In today’s world, the eco-friendly movement is becoming increasingly popular. Eco-friendly is a philosophy that proposes to reduce the amount of waste and pollution produced daily to a minimum, and in the future to begin to lead a zero-waste life. Proponents of this philosophy investigate different ways to replace plastic things with natural ones, look for stores that offer goods in ecological packaging or without it at all, go shopping with canvas bags and collect plastic, glass and waste paper for recycling.

Everyone knows that the car is one of the leaders in air pollution in big cities. What should you do if you want to take care of nature, but cannot give up driving a car? Do not worry, eco-friendly supporters have prepared for you some useful tips that will not only reduce the amount of pollution from your car, but also save on gasoline and repairs.

Tip #1. Change oil according to recommendations of automobile manufacturer

In many services in our country you will be advised to change the engine oil after 5000 km run, arguing that it is difficult operating conditions, low fuel quality and wear and tear of the car. But it doesn’t correspond to reality. The oil replacement every 5000 km is nothing more than an overestimation and a desire of masters to impose an extra service. The oil replacement in a car engine should be done according to the automaker’s requirements, specified in the service book. This distance is individual for each model; besides, the manufacturer describes in detail cases when it is possible to reduce the term of change and by how much.

If you prefer not to have your oil changed in a workshop, but to do it yourself, then apart from the period of change, you will face another question: what should you do with the used oil? Of course, you can’t throw it in the trash or pour it down the drain. The specialists of Castrol motor oil brand, for instance, advise to take it to the nearest service station, having made sure that they accept used oil, or call the company that deals with collecting used oil – as a rule they can come and take it away. Read here about cold air intake for nissan Altima.

Tip #2. Make your car’s wheels save gasoline

Proper balancing and tire pressure can save you fuel, especially if you’re going on a long road trip. Before you go on a trip, or better yet regularly, stop by the service to check the camber and inflate the wheels. Experts recommend doing it once in two weeks.

And if you are going to buy a new set of tires, look closely at those that are specially designed for fuel economy – yes, those do exist. Progress continues, and auto parts manufacturers long ago determined that the car’s fuel economy is helped by the tire’s low rolling resistance and good wet grip. Adding silicon instead of carbon to the traditional rubber compound can help improve both indicators. In the long run, using such tires will give you 5% fuel economy, as well as better traction and shorter braking distances.

Tip #3. Reduce the weight and drag of the car

Remove the portable trunk from the roof if you’re not using it for its intended purpose. Finally sort out the trunk and leave the heavy stuff you carry around in the garage for no particular purpose. All of this will help save fuel, as its consumption is closely tied to vehicle performance such as aerodynamics, oncoming flow resistance and overall weight.

Tip #4. Replace the air filter on time

The air filter serves to clean road dust and dirt from the air that enters the car’s engine. It also muffles engine noise, and for gasoline variations, it regulates the temperature of the fuel inside the unit. As the air filter becomes clogged over time, it loses its capacity, which leads to various unpleasant consequences: less air in the engine changes the combustion temperature of the fuel, which leads to more harmful emissions in the exhaust, with an average of 10% more fuel consumed and the engine losing power.

You can “see” whether or not the air filter is worth replacing by simply taking it out and inspecting it. A clogged filter is usually gray or black, and may be dusty and covered with an oily film. On average, the air filter needs to be changed every 15-30 thousand km, so if you have never changed the air filter in your car, check it at the next opportunity.

Tip #5. Use an environmentally friendly car wash

Car washing uses a lot of detergents, of which a vanishingly small percentage is usually eco-friendly. That’s why it’s important to develop a culture of washing your car that does as little harm to the environment as possible.

If you prefer to use a self-service car wash, choose the ones that are in a specially prepared place, have water traps that are connected to a cleaning station. And to minimize the debris produced when drying your car, use special wipes and cloth materials instead of quickly soaking and tearing paper towels.

Tip #6: master the “start-stop” system and cruise control

Car designers, because of the abundance of environmental regulations and requirements for their creations, have developed smart systems that help save the environment, reduce emissions, and, of course, save money. Their enterprising colleagues around the world have adopted these useful practices, and now you can find two important systems in any modern car: start-stop and cruise control. The first will help to reduce fuel consumption when driving in the city with frequent stops at traffic lights and in traffic jams, and the second will be indispensable for long journeys. Cruise control helps to maintain a constant speed and optimizes the operation of the car’s units.

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