Helping the Environment, Whilst Driving Your Car

There are quite a few ways we can help the environment even by owning a car. These few tips have been given to us by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) experts. The two most common things we can do, says the ASE, are to improve the way we drive and to make sure we get our cars serviced and maintained regularly. If our car is emitting too much carbon dioxide (CO2) into the environment these checks can pick it up, and correct it as soon as possible. Looking after your car in this way will help it last longer, and if you decided to sell it, it will go for a better price.
The above two tips are the most common ones, but here is a list from ASE with more things you can do to help the environment:
• If your car engine is not running and performing correctly, it could cause a spark plug to misfire. This alone can reduce the efficiency of its fuel by about 30%. You are advised to replace the fluids and filters in the engine regularly, according to the owner's car manual.
• If you see the Service Engine light up on your dashboard, you must act immediately. The newer cars of today are built to be much cleaner than previous years, but if left untreated it can still pollute our air. If your car engine is not running properly it could cause the exhaust system to not function properly emit harmful gases into the Earth's atmosphere.
• Always make sure that your car's tyres are aligned and inflated properly. If these are at the correct pressure they will reduce the effort of the engine, as well as fuel consumption. At the same time your tyres will last longer, which in turn saves you money.
• Speeding is not advised under any circumstances, as every country has their speed limits in place. Driving at the right speed limit will reduce your car's acceleration, as well as save your fuel. The faster you go, the more petrol it will take. Try to reduce the amount of fuel you use, by making the one trip to the shops or any other errands you have to do.
• If your car is fitted with air conditioning, only have it maintained with a qualified technician, as they will understand how to recycle and handle refrigerants. Those of us that have an older car, and older air conditioning system will have ozone-depleting chemicals that will seep into the atmosphere.
• Try not to clutter your car with too many items. This will add to the weight in the car, and that will consume more fuel per mile. If your car is fitted with a roof rack, try to remember to remove it after your holiday, as this can reduce the drag through the air.
• When carrying out your own repairs on your car make sure you dispose of batteries and engine fluids safely. Contact the right organisations and recycling centres to check where you can leave them. Not only is disposing of certain chemicals in the wrong place harmful to the environment, it can also bring harm to wildlife and pets.