Whether brand-new or used, cars are all about consumption. The tires and brake pads wear out eventually for instance, or fluids and filters might need topping up or replacing. It's all part of what allows the vehicle to perform the way it was intended to.
Cars typically have the best mileage in highway driving conditions
These days, probably the one thing a car consumes that has owners concerned the most is fuel. When evaluating vehicle performance, manufacturers and even motoring journos typically cite separate fuel consumption figures for city, highway, and mixed driving, with highway drives usually being the highest in terms of kilometers driven for every liter of fuel.
We’re talking about the same car on the same tank of gas, with likely the same number of passengers or amount of cargo on board. So, what makes driving on highways special, anyway?
Driving in the city subjects a car to all sorts of speed changes that ruin its momentum
Driving in the city or any sizeable urban area means congestion and traffic jams. Not only does your car have to deal with other vehicles on the road, but there are other factors such as pedestrians, potholes, and the random road hump. The engine struggles with those frequent starts, stops, and speed changes.
Since the vehicle is prevented from maintaining its most efficient speed, the result is an increase in fuel consumption. Remember, the engine consumes the most fuel when coming from a standstill, and there will be quite a few times on a given drive when you’ll have to come to a complete stop before accelerating again, such as during heavy traffic.
Highway drives keep the needle up longer, as long as the speeds are not excessive
In contrast, your car is happier driving on the highway since the long and wide thoroughfares allow it to maintain a consistent speed throughout. This means the engine isn’t working too hard to keep up your car’s forward momentum, so you can get by with just a few light taps on the throttle.
Of course, you can maximize the benefits of highway driving by ensuring that your tires are properly inflated, you’re using the right fuel and engine oil, you’re not carrying unnecessary weight, and generally seeing to it that the car is properly maintained.
Find more tips for beginner car owners at Philkotse.com.
