Even if you drive a petrol-fueled car rather than a hybrid vehicle, you can still do your part to help the environment by using less fuel, a practice that will save you cash and save our earth at the same time. You just need to pay more attention to the details. 

Have a look at your tires

Did you know that a single tire under-inflated by two pounds of pressure can increase your car’s fuel consumption by 1 percent? Since you do have four tires, the wheels alone can increase your spending on fuel by 4 percent. So be sure to check your tires’ air pressure at regular intervals; most garages have an air pressure gauge and pump you can use for free. 

Make your car lose some weight-

This doesn’t mean you have to rid your car of panels, seats and spare tire, but you’re bound to be carrying around some unnecessary weight in your vehicle. Take a quick look in your trunk and remove anything that isn’t strictly necessary. For example, if you won’t get a chance to drop off those empty bottles at the recycling centre until the weekend, store them in your garage until then. And what about that roof box or bicycle rack you haven’t used in a while? All these objects add more weight to your car and make it burn more fuel. For every 5kg of weight you get rid of, you can reduce the engine’s fuel consumption by an average of 0.1 percent, so give your car a spring clean-out today! 

Keep an eye on your speed

Maintaining your speed on motorways is the best way to lower your car’s thirst for fuel. When you drive fast, more fuel is needed to combat the increasing air resistance. A good solution is to keep a steady pace of 65mph (105km/h). If you decide to drive at the maximum speed of 75mph (120km/h), be aware that your fuel consumption will increase by a horrifying 20 percent. Another point to consider is city driving. Speeding toward stop signs and traffic lights needlessly and then braking rapidly wastes fuel as well. By pressing the accelerator and brakes more frequently than necessary, you are using more petrol than you would if you drove at a steady pace. 

Let your engine rest

Turn your engine off when you are not on the move. Research shows that if you are stationary for more than 10 seconds, the car will actually burn less if you stop the engine and then restart it. So, if you are going to be sitting at a traffic light for a minute or two or you are going to wait for your passenger to arrive, you can save some fuel by turning your engine off, as an idling car can burn as much as 4 liters of fuel per hour. 

Listen to traffic reports

Pay closer attention to traffic reports on the radio before leaving your home or office, as these tips may enable you to choose a less congested route that will not only be more eco-friendly, but will also save you time and reduce stress. 

Clean your car’s air filter

The air filter prevents dirt from entering the engine of your car. Driving your vehicle with a dirty filter can reduce its fuel economy by 10 percent! Luckily, this problem can be easily avoided. The air filter is easy to clean, so you can do it yourself regularly, and it should also be cleaned each time you service the car. In time, the air filter will suffer wear and tear and need to be replaced, but this is a relatively small outlay. 

Get fit

Keep in mind that you could walk or cycle instead of using your car, particularly if your destination is nearby. As the weather improves with warming temperatures, get some fresh air while keeping fit, save money and reduce your carbon footprint by avoiding unnecessary car journeys.