It’s always a good idea to pay attention to the impact you are having on the world around you. These days, many people are eager to learn how they can reduce their carbon footprints and make the air we breathe a little cleaner. Reducing the amount you drive by choosing to bike, carpool, or use public transpiration are all great options, but what about when you have to drive? Our team at Value Van & Car Rental has a few tips to utilize gas more efficiently and get more miles per gallon.

Park in the Shade

The sun can heat up your car and gas tank, especially during the summer months. By parking in the shade, you reduce evaporation of expensive gas from your tank, as well as other fluids that keep your car running. Even partial shade is better than no shade because, however minimally, it will lower the temperature of your car. Additionally, try to only fill up your tank when the temperatures are lower – avoid filling up around noon, if you can.

Keep Your Tires Inflated

It’s a good idea to get into the habit of checking your tire pressure on a regular basis, and especially before long trips. If your tire pressure is low, your vehicle will be unable to get the maximum miles per gallon. Be aware that you may not be able to tell if your tires are low just by looking at them, so it’s important to use a gauge. Find the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch) for your tires, commonly listed on a sticker in the door jamb or in your owner’s manual, then fill them to the recommended pressure.

Drive Efficiently

It may be tempting to accelerate quickly while driving, but this is actually a very inefficient way of driving. Pressing gradually on your pedal and taking a few extra seconds to get up to speed will use less gas. When driving on roads with a lot of stoplights, it’s a good practice to decelerate more slowly. This allows you to approach a red light more slowly and increases your chances of the light turning green before you get there so you do not have to make a complete stop and start.

Choose Value Van & Car Rental

At Value Van & Car Rental, we hope you take our advice and begin to reduce your carbon footprint on the world. And for all your car rental needs in Newark or Union, NJ, contact us at (973) 792-0343. We have a wide range of cars, vans, SUVs, and more to make your trip comfortable and affordable.