Green Driving Tips
Ford are committed to making driving less damaging to the environment and at Inchcape Ford we know many of our customers share that commitment. Below you’ll find some tips that will help make your driving more ‘fuel-efficient’:
Fuel-efficient driving is environmentally-friendly driving -
1. Lighten your load.
The more weight you carry, the harder the engine has to work and the more fuel it uses. Remove unnecessary items from your boot that are not required for your next journey.
2. Keep your tyres fully inflated.
Under-inflated tyres cause resistance so again, your engine has to work harder. In fact, inflating by 0.1 to 0.3 bar above the recommended level reduces fuel consumption and emissions. Don’t over-inflate any more than this though, as it results in your tyres having less grip. Check your manual for the recommended level or contact us at Inchcape Ford and we’ll be happy to give you a free tyre check.
3. Use air conditioning sparingly.
Your car’s air conditioning system runs off the engine and the extra energy it requires uses up more fuel, so only use it when you need to. Beware of opening a window instead though – the increased wind resistance means your engine could use up even more fuel.
4. Try to drive smoothly around town.
Studies have shown that darting in and out of traffic, and accelerating hard away during stop-start driving, saves barely any time, uses up more fuel, and wears out some of the car’s components much faster.
5. Take off the roof rack.
If you’re not using it, take off the roof rack or roof box – it causes increased wind resistance, making your engine work harder and use more fuel. If you do need to carry things on the roof, try to limit the amount you put up there as too much will reduce your efficiency still further.
6. Avoid over-revving the engine.
Try to keep your engine running at its most efficient level – between 2,000 and 3,000 revs per minute. The optimum point for changing gears is at around 2,500 rpm in a petrol car and 2,000 in a diesel.
7. Switch the engine off.
If you are likely to be stationery for more than 2 minutes then switch the engine off to save on fuel.
8. Keep your car in good condition.
Component parts wear out over time, making your car less efficient. Replace worn parts promptly and clean pipes and filters regularly. The best way of doing this is to visit us at Inchcape Ford for regular summer and winter checks along with your normal scheduled service.
Offset your driving emissions
Ford is committed to reducing our environmental impact through technology and have teamed up with BP targetneutral, a not-for-profit initiative that helps motorists reduce and offset CO2 emissions from their driving.
For more information please visit targetneutral.co.uk
