The next time you give the low fuel warning indicator a miss and realise that your tank is on the drier side, don't panic. Just take a few deep breaths, utter a silent prayer to summon forth your best driving skills and do as follows.
- Stop and enquire as to where the closest pump is - and remember to switch off the engine while doing so.
- Drive as slowly as possible as a higher speed means more fuel consumed.
- Literally tickle the throttle and as few engine revs as possible.
- Try and coast as much as possible with the engine switched off while going down slopes. However, power steering and brakes may not work well this way, so be careful.
- Drive in the highest gear possible without the car lurching or lugging, which can damage the engine.
- Do not use the brakes and lose momentum unless imperative. Try to use every bit of rolling speed.
- Switch off the car's air conditioning system as this adds load to the engine and thus consumes precious fuel you need to save.
- When parked at traffic crossings, switch off the engine. Start slowly and gather speed gradually.
(From 'How to crawl to a pump when low on fuel' featured in today's 'Fast Track' - An Economic Times Special Report)
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