How to be an eco-friendly driver

The annual Earth Day celebration on April 21 is just around the corner, and what better way to support Mother Earth than to be an eco-friendly driver. But how do you become a responsible car owner without compromising on your vehicle's performance? Carmudi PH gives you a few pointers to increase your fuel efficiency while decreasing your carbon emissions.

Regular vehicle maintenance

You should have a scheduled trip to an auto mechanic shop at least once in a year. This is so they can inspect your vehicle thoroughly and check if your car is still in good running condition. A good mechanic not only examines your vehicle visually, but scrutinizes it thoroughly and checks if some of the major components such as brakes, the suspension and fluids are still in good condition. An example of a car part you cannot evaluate using the naked eye are ball joints.

This is especially important for motorcycle owners as a poorly maintained motorbike can consume up to 50 percent more fuel, which not only damages the environment but can also leave a hole in your wallet.

Correct tire pressure

Maintaining the recommended tire pressure for your car has many benefits. Not only does it provide a safer ride, it also helps your car to be more fuel efficient. A well-inflated tire provides the best contact with the road and creates a more stable ride. It also helps your tire last longer which will help you cut costs on your car.

According to studies, if your tire is under-inflated even by just 1 psi it can decrease its fuel efficiency by as much as 3 percent.

Use high quality oil

Check your car’s manual and list the correct viscosity grade that is required for your car. Don’t fall into the trap of buying cheap oil initially to save money because it may actually cost you more in the end.

Drive at comfortable speeds

Over-speeding will not only land you a traffic violation ticket, it also limits the fuel economy of your car to its lower end. Only drive at the prescribed speed limit of the road. Even just an additional 8 kilometers per hour over the speed limit can drop your fuel economy by as much as 23 percent.

Plan your trips

If you are taking a very long trip to an unfamiliar location, gather as much information as you can about the most direct route and the alternative roads you can take to get there. Some of the things you can include in your plan are the location of refueling stations and where you can stop for a break. Also check the local weather to make sure that your trip will go as smoothly as possible.

Check carbon emissions

According to the historical data of the Philippines' Carbon Dioxide Emissions, the carbon footprint in the country is steadily increasing and is now at 90.78M. Whether your car is a new or old model, you should consider having a carbon emission test once a year. This could point out if your engine is having trouble combusting fuel or if it has parts that need to be repaired. Lowering carbon emissions can also help improve the Green House effect that our planet is currently experiencing.

Clean air filters

Never forget to check your air filters as they may be clogged with dirt and dust. Replacing them can improve your fuel efficiency by as much as 10 percent. Doing this also protects your engine from possible damage.

Make your car lighter

More weight equals more tension on your vehicle. One of the reason why a car’s fuel efficiency rating drops is because of the weight it is carrying. If you have items that are not necessary for your travels, you might as well take them out of your vehicle. You can also remove nonessential items like an empty roof rack.

Carpool whenever possible

One of the best ways to save on gas money is to carpool with your friends, relatives or office mates. Not only do you get companions on your travels, you can evenly share other expenses such as toll fees. The more people who carpool, the less traffic our roads have.

Tripda, a carpooling website, has hundreds of posts from local carpoolers who offer very reasonable rates on a given route.