How to Drive Green

Until recently the average fuel consumption of new cars had not really changed, relative to that in the mid 1980's. This was because although engines have become more efficient over this period, average vehicle weight has increased due to additional features built into new models to meet crash safety requirements, and the widespread addition of features such as power assisted steering and air conditioning.

However, there are signs that in the last few years, average fuel consumption has begun to drop, in response to voluntary agreements by vehicle manufacturers to reduce Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Carbon Dioxide is the most important of the greenhouse gases, which contribute to Climate Change. Unless action is taken to reduce emissions greenhouse gases, such as Carbon Dioxide, the whole pattern of the World's weather could change, increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves, floods, droughts and storms.

Compared to improvements in the emissions of toxic pollutants such as lead from leaded petrol, there has been much less progress on reducing CO2 from cars. For a given type of fuel the CO2 emissions of a car are directly proportional to the quantity of fuel consumed.

There is no easy technical solution to deal with CO2. Government advise that the best way to reduce CO2 and the other emissions is to use the car only when it is necessary, and to walk or use public transport where possible.

The main way to reduce CO2 and other emissions from your car, is to drive a more fuel efficient car and drive it in a more efficient manner.

Fuel consumption of similar size cars can vary as much as 45%. When you are choosing a vehicle and you have selected the most appropriate type to meet your needs, you have the option to select the most fuel-efficient vehicle in that group.

You can compare the fuel efficiency of your current car to the best available on the market today. According to Government statistics, the most fuel-efficient production petrol powered car is the Toyota Prius (1497cc) which returns 65.7 mpg. The most fuel-efficient production diesel powered car is the Citroen C1 (1398cc) returning 68.9 mpg.

Here are some top tips for making driving more environmentally friendly.

Try to avoid using your car for short journeys - if possible use public transport, ride a bicycle or walk
Plan ahead - choose un-congested routes, combine trips, car share.
Cold starts - drive off as soon as possible after starting.
Drive smoothly and efficiently - harsh acceleration and heavy braking have a very significant effect on fuel consumption, driving more smoothly saves fuel.
Slow down - driving at high speeds significantly increases fuel consumption.
Use higher gears, as soon as traffic conditions allow.
Switch off - sitting stationary is zero miles per gallon, switch off the engine whenever it is safe to do so.
Lose weight - don't carry unnecessary weight, remove roof racks when not in use.
Regular servicing helps keep the engine at best efficiency.
Keep the pressure up - make sure the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure for the vehicle.
Do not compromise safety but be aware that the use of onboard electrical devices increases fuel consumption.
Check your fuel consumption - it will help you get the most from the car, changes in overall fuel consumption may indicate a fault.
Use air-conditioning sparingly - running air-conditioning continuously will increase fuel consumption significantly.
Choosing a more fuel-efficient car when you next buy is better for the environment and can save you money.

By Bill Bailey.

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Car Maintenance

Whether you own a BMW, Ford, Citroen or a Mercedes, keeping your car in excellent condition is a must and something that needs to be worked on continually. This article will show you just what you need to know in order to look after your vehicle correctly.

Cleaning Your Vehicle

The first step in caring for your car is to keep it clean. The car body needs to be kept free of mud and dust which can cause scratches and damage to the paint. A good car wash is perfect, at least once every week. If you are going to wash your own vehicle, make sure that you get into all the crevices of the car body, around the spoilers, etc.

certain cars may have special accessories or features that need to be looked after differently. For example, if your BMW or Mitsubishi has blacked out windows, these will need to be cleaned with special cleaning fluids to avoid scratching them and leaving telltale marks in the tinting. Using a soft cloth that has been well wrung out in plain water is the best way to clean blacked out windows, but if you need something stronger, an alcohol based cleaner is fine to use.

If you have alloys on your car, you«ll need to make sure that they are also kept clean. It«s far easier to maintain the vehicle than to try and deep clean it once a year! Alloys need to be treated with care to avoid scratching them. Whenever you are going to clean your car, be sure to rinse everything first with water so you won«t be rubbing particles of dirt into the alloys or paint. It«s a good idea to use a protective polish as well, to keep them from getting too soiled next time.

Chrome is another part of your car that needs special cleaning. Be careful not to use abrasive cleaners that can scratch the chrome finish. There are plenty of cleaners designed specifically for cleaning chrome and they work far better than common cleansers.

Tires

Tires are definitely a vital part of your car and they need to be maintained in order to keep your car road safe. The best way to do this is to change your tires whenever they are wearing down and to ensure that they are always properly filled with air. It's always best to check the standards within the Highway Code regularly. You will save a lot on petrol this way, too, since under filled tires cause the car to burn more petrol or diesel. It may not seem like much, but it certainly adds up over time.

Petrol and Diesel

Another important consideration, whether you use diesel or petrol, is the quality that you are putting into your vehicle. Poor quality petrol can contain impurities and contaminants that will damage your vehicle eventually and can cause your car to run rougher.

For a smoother ride, you want to ensure that your tires are filled to the right pressure and that your petrol is clean. This will also help keep the exhausts in good condition. There will be fewer impurities to clog things up and you«ll end up with less issues over time.

It really doesn't matter what car you own, the basic cleaning and maintenance procedure is basically the same for all of them. You will need to make sure that the entire car is cleaned, tires filled, chrome polished and alloys cleaned.

Cleaning your vehicle on a regular basis will ensure that you don«t have too many problems. The build up of dirt and dust can be quite difficult to clean if left for a while, so regular cleaning is a must. Maintaining your vehicle isn't that hard if you stay on top of it and make sure that you use a good quality petrol to avoid contaminants.

By Martin Davis.