10 surefire ways to lower the value of your car

Modern technologies do not offer any fantastic technologies to reduce consumption: fuel additives, oil additives, fuel magnetizers, ionizers and even the fantastic "ASC catalyst synthesizer", invented, of course, by a group of Soviet scientists.

All of these technologies give a very good result in the bank accounts of your sellers, but very little in your fuel accounts. There are no magic solutions. But there are proven, effective and 100% reliable ways to reduce costs - it's just a matter of whether you like it.

1. Drive slower

Most of the engine's power goes into overcoming air resistance. And it doesn't grow in a linear fashion. Several German physicists have recently calculated the air resistance of the BMW 8 Series: 75 Newtons at 50 km/h. But at 100 km/h it is not 150 Newtons, but 299. At 150 km/h it is already 672, and at 200 km/h it is 1195 Newtonian.

The British Royal Automobile Club claims that reducing the speed from 130 to 110 km / h can lead to fuel savings of 15 to 25%.

Doesn't sound very tempting. But it works flawlessly. As a reminder, if you decide to drive slowly, try not to disturb others.

2. Do not make sudden movements

Simply put, drive calmly, coolly, and expect what you need to do in the moment. It makes no sense to step on the gas to stop abruptly at a traffic light after 200 meters and turn your gas into heat generated by the brakes. Or at least it doesn't make sense if low cost is your goal.

In most modern cars, the computer is connected to navigation and will warn you when to release the pedal because it is establishing a turn, intersection, or location.

But in fact, you can cope quite calmly and without outside help - you just need to follow the path ahead and anticipate what awaits him. Savings from such behavior is at least a few percent.

3. Don't change your car

Many people are tempted to add something to their car - either the recently appeared modern windshield protectors, or windshields on the side windows, or additional moldings, homemade spoilers, etc. Theoretically, it is quite possible to improve the aerodynamics of a production model. But in practice, without the intervention of professional engineers and a wind tunnel, the result in 99,9% of cases is the opposite - your intervention increases air resistance, and this often costs more than one liter of gasoline per 100 km.

4. Monitor your tire pressure

Any contact with a hole or a lying cop affects the pressure. They are affected even by the banal amplitude of temperatures between day and night. It's a good idea to check your tires at least twice a month - preferably every week - and inflate them if necessary. This will extend their service life and reduce fuel consumption.

The pressure can drop from 2,5 to 1,6 imperceptibly to the naked eye. But this will immediately affect the cost - the tire's rolling resistance increases, and often soft tires add a liter per 100 km.

5. Make your car lighter

The wisdom of old locksmiths says that for every 15 kg of weight, one horsepower is taken away from power. And at the same time adds to the cost. Many of us are used to using our car as a mobile cabinet with everything in the trunk. Leave only what is needed.

6. Don't skimp on the quality of gasoline

Many people who have had a chance to travel by car to Central and Western Europe tell how the capacity has suddenly increased and the cost has fallen. The quality of the fuel is very important for the efficient operation of the engine. We will not comment on how the big chains in Bulgaria present themselves in this respect – each of you can form your own opinion. But in some places there are small gas stations with suspiciously profitable offers. Avoid them. It is impossible that such a low price does not affect the quality.

7. Close the windows

Nowadays it is difficult to find a car without air conditioning. But the air conditioner also has a drawback - it consumes excess fuel, and a lot, up to a liter per 100 km. That is why many people prefer not to use it, but to drive with the windows open. However, at higher speeds, an open window creates such air resistance that the cost jumps even more than the air conditioner can swallow. At low speeds in the city, it may be more profitable to open the windows.

8. Warm up the engine moderately.

This is an age-old debate among motorists - whether it is necessary to warm up the engine before starting, or whether new technologies allow this to be avoided. In our opinion, warm-up is necessary for all engines, but it should be moderate. It is not necessary to stand in front of the house for 15 minutes and spend a quarter liter of gasoline. One or two minutes of idling is enough - until you fasten your seat belt and check if you forgot something. Then drive quietly for a few minutes without engine load. Enough.

9. Select manual gear

This is, of course, conditional advice. The British Motorists' Association, based on years of research, claims that automatic vehicles use 10-15% more fuel than manual vehicles. But it depends on the type of car and the type of automation (some modern gearboxes are actually more efficient than mechanical ones). And besides, of course, it depends on the driver's habits. If you have a car with a lever and wait until the tachometer reads 3000 per minute before shifting, this will not save you fuel.

10. Leave your car at home

This sounds like the craziest piece of advice you can get on a car site. That's why you bought it, maintain it and pay taxes - to leave it at home? But the truth is that there are circumstances in which the car becomes just a burden. Repairs in the big city, protests, blocked intersections - all this guarantees endless traffic jams in which gasoline and diesel burn in vain. Sometimes it pays to kick the habit and just take the subway, bike, or take a little walk.