10 panduan menjimatkan minyak (part1)

An expert reveals ten essential tips to increase your fuel economy - and reduce your bills.




Being a better driver doesn't just revolve around foot-to-the-floor performance, lightning reactions and death-defying cornering speeds. Smoothness, anticipation, and a little bit of plain old-fashioned courtesy can get you a long way - especially when it comes to improving your car's fuel economy.

Journalists from motoring magazine V-ZINE spent a day with Dr Chris Brace, senior lecturer in Automotive Engineering at Bath University's Powertrain and Vehicle Research Centre to brush up on economy driving.

By the end of it, they'd recorded a 50 percent improvement in the economy of their Alfa Romeo Brera 2.4 JTDM. Now it's your turn to share Dr Brace's ten-point driving plan...



1) Treat your car to some TLC

You should have your car regularly serviced and carry out maintenance checks of your own. Fresh oil will better lubricate the engine, while the correct tyre pressures ensure optimum rolling resistance for your rubber.



2) Lighten up

'You may carry your life around with you in the back of your car, but you'd be better off leaving it at home. The heavier the car, the harder the engine has to work, so a 15 percent weight increase will see economy fall by the same amount.'



3) Starting and idling

'People are tempted to leave their car to warm at idle before a journey, but it's better for the engine and economy if you warm it up on the move. And when you come to a halt again, switching the engine off at the traffic lights saves you wasting fuel. Around a litre an hour is burned at idle.'



4) Smooth mover

'When you're driving, smoothness with the controls is key to making your fuel go further. Acceleration should be measured and progressive and you should aim to stay within the engine's peak torque band - typically 2,000 to 3,000rpm. Another tip is to avoid coasting in neutral. It's a common misconception that this saves fuel, but actually modern engines don't consume fuel when coasting in gear.'



5) Slippery customer

'Think about how long designers and aerodynamicists spend trying to make a car's body cut smoothly through the air. By opening your window or sunroof, or piling bikes and boxes onto the roof, you're ruining all that hard work. And it can heavily impact on the car's economy.'