Fuel Efficiency

Save fuel. Save money. Save the planet. What are you waiting for?

Psst! Did you know that checking your vehicle’s tire pressure on a regular basis and making sure they are inflated to the correct level can improve your fuel efficiency by 4%? That will save you 2 weeks’ worth of fuel each year, and reduce the amount of air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions coming out of your tailpipe—simple actions matter!

If every Canadian driver checked and maintained proper tire pressure on a regular basis, each year we’d…


Not to mention, your tires will last longer.

So save money, help the planet, and protect yourself and your passengers. Keep an accurate tire gauge in your car and remember to check and maintain your tire pressure each month and before any long road trips (after you load the car).

Checking and maintaining proper tire pressure is easy

1. Get an accurate tire gauge and keep it somewhere handy… like on your key ring or in your glove compartment.

Helpful hint: One Change recommends a reliable digital tire gauge, which can be found at Canadian Tire or other retailers in your area.

2. Find the proper tire pressure for your vehicle (in pounds per square inch or psi), which is usually found on a sticker in the driver’s side door jamb or the glove box, as well as in your owner’s manual.

Helpful hint: Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire’s sidewall.

3. Be sure you have an air pump handy—either at a local gas station or a portable air compressor at home.

Helpful hint: Most gas stations provide an air pump for customers to use for free. Even if they charge a nominal fee, the fuel and money you will save from maintaining proper tire pressure far outweighs the cost. For example, if you spend $100 a month on fuel and have to pay 50 cents each month to fill up your tires, you will still save about $40 in fuel per year!

4. Remove the small cap on your tire’s air valve and press your tire gauge onto the air valve to get your current air pressure reading. Psst!

Helpful hint: Be sure to check your tires while they are cold—when your vehicle hasn’t been used for at least 3 hours (and try not to drive more than 2 km or 1 mile before checking them). When your tires are warm from driving, the air inside expands and you won’t get an accurate pressure reading.

5. Compare your tire’s current air pressure with your vehicle’s proper pressure for that tire.

• If your tire pressure is too low, use the air pump to add some air to your tire.
• If your tire pressure is too high, use a hard object like a car key to push on the pin in your tire’s air valve and release some air. To avoid injury, do not use your finger and keep your face at a safe distance.

Helpful hint: Some tire gauges have a pin to release air pressure from your tires.

6. Re-check your tire pressure and add or remove air as needed until you reach the correct pressure for each tire. Once correct, don’t forget to replace your air valve cap.

7. Follow steps 4 through 6 for each tire on your vehicle (and don’t forget your spare tire). If you’re at a gas station, be sure to leave the air pump in a tidy manner for the next user.

Did you know?

• Tires naturally lose air pressure over time–as much as 2 pounds of pressure a month.




• Canadian drivers waste enough fuel each year to fill 257 Olympic size swimming pools simply because their tires are under-inflated.




• Every litre of fuel consumed by a vehicle results in 2.3 kg of carbon dioxide being released into the environment, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. Proper tire inflation helps increase fuel efficiency thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Over-inflating your tires will give you a bouncy ride and an ill-handling car, while under-inflated tires can develop premature wear from increased friction. Either way, not having your tires at their recommended pressure will have a negative effect.




• Your tires need special attention during winter. Cold temperatures decrease the air pressure in tires, which adds to the rolling resistance caused by snow and slush. Measure tire pressure regularly, especially after a sharp drop in temperature.




• 95% of your vehicle’s weight is supported by your tire’s air pressure, with the tire supporting just 5%, making inflation a critical part of a tire’s ability to perform.




• 70% of vehicles have at least one tire with an inflation problem.




• 23% of vehicles have at least one tire under-inflated by more than 20%. Driving with one tire under-inflated by 20% results in consuming approximately two weeks more fuel per year, reduces your tire’s life by six to nine months, and increases your vehicle’s annual greenhouse gas emissions.




• 17% of vehicles have at least one tire over-inflated by more than 20%; this will result in excessive tire wear and reduced vehicle handling.




• Disposing of old tires also has an impact on the environment. Canadians discard 28 million used tires every year, many of which end up in landfills or recycling centres. Every effort made to reduce the number of used tires would mean a reduction in the amount of fuel and other types of energy required to transport, dispose of, or recycle them.

One change leads to others…Tire pressure is just the start.

Here are some more simple actions that can help you improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency, save money, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions… not to mention drive safer.

• Avoid unnecessary idling when you’re not in traffic. If you are parked and going to be idling for more than 60 seconds, save fuel by turning off your vehicle. It will take much less gas to re-start your car than to leave it idling.




• Don’t speed. Fuel efficiency decreases about 1% for each km/h over 100. For example, reducing your speed from 120 km/h to 100 km/h saves about 20% on fuel.
• Avoid quick starts and aggressive driving, which can increase fuel consumption by as much as 39%. A smooth, steady speed saves fuel and reduces wear and tear on your engine, tires, transmission, and brakes—helping to avoid costly and inconvenient repairs.




• Perform regular maintenance on your vehicle, like changing your oil and filter, as specified in your owner’s manual. A poorly maintained vehicle can boost fuel consumption by up to 15% and smog forming emissions by even more. An ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.




• Get the junk out of your trunk! Remove unnecessary excess weight from your car, like sports equipment or a roof rack not in use, and you could save up to $50 in fuel per year.




• Roll down your windows. Turning off your air conditioning and enjoying some fresh air can improve your fuel efficiency by as much as 20% in the city.




• On long road trips, use your cruise control on the highway. By helping to maintain a constant speed, cruise control reduces unnecessary acceleration and saves fuel.




• In cold climates, use a block heater to warm up your engine before you drive—instead of starting your car to warm it up. You’ll cut your fuel bill as much as 10% for a short trip in the winter… money better spent on a warm cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.




• Leave your vehicle at home and walk, ride a bike, or take the bus. You’ll save money and stay in shape!




• Consider fuel efficiency the next time you are in the market to buy, lease, or rent a car. This handy guide from Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency should help.

Resources:
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/business/register.cfm?attr=16
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/personal/index.cfm?attr=8
http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportation/business/index.cfm?attr=16
http://www.carcarecanada.ca/document
http://www.betiresmart.ca/
http://www.aiacanada.com/
http://www.safercar.gov/
http://ask.cars.com/2007/05/how_do_i_find_t.html
http://www.cmu.edu/cmnews/extra/050921_tire.html
http://www.pewfuelefficiency.org/