Easy Car Maintenance for Reduced Resource Consumption

With depleting oil reserves, increasing greenhouse gas emissions and rising petrol and diesel costs, reducing the amount of fuel cars use becomes more and more important. Metal and plastic components also use valuable resources both in primary materials and manufacturing processes. Some practices, such as adapting driving style, for example by gradual rather than harsh acceleration and deceleration, and removing extra weight from the car are widely advised to make fuel consumption more efficient. Resource and fuel consumption associated with vehicle use can be reduced in the first place in several ways which don’t require any technical knowledge of cars, and can also improve general maintenance:

Running an engine for 10 seconds uses more fuel than switching it on [1]. Therefore, avoid idling the engine wherever possible. Switch it off if the car will be stationary for a little while, for example when picking someone up, in very heavy traffic or at traffic lights that you know take a long time to change
It isn’t necessary to warm an engine up before driving, as they warm up more quickly and are more efficient when the car is moving [2]
In cold weather, cover windows and if possible lights to prevent them freezing over, particularly if the car does not have a heated front windscreen. This could be with a custom made cover that shields the top half of the car, or plastic sheeting or thick cardboard for the windscreen only. This cuts down on idling time while heating the glass, and also reduces use of de-icer. If possible park the car under cover or close to a warmed building to decrease ice build up
Don’t unnecessarily rev the engine when stationary
Correct tyre pressures are important for safety, handling, tyre wear and fuel consumption. Tyre wear can also be reduced by only moving the wheels when the car is moving. Try and park out of direct sunlight or use a cover to avoid rubber perishing over time [3]
Correct tyre alignment will reduce uneven wear
Moisture inside a car will cause windows to steam up. Although water entering the car can be unavoidable, it can be reduced by keeping opening of doors and windows to a minimum in rainy and snowy conditions, and by allowing the car to dry out and air when possible
Clean the car regularly to avoid corrosion, especially in winter when salt from roads can get on the car. Repair any chips to the paintwork as soon as possible, as the paint protects the metal from rust [4]
Keep garages well ventilated – putting a wet car away in a damp, enclosed space will increase corrosion which can damage paintwork and metal parts, including brake discs [5]
Harsh braking will make brake pads wear more quickly, as well as increasing fuel consumption [5]. Braking continually whilst travelling downhill will heat the brake discs significantly, which over time can cause them to distort – the AA advises using lower gears to control the speed of the car instead [5]
Taking the car out of gear and releasing the clutch when stationary, e.g. in traffic and at lights, will reduce wear on the clutch. Riding the clutch (for example not releasing it quickly enough after changing gear) will increase wear on it [6]
Using a bucket and sponge to wash the car uses far less water than a hosepipe [7]
Check fluid levels regularly, especially engine oil as running out can seriously damage engines [8]
Any drag on the car makes it harder for it to attain and maintain speed, increasing fuel consumption – removing roofbars when not in use is recommended for decreasing weight but also reduces drag on the car, as will keeping windows closed whenever possible
Drive in as high a gear as possible without having to over-accelerate, as this will use less fuel. However changing to a lower gear where necessary, for example on hills, is important to stop the engine labouring
Keep alloy wheels clean and avoid kerbing them wherever possible to reduce corrosion, which looks unsightly and can also lead to tyre deflation [9]
If you put dogs in the car, try covering the area they occupy with an old sheet that can be removed when they’re not there to reduce the amount of cleaning needed, thereby reducing use of power and cleaning products
Slow down as much as possible for speed bumps as going over them too fast can damage wheels, suspension and the exhaust – anticipate them well in advance to reduce fuel consumption caused by sudden changes in speed
Check the fuel filler cap is always properly closed to avoid loss by evaporation
Consider a solar charger as an emergency jump starter should you require it