It’s no secret that the golden rule of saving money with your car is to increase fuel efficiency. Follow these tips on car maintenance and you will be able to save your budget.
Lighten Your Car (Force = Mass * Acceleration)
It’s all made clear in one simple physics equation: force = mass * acceleration. One of the most important things when it comes to fuel efficiency is the weight of a car. In the manufacturing process, carmakers put a lot of efforts on reducing weight of car to achieve better fuel efficiency. See if there are any unnecessary objects inside your car that need to be taken out.
Know Your Tires
Another simple physics rule is applicable here. The higher the resistance, the lower the speed of the object. If your tires’ air pressure is too low, it creates high rotational resistance, which increases the engine’s RPM for rolling the tires. Increased RPM requires more fuel consumption. Thus, it’s important to regularly check your tires’ air pressure and make sure they have proper air pressure.
To make your job easier, we suggest you to use eco tires. Eco tires are lighter than conventional tires and have lower rotational resistance. As their name implies, they are also environmentally friendly
Besides the tire air pressure, it is also important to keep an eye on your tire condition. If you drive on cement-paved highways often, it is very likely that your tires will wear out quickly. You should take a look at your tires from time-to-time and check whether your car is ready for new ones. As a reference, you should look at the tire wear bar, which is made up of small raised blocks between the tire treads. If the surface of the tires is close to touching this tire wear bar, it means your tires are worn out. It is recommended that you change your tires in every three years or 20,000km~30,000km (Editor’s note: The replacement timing might differ depending on your driving style and road condition). Taking good care of your tires will enhance fuel efficiency! For more information on tire maintenance, check out our other blog post here.
Clean and change your air filter regularly
An air filter does exactly what it sounds like – it filters the air flowing in to the engine. If the filter is covered with dust, the amount of air flowing into the engine decreases and it makes your engine’s fuel efficiency lower. Clean your air filter regularly and replace it once a year. (Editor’s note: The official period of parts replacement might be different depending on your country. Please refer to your owner’s manual or contact close local Kia dealership.)
Clean your fuel injector
Regardless of car types, gasoline or diesel, most automobiles nowadays have a fuel injector. As fuel goes through the injector, carbon gradually gets stuck at the tip, which reduces fuel efficiency. How much it worsens the efficiency depends on the quality of the fuel, so regular check-up is necessary. For gasoline vehicles, it is good to clean the fuel injector every three years or in every 60,000 km. (Editor’s note: The official period of checking parts might be different depending on your country. Please refer to your owner’s manual or contact close local Kia dealership.)
Use eco mode, wisely
Eco mode in your car follows an Electric Control Unit program, which controls the engine and other devices. If you turn on the eco mode, the acceleration speed of your car may decrease. However, it is a good way to increase fuel efficiency if you use it wisely. If you often drive on a very crowded road, it can be very efficient to turn on the eco mode to save your money.
As you probably have noticed form the aforementioned tips, maintaining higher fuel efficiency is the key in saving your money. I hope these tips help you with your car management skills and lessen the burden on your wallet.
