Better Gas Mileage
What kind of gas mileage do you get with your vehicle? Did you know that there are a few simple things that you can do to increase your fuel mileage? Each one may only give you a little improvement but if you do all of them, you can increase your gas savings significantly - maybe by even as much as $500 a year.
- The first thing you should do is slow down, watch your speed. The speed at which you travel has a large impact on your fuel consumption. Driving at 65 miles an hour rather than 55 siphons 15% off your fuel economy.
- Use cruise control whenever you can, especially on highways. By maintaining a steady speed, you will improve your gas mileage.
- Check your tires on a regular basis and keep them properly inflated. If they are under inflated, it can shorten the life of your tires as well as reduce fuel economy by as much as 2% for each missing pound of pressure. Be careful not to over inflate your tires which can cause premature and uneven tire wear. The next time you are in the market for tires, consider radial tires. They can cut your fuel bill by 2-3%.
- Carrying excess weight wastes gas. One hundred pounds can equal 6% less miles per gallon. Clean out your back seat and trunk by removing unnecessary items from the car. All the extra weight reduces your mileage.
- Go easy on the idling because letting your engine idle wastes between half a gallon and a gallon of gasoline an hour. You will save gas by shutting off your engine and then restarting it if the wait is greater then one minute.
- Use your air conditioner as sparingly as possible, because your engine uses extra energy to power the air conditioner compressor. Fuel consumption can be increased by up to 10% on the highway and up to 15% in the city when you don't use your air conditioner.
- Aerorodynamics are very important. Bike carriers, ski racks, and car-top storage bins interfere with the car's aerodynamic profile and cost you gas mileage. Avoid driving with an open sunroof or windows at highway speeds because it increases aerodynamic drag and uses additional fuel. Keeping your windows closed to reduce wind resistance can save up to 4 miles per gallon.
- Have you check your air filter recently? A dirty filter can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10%.
- Don't overpay for premium gasoline. Less than 10% of the cars on the road today need premium grade gasoline. Buy the lowest grade of gasoline unless you hear your engine knock or ping and then fill it with up with premium for once or twice and then switch back to a lower grade.
- Pump it yourself. If you are not already using the self-serve pumps, you should be. An average 24 cents a gallon can be saved. My parents taught me this money saving lesson even before I learned how to drive.
- At gas stations that charge different prices for cash and credit-card purchases, you'll typically save 2 to 8 cents a gallon by paying with paper rather than plastic. Also, you take the time to comparision shop for many things, why not gas? I live close to the George state line and I can get gas cheaper there than I can in my home state.
- Keep your engine in tune. An out-of-tune car uses 3% to 8% more gasoline.
- Try to anticipate traffic lights and maintain steady speeds for the best fuel.
- Use a light touch on the gas pedal. Stomping with the pedal to the metal just simply wastes fuel. Gentle pressure ensures the best mileage.Do not drive mad. This causes most people to use the accelerator much too often and to hard.
- Save those road trips for the fall or winter. Gasoline prices are usually at their lowest then.
- City driving is 16% idling, 35% moving, 31% acceleration, and 18% deceleration. Drive as little as possible in city traffic. Avoid unnecessary trips. Plan local errands for a single afternoon and plan a route for the least distance traveled. If there are real close errands to be done, ride a bike or walk.
- Buy gas in the early morning or late evening. Gas is denser then, so you get more per gallon.
Copyright 2000; All rights reserved. No information found herein may be reproduced in whole or in part without expressed written consent from
Belinda. Web Page Designed by: Belinda ~ Updated: February 2001
