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Jackrabbit Starts: Why They Drain Your Wallet
If you accelerate your vehicle too fast, your vehicle wastes gas and money. Of course, there are times you need to accelerate to pass that unnecessarily slow and annoying driver ahead of you—but it’s essential to avoid being overly aggressive, as it comes with drawbacks.
Accelerate Gently, Save Gas (and Cash!)
Have you ever seen a motorist accelerate so fast that the vehicle’s wheels spin? It looks fantastic, right? Probably. But what really happens?
When you hit the accelerator harder, more gas is released into the engine. This means that more gasoline is burning than before, causing the engine to work harder to transmit that extra energy to the wheels.
However, part of that sudden increase in energy is wasted when the wheels spin in place before the vehicle gains speed. Hitting the accelerator harder when the engine’s gasoline burning is already optimized leads to inefficient combustion. This ultimately reduces the miles you get from every gallon of fuel.
Cruise Control: Your Fuel-Saving Friend
You probably should change how you drive to avoid wasting those extra pennies through sudden acceleration on the freeway. Always remember to accelerate gradually to optimize your vehicle’s gas usage and save money in the process.
After accelerating to the recommended speed for a given road, it’s good to maintain it whenever possible, even if it means using cruise control, especially on the freeway.
Even though here we are more interested in saving money on gas, it might be worth noting that if sudden acceleration becomes the norm in your driving, it increases your vehicle’s wear and tear, for instance, on tires, which can be expensive to replace.
Slamming the Brakes? You’re Burning Money
Every time your vehicle is in motion, and you apply brakes suddenly, the kinetic energy in your vehicle is wasted as heat energy in your car’s brake rotors and calipers. Of course, sudden hard braking will happen occasionally to avoid accidents, but it should not be the norm, especially after sudden, at times unnecessary, acceleration.
Smooth Stops: The Art of Saving Gas
To avoid sudden braking, always be aware of your surroundings as you drive so that braking is anticipated, for instance, at a traffic stop. That way, braking is done gradually, and your vehicle’s kinetic energy is not wasted unnecessarily, saving money in the process.
By avoiding rapid starts and sudden braking, you can enhance your car’s fuel efficiency, save money on gas, and minimize wear and tear. So, next time you’re driving, remember to accelerate gently, anticipate stops, and brake smoothly. Both your wallet and your car will thank you!
