I did and found two spare tires, a jumper, tools, a carton filled with small bottles of brake fluids, motor oil, ATF, WD40, rust spray, two gallons of water, a wooden stool, a foldable beach chair, a soft broom and dustpan, a soap dish, a full bottle of Downy, books, spare towels and shirts, two new umbrellas still in their plastic covers, slippers, a mat, shells and stones collected and forgotten about, a tennis racket, and more knickknacks that I never imagined to find there.
Did you know that the junk in your trunk might be slowing your car and increases your gas consumption? The added weight requires more energy for your car to run.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, an extra 100 pounds in your car could reduce your miles per gallon by up to two percent.
The EPA based the percentage of extra weight relative to the weight of the vehicle, and this affects the smaller vehicles more than the larger ones. Converted, the equivalent gasoline savings if you empty your car trunk of any unnecessary junk is $0.03-$0.06/gallon.
It does not matter what kind of car you drive, you can increase the efficiency of your car fuel by getting rid of excess weight in your car.
More green driving tips
Step on the brakes slowly. There are a hundred and one ways to save gas, and changing the way you drive and step on the brakes is one of them.
Are you one of those drivers who, even when you see the traffic lights turn from yellow to red from a distance, wait until the very last minute before you come to a screeching stop?
The EPA states that speeding, accelerating and braking hard can deplete your car’s energy efficiency by 33 percent.
Back in elementary school, you probably remember your science lessons in inertia, or the resistance of an object to change its state of motion. If your car is running and you step on the brakes, it has to overcome inertia and this requires energy. If you make the changes in speed or step on the brakes slowly, you will use less energy
Most cars run at a maximum efficiency at 60 MPH, according to EPA, and the efficiency decreases about every 5mph by six percent. Here in the CNMI, the fastest allowed speed is somewhere from 40-45 mph but it pays to slow down in the road, not only for your safety but to save on gas.
Inflate those tires. Properly inflating and maintaining your tires is another way of saving fuel that is often overlooked. A properly inflated tire makes less contact with the road which means your car engine does not have to work as hard to run.
The EPA estimates about 3 percent increase in fuel efficiency if you inflate your tires properly.
(Watch out for more green driving tips next issue)
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