Eco-Friendy Driving Habits

As we approach earth day, April 22nd, 2021, Wrench has gathered some of the best tips and tricks to staying green while you are on the road. Cars often have a bad reputation when it comes to the environment but there are plenty of ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint while on the road. Most of our tips just require a little bit of thought and preparation, but once you get that down and build eco-friendly driving habits, you will be ready to go!

If you look over our tips and decide that it's time for an auto repair or maintenance service, book an appointment with our mobile mechanics here at Wrench. We will bring the auto repair shop to you so you can spend your time and energy doing the things that matter most to you.

Our eco-friendly driving tips are small ways that you can do your part to help the environment. While one of them alone can seem insignificant, if every driver on the road followed all of these tips, it would make a very big change.

Want to learn more about keeping your car eco-friendly? Click here to read our blog on eco-friendly ways to keep your car clean!

Before Getting On The Road

• Ensure That Your Tires Are Properly Inflated
  Not only are inflated tires are crucial to keeping your car eco-friendly, but they  will also keep you safe when you are on the road. By keeping your tires properly inflated you could save your gas mileage up to 3%. If you need a professional to check out the air pressure in your tires, book an appointment with Wrench!
• Replace Your Air Filters Regularly
  Another way to keep your car eco-friendly is to pay close attention to your car's air filters. Replacing a clogged or dirty air filter can significantly increase your gas mileage by up to 10%!
• Maintenance, Maintenance, Maintenance!
  On that note, it's best for the environment to keep your car well-maintained at all times. There are roughly 30,000 parts in your car, so we could go and list every single one, but you would probably get bored. To help the environment and keep your car running in good condition, you need to have a good car maintenance schedule and fix broken parts in a timely manner.
• Plan Your Trips In Advance
  Most of the time, you get in your car with a pre-planned purpose. If you are heading to work, strategically map out the shortest route.
• Pick A Vehicle With Better Gas Mileage
  If you are in the market for a new vehicle, look into your potential purchase's gas mileage. You could make the choice to go with a more eco-friendly car that has better gas mileage if you are stuck between a couple of options. While that doesn't need to be a deciding factor, it could be something to consider.
• Unload Your Car
  The more weight your car has to carry, the more gas will be used when you drive. If you have unnecessary weight in your car, such as boxes in your trunk that you swore you were going to take out "someday," make today that day. The longer you leave it in your car, the more gas you will be wasting which will both cost you more money and hurt the environment.

While You Are Cruising

• Go The Speed Limit
  If you are driving above 60 mph, your gas mileage decreases significantly. Every 5 mph above 60 could cost you an additional 10 cents per gallon of gas. While that might not seem like a lot, it adds up. Staying at the speed limit will also keep you safe while you are on the road.
• Accelerate Gently
  Both heavy acceleration and heavy braking can use up a lot of gas. If you become more mindful of how you are accelerating, you could both save yourself money and help out the environment.
• Don't Drive Aggressively
  Driving aggressively, such as when you are having a bout of road rage, can waste gas and lower your gas mileage. While driving aggressively is incredibly unsafe, it can also impact the environment.
• Avoid Idling
  Sitting with your car turned on in a parking spot for 20 minutes is pointless. You burn gas for going 0 miles. If possible, turn your car off rather than idle. Again, it will save you money and help the environment.
• Use Cruise Control
  Cruise control is another great way to be mindful of the environment. Staying at the same speed, whether manually or with the help of this feature can help you save gas.
• Coast To Decelerate
  As we already mentioned, both heavy acceleration and heavy braking can eat up a lot of gas. To slow your car down, simply take your foot off the gas and coast to a stop. Obviously, if you need to stop quickly, use your brakes! But if you know that you need to stop well in advance, this little habit can add up.

Other Things To Consider

While the tips above are a great place to start, there are always other ways you can reduce your carbon footprint from driving. If possible, you can skip driving altogether and bike or walk to your destinations. Avoiding cars isn't always possible, especially if you have to get somewhere relatively soon as biking and walking can be more time-consuming modes of travel.

Another option is to carpool! We all know the saying, "The more the merrier," and when it comes to the environment it is especially true! If you have a group of friends that are planning on going to a restaurant or hiking at your local state park, have one or two drivers rather than everyone meeting up on their own. In the future, you can trade off so not one person is always stuck being the driver.

Another way to reduce the amount of gas your car uses is staggering your work hours. For some people, this isn't possible, but if you are able to avoid peak traffic hours, then you won't have to sit in traffic, thus allowing you to use less gas.

On a similar note, you could also opt to work from home. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people were forced to create at-home offices and if your job allows it, it would be even better to avoid the commute to work. Besides saving you gas and helping the environment, you will be able to roll out of bed at the last possible second and catch some extra Z's.

To learn about more ways you can save money on gas, click here!

How To Book A Car Maintenance Appointment With Wrench

Whether you want to get your tire pressure checked or any other routine maintenance service to ensure that you are doing your part to help the environment, you can book an appointment with our mobile mechanics in less than five minutes! Then we will send our ASE-certified mobile mechanic right to your location so you won't have to waste the time or gas it takes to bring your car into a traditional shop.

To book your car maintenance appointment with Wrench, just go to the homepage of our website or download our mobile app. Once you have done that, you will be able to sign in to an existing account or create a new one.

The first thing we will need to know before we can schedule your car maintenance appointment is the make and model of your car. We need to know what kind of vehicle you have so our mobile mechanics can make sure they have the proper tools and parts needed in order to complete your requested services.

Then we will need to know what car maintenance services you need. If you are concerned about your tire pressure, you can ask our mobile mechanics to check it for you. If you need an oil change, you can request our mobile mechanics to change your oil too. Whatever you need, just request it! If you aren't sure what your car needs, book a diagnostic appointment and our mobile mechanics will come to figure out what your car needs to be running at its best.

Once we know what kind of car you have and what services it needs, we will be able to offer you an honest auto repair quote. This quote will contain both time and cost estimates so you can make an informed decision about your car. Once you choose to accept the quote, you will be able to pick a date, time, and location for your car maintenance services.

We hope you enjoy our tips and tricks to keep your car eco-friendly and hope to service your car soon!