As a car owner, keeping your car on the road can be expensive. When it comes to filling up your car, we are always encouraged to shop around for the cheapest fuel price. Today, we’re taking a look at the causes of poor fuel efficiency.
Common Causes of Poor Fuel Efficiency
If you notice that you need to fill up more than once a week and have not increased your driving time, there may be an underlying issue with your vehicle. If this is the case, you need to take immediate action and have your car inspected by a mechanic.
The most common causes of poor fuel efficiency in vehicles include:
Poor Fuel Injectors
If your fuel injectors are in poor condition then your fuel usage will increase. Fuel injectors are responsible for putting fuel into your engine so when there is a leak, less fuel gets to the engine. If this is the case, your car is running less efficiently and performance is impacted.
Over Using the Air Conditioner
Depending on the time of the year or where you live, keeping cool while you drive is a necessity. However, overusing your air conditioning and heating leads to an increase in fuel use. If you can, try to limit the amount you use your air conditioning, particularly when driving at high speeds as this will help reduce drag.
Under Inflated Tyres
When a car’s tyres are under inflated, it puts the vehicle under great stress. As the tyres are under the recommended psi, they can’t grip to the road as well which means you have to overuse your accelerator and brakes to speed up and slow down, causing an increase in fuel usage. It is best you check your tyre pressure at least every two weeks to ensure they are properly inflated.
Poor Driver Habits
More often than not, your car is fine and the cause of your decreased fuel efficiency bad driving habits. This includes:
- Speeding
- Hard braking
- Driving on poor roads (although this can’t always be helped)
- Failing to service your vehicle
- Idling
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rules, such as driving on freeways and having to brake suddenly in an emergency. In other cases, it is best to stick to the speed limits and not drive too close behind others. If you can, try to avoid poor road surfaces as these will deflate your tyres much quicker.
Have Your Car Looked at By the Professionals
When it comes to the safety of your vehicle on the road, it is important that you have your car regularly serviced. If you don’t, you could be driving around with a car that is riddled with potential hazards.
After spending good money on your car, the last thing you need is to spend more on repair costs. Book a service at your easiest convenience, get in touch with Car Care Joondalup by calling 08 9300 9796.