires make the ride less safe, but they also don’t roll as efficiently so the engine has to burn more fuel to move your car. Cold weather lowers the pressure in the tires, which is why it is recommendable to check the pressure at least once a month. If you don’t keep your car in a garage, bear in mind that the change in temperature will also have an impact on the tires.

Maintenance 

Regular car check-ups are important not only to prevent major damage to your car but also to impact the performance of the car. Such checkups usually include the replacement of spark plugs and wires if necessary, engine timing, oil change, and fuel and air filter replacement. Adequate maintenance of your car will ensure that it is performing well and its emissions will be lower. You can find a reliable car service in Sydney or any other city and let experts map out potential issues in advance. Prevention is the key to saving money over the long term. Also, you should check the owner’s manual to find out more information on how often your car needs to be tuned up.

Smoother Ride

The way you drive your car affects the fuel consumption of the engine. Driving more smoothly without aggressively using gas and brake pedals will reduce the car’s emission, so choosing a road where you are not going to be caught in a rush-hour is always the best option. Driving very fast will contribute to fuel consumption, so consider using cruise control on an open road to stay within the speed limit. 

Filling the Tank

When topping up fuel in your vehicle, make sure not to pour more gas into the tank than you need since evaporation of toxic gas is harmful to the environment. Not only can you spill fuel (which is not only a waste of money but also a dangerous thing to happen at a gas station), but you can affect the effectiveness of the canister. For safety and evaporation reasons, always make sure that the cap is screwed on tightly. 

A/C Usage

During the summer, it is impossible to imagine being in a hot car without air conditioning, but its usage increases fuel consumption. If possible, park your car in a shade to keep it cooler, and also while you are driving around town, roll down the windows to let air in. High temperatures can negatively impact the health of a child or an elderly person in the car so cooling the car before rolling down the windows would be an option for a situation like that. A well-maintained air conditioning unit and filter change will ensure that it works at its best and that fuel usage is minimized.  

Do you know any additional ways to make your car greener? Feel free to share them in the comments.