The world today is aware of the impact of greenhouse gases on the environment. This has led to major efforts to reduce emissions, combat climate change, and improve air quality. With everyone playing their part, car owners also need to know how to reduce car emissions.
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), around 28% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. In other words, the annual emissions can be reduced by a significant percentage if everyone knows how to reduce their carbon footprint.
But how? Let’s find out.
What Are Car Emissions?
Car emissions are the gases and particles released from the exhaust of vehicles. These include a range of harmful substances, including:
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2)
- Carbon Monoxide (CO)
- Nitrogen Oxides (NOx)
- Particulate Matter (PM)
When released during driving, they are known to impact the environment and other users of the road negatively.
In addition to damaging the environment, cars that produce a lot of emissions are costly to maintain and, in some areas, are usually expensive in terms of taxes and fines. This is why it is encouraged to find several means to reduce emissions from these vehicles.
All cars produce emissions, some produce more than others. You can typically find how much emissions your car makes by its window sticker but if you lost yours, you can check this tool – window sticker lookup by VIN. Regardless of whether your car’s emission is high or not, reducing them will contribute positively to the environment.
How to Reduce the Environmental Impact of Your Car Emissions
Car drivers can decrease emissions and help to make the transport section and the cities themselves a much healthier place for all citizens. But what are the right measures to take in this regard?
Use cleaning agent
Over time, deposits and gunk collect on the engine of a car, which decreases fuel economy and raises emissions. This buildup is not hard to overcome as the application of a good cleaning agent will reduce the buildup and its effects effectively.
As previously mentioned you just need to locate the recommended cleaning agent for your vehicle and pour this into the fuel system. Premium fuel should be looked at since it has additives that allow for an increase in fuel efficiency and that go a long way in reducing emissions.
You can do this every three months or as recommended by your manufacturer.
Adopt a more fuel-efficient driving habit
How you drive also matters when it comes to greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions from your car. Try to:
- Maintain smooth acceleration
- Maintaining steady speeds
- Avoid idling
- Shift gears earlier
- Avoid high RPMs
- Brake sooner and more
These help reduce the vehicle’s wear and tear while reducing car emissions.
Change air filters
Over time, while driving, the air filters get clogged. This is due to accumulating dirt, dust, and other airborne contaminants. If air filters are not changed on time, the clogged air filter will restrict airflow to the engine, which can cause various issues and premature wear and tear.
On average, replacing the air filter every 12,000 to 15,000 miles or more frequently if you drive in dusty conditions is recommended.
Choosing a cleaner fuel type
When it comes to fuel type, premium fuels should be considered. These fuels take away the need to use cleaning agents in your fuel system. They come with active cleaning agents that remove dirt from the engine and keeps it clean and in good condition.
A clean engine has better efficiency and this translates to low emissions and improved performance. Make sure to use only fuel types recommended by your car’s manufacturer.
Vehicle Upgrades You Can Make to Reduce Emissions
When people think about vehicle upgrades, they think of improving the performance of the vehicle, adding power, lifting the suspension, etc. Not everyone thinks about how they can make their vehicles much more environmentally friendly, but it is essential to add these to your list of upgrades if you are planning to upgrade your car.
Engine Tuning
This simply involves adjusting or modifying the engine for better airflow, performance, and smoother power. These tune-ups give the vehicle that extra power when you need it and this makes the engine much more efficient.
When the engine is running at its best, fuel efficiency also increases, which reduces emissions significantly.
Aerodynamic Enhancements
Next, you should consider minimizing aerodynamic drag with some car upgrades. Modifying your vehicle’s shape or adding features like spoilers decreases drag and lowers the engine’s power requirements to maintain speed. This leads to better fuel economy and reduced emissions.
Cruise Control
You can also upgrade to adaptive cruise control, which significantly reduces emissions by maintaining a steady speed on highways. This technology avoids unnecessary acceleration and braking and improves fuel efficiency, which leads to lower emissions and a smaller environmental footprint.
Conclusion
Before you consider improving your vehicle’s carbon footprint, you need to verify its emissions ratings. This can be done easily with the window sticker lookup by VIN tool from Detailed Vehicle History.
After this check, you can use cleaning agents, get cleaner fuel, improve driving styles, and even upgrade your vehicle with specific mods that improve fuel efficiency and reduce car emissions.
