Get the most out of a tank of gas
Summer travel looks a lot different this year, with millions of us on the move. There is one thing that might slow you down: gas prices. They hit record levels in B.C. on July 1, the first unofficial day of the summer vacation season.
However, before you put the brakes on your road trip, Consumer Reports has some advice to fine-tune your driving to maximize fuel economy and ease the squeeze on your wallet.
It starts before you hit the road. You want to start out by checking your tire pressure. Having tires with lower pressure than what is recommended on your doorjamb sticker can affect fuel economy along with performance and handling. Driving at the correct pressure can save two weeks' worth of gas in a year.
Next, look up top. Remove the roof rack if it is not being used. At highway speeds, more than 50 percent of engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag. Do not add to that by carrying unneeded things on the roof.
They say getting there is half the fun, so do not speed to your destination. Along with being a safety risk, it can really hurt your fuel economy. Consumer Reports found that reducing the speed of a RAV4 from 120 kilometres per hour to 105 kilometres per hour improved fuel economy by 2.5 kilometres per litre.
The harder you accelerate, the more fuel you use. The goal should be to drive evenly and anticipate the movement of traffic. Smooth acceleration, cornering, and braking help extend the life of the engine, transmission, brakes, and tires, too.
In addition, before you leave, use your phone to check prices along your route. Apps and websites like GasBuddy can direct you to savings. Gas stations well off major highways and away from city centres may have better prices, along with warehouse stores.
Consumer Reports says you can save money and skip premium gas unless it is required. This is indicated on the fuel filler door. Many cars list it as “recommended,” which means it is optional.
A proper tune-up can also improve mileage, so can changing a dirty oil filter and using the right oil. And if a tune-up reveals a faulty oxygen sensor, you'll really get a great boost in gas mileage by replacing it.
With files from Consumer Reports
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Ellen DeGeneres addresses the 'hurtful' end of her talk show in new stand-up set
Ellen DeGeneres is reflecting on how her talk show came to an end in her newest Netflix special, 'Ellen's Last Stand ... Up Tour.'
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
What to pack during an emergency
Knowing what to have at home, or take with you for an evacuation, can be useful and even life-saving.
Regulated area for invasive box tree moth expanded to parts of the Maritimes
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has added much of the Maritimes to a regulated area for an invasive species.
Already expensive, planning for fertility treatment difficult as costs vary widely
Being unable to have a child naturally can be extremely difficult. But when you factor in the high costs of fertility treatments, the range of individual circumstances and the fact that the industry itself is secretive about fees, it can make the whole ordeal even more devastating and hard to plan for.
A healthy lifestyle can mitigate genetic risk for early death by 62%, study suggests
Even if your genetics put you at greater risk for early death, a healthy lifestyle could help you significantly combat it, according to a new study.
Avs forward Valeri Nichushkin suspended at least six months
Colorado Avalanche forward Valeri Nichushkin was suspended for at least six months without pay and placed in Stage 3 of the league's player assistance program.