woman driving car happily

Reducing your vehicle’s emissions is good for the environment, and a cleaner vehicle will also provide better performance, increased fuel economy, and be less expensive to operate. There are steps you can take to improve your driving and ways to maintain your vehicle to ensure you are reducing your vehicle’s emissions as much as possible.

Drive Less

Fewer miles traveled equals fewer emissions. Choose to bike or walk more often. Other options are public transportation and carpooling. In the modern world, following the pandemic, there are many work-from-home options as well. 

Drive Safely

The way we drive has the potential to reduce vehicle emissions. Take it easy on the gas and brake pedals. Regular tune-ups, adhering to the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule, and using the recommended motor oil are all recommended.

Select Fuel-Efficient Vehicles

Look for fuel-efficient vehicles with low greenhouse gas emissions when shopping for a new car. These vehicles can benefit the environment while potentially saving you money at the gas pump. Some examples of fuel-efficient vehicles are electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Avoid Idling

Idling cars, trucks, and school buses pollutes the environment, wastes fuel, and causes engine wear. In the winter, modern vehicles do not need to “warm-up,” so there is no need to start the engine until you are ready to drive. 

Reducing idling on diesel school buses protects children from diesel exhaust, lowers greenhouse gas emissions, and saves money on fuel.

Drive Smarter

Keeping to posted speed limits is one way to reduce pollution, and it’s also safer. Driving faster consumes more fuel and emits more pollutants into the atmosphere. Gradually increasing your speed also consumes less fuel. The most energy is expended when starting a vehicle from a complete stop, so take it easy on the accelerator. Avoid racing from red light to red light by anticipating the road ahead. Rather, try to maintain a constant speed with less stop-and-go driving.

Check tire pressure on a regular basis

Under-inflated tires can significantly increase fuel consumption. As a result, the longer you drive your car, the more CO2 it emits. We recommend that you check the pressure in all of your tires at least once a month and before any long trips.

Only drive when absolutely necessary

The convenience of having a car on the road means that any local trip can be completed in minutes. Nonetheless, you should try to avoid driving nonstop, especially if the weather permits and you have enough time to get to your destination. When you do need to get in the car, try to combine multiple trips to make it into a single journey.

Use premium fuel

Although premium fuel costs slightly more to fill up your car, its contents mean that your car’s emissions will be reduced over time. This means that your car will get more miles per gallon while also keeping your engine cleaner and better protected.

Improve the aerodynamics of your vehicle

There are simple, less expensive ways to ensure that your vehicle does not have a lot of drag, which causes more fuel to be burned and increased emissions. When not in use, remove any roof racks or bars. Keep the windows closed and use the A/C to keep the car cool, especially at high speeds. Changing your air filter as needed – this allows the engine to breathe, but it can clog if not replaced, causing wear and tear issues and increasing vehicle emissions.

Part of what we do at Master Muffler is do an emissions check. We are located in Sandy, Utah. We can provide affordable and quick service. We ensure that your emissions are done correctly and if there are any repairs needed. 

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