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Fuel Saving Tips

Fuel Saver     W ith constant rise in the fuel prices in India it has become a cause of major concern for a rider. At this rate i think we ...

Fuel Saver

   With constant rise in the fuel prices in India it has become a cause of major concern for a rider. At this rate i think we are gonna see Rs 100/liter very soon. As we all know fuel prices are inversely proportional to riding style i.e. higher the fuel price more conservative the rider becomes regarding his riding. Lower the price, the rider becomes more free regarding his riding style. Now-a-days refueling means burning a big hole in your pocket. But as there is no other option, a common rider has to put less fuel and ride less.

So here are a few tips which you can use to save up almost 10-15% of fuel. Using these tips you can get the best fuel efficiency out of you machines.

1. Stop Useless Idling : While waiting on a red light or traffic signal, when you know your bike is going to be stationary for a while, switch the engine off. This saves the unnecessary fuel being burnt in the combustion chamber even though engine is not being used.
2. Selecting the Right Gear : Riding at a very high speed on a lower gear or riding too slow on a higher gear will result in low fuel efficiency. You should rather look for an optimum gear to ride or keep changing gears according to the speed or rpm. For most of the Indian bikes the optimum cruising rpm and is 4000-5500 rpm. This helps in more efficient fuel combustion returning a good Fuel Efficiency.
3. Smoother Riding : Sudden acceleration or deceleration also reduces the fuel efficiency as the engine is not able to adapt itself to the throttle response. Therefore it is important that you should accelerate or decelerate smoothly.
4. Unnecessary weight : There shouldn't be any extra weight on the bike other than the bike's kerb weight including standard accessories and you. So remove any extra weight from the bike as it strains the engine thus resulting in low efficiency. You should avoid putting extra bulky crash guards or saree guard just for the sake of looks or style and rather opt for a standard one. Don't put useless cowls and extra faring on the bike. Avoid putting extra wide tires, stick to the stock ones. Keeping all this in check you can avoid the unnecessary fuel wastage.
5. Correct Tyre Pressure : It is important that you keep the correct tyre pressure as stated by your bike manufacturer. Low tire pressure results in more drag thus putting more strain on the engine thus reducing the fuel efficiency. So keep the tire pressure as recommended and you'll save up some fuel.
6. Avoid Clutch Riding : Keeping the clutch half pressed while riding puts extra strain on the engine which not only reduces the fuel efficiency but also reduces the life of the clutch plate. So avoid pressing the clutch halfway while riding, use it only while changing gears and low speed braking.
7. Right Petrol Pump : Choose a petrol pump which has the least fuel adulteration i.e dilution of fuel with other cheaper fuels and solvents, as it harms the bikes engine as well as doesn't provide optimum combustion resulting in low fuel efficiency and carbon build up. Using good or high quality fuel keeps the combustion healthy and optimum.
8. Engine oil change : Changing the engine oil at recommend intervals regularly with genuine engine oil of recommend grade and of good quality helps in keeping the engine smooth and cool thus no excessive heating up of engine, causing more fuel consumption .So keep feeding good engine oil to your bike regularly and it will return good fuel efficiency.
9. Warming up a Cold Engine : Always warm up the engine in the morning before taking it for a spin. When the engine is cold, so is the oil inside which when cold sits at the bottom and the engine parts and piston are not lubricated properly. Revving the bike without warming it up with un-lubricated piston and parts creates more friction thus damaging them and reducing the fuel efficiency. So in the morning before taking your lovely steed for a spin warm it up by letting it idle for at least 30 seconds.
10. Spark plug Adapter : Sometimes if the spark plug adapter is not checked during regular intervals and not replaced when recommend it gets burnt from the inside reducing your fuel efficiency and power drastically. It is actually a rear case but do mention it to your mechanic at the service center to check it once.
11. Turning off the Fuel Knob : Whenever you are gonna park your bike for a convincingly long time like your office, college, home or if your bike is gonna be parked for more than 30 mins remember to turn your fuel knob to the off position as it'll help you save some fuel.
12. Cleaning the Bike : Cleaning the bike doesn't only mean washing or polishing the bike and giving it Teflon coat. It also means to clean the internal parts also. Clean or replace the air and oil filters at regular interval. When changing the engine oil drain it completely by leaving the draining nut open for a while. Clean your chain and sprockets nicely and keep them lubed, adjust the slackness. Get the carburetor and spark plug cleaned regularly. This should keep your bike maintained and return you a better fuel efficiency.

          So by following these points you can extract good fuel efficiency out of your steed or you can just ignore everything and get a yo bike and become the 'Silent Rider' who crawls on the city streets... silently.... shhhhhh… Jokes apart and no offence meant to yo bike riders, these tips, if followed in daily life will get you formidable fuel efficiency from your bike. So this is it for now, see you next time with more tips and tricks.

Ride Safe