Posts tagged “Interesting Car Facts & Tips And Tricks”

10 useful car hacks

By amber.

Here's 10 useful things that you may not have known about your car before:

1. Did you know that you can tell which side of your car your fuel tank is on by looking at your fuel gauge?

Car manufacturers have begun to design fuel gauges with a 'secret' arrow next to the fuel pump icon pointing the direction it's located.

2. Holding you car key fob next to your head increases its range, because the human skull acts like an amplifier.

3. You can turn your old, unused in-car ashtray into an iPhone dock.

4. You can improve fuel economy by 'hypermiling'. That means giving the car in front of your more space on the road. If you do that, you'll be able to coast to a stop at red lights, instead of slamming on your breaks. In addition, you can use cruise control to maintain your speed and turn off your engine if you'll be stopping for more than a few minutes.

5. Take photos with your smart phone of where you parked when you go shopping. This way, you'll be able to retrieve your car if you forgot where you parked it, and you'll know who cause any new dings or dents in your car too.

6. You can use a staple remover to open tough key rings when you need to update your keys.

7. A bulky, heavy key chain can actually wear down, and damage your ignition switch over time. Lighten it up a little, and save money!

8. Clean out your trunk to improve your gas mileage. Items you don't use everyday should be taken out to lighten the load a bit.

9. You can use cat litter to give you traction when road conditions are slippery. It might even be better for you car's paint, and the environment depending on the brad you buy.

10. You can put reflective tape on the inside of your car doors to make them more visible to passing motorists when you're parking on the street.

Enjoy these tips!

Fun Fact Friday... How far can you take an electric car

By amber.

It's Fun Fact Friday again...

And this week we've learned that electric cars are being extensively tested in Germany.

It's no secret that electric cars run out of juice fast. But how far can current models actually go?

A German company has tested 6 different classes of electric cars under different weather condition to find out.

The result was that the VW Golf VII came in second for distance, and the Tesla Model S came in 1st. (Both of these cars had larger batteries compared to the other models tested.)

So, if you're looking for an electric car that can go the distance, pick Tesla!

Tips to extend the life of your car

By amber.

Here are some tips to extend the life of your brand new car:

1. When you've bought your dream car, keep your speed under 55 mph, or the speed recommended by the manufacturer, for the first 1000 miles.

2. Avoid heavy loads on the drive train.

3. Don't let the car idle for long periods.

4. Use only light to medium acceleration for the first few hours of driving.

Have a nice car!

How to save money on gas

By amber.

We're over the mid-week hump again! That means two more days of driving in rush hour traffic, for most of us, to get to work.

Here are some tips to help you drive more efficiently to save gas:

1. Drive sensibly, not aggressively. Speeding, braking and rapid acceleration wastes gas and can lower your fuel economy by 33% at highway speeds and 5% in the city.

2. Observe the speed limit. Gas mileage usually decreases above speeds of 50 mph. Observing the speed limit is also safer.

3. Remove excess weight. Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle. This usually affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones, at a rate of 1%-2%/100 lbs reduction of your MPG.

4. Avoid excessive idling. Idling can use up 1/4 to 1/2 a gallon of gas per hour depending on the size of your engine and whether you have an a/c.

5. Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain your speed, and saves you money on gas.

Drive smart, and have a nice car!