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 Follow these tips and you could improve your gas mileage...
With gasoline prices still hovering in the $3.00 range, saving money at the fuel pump is more important than ever. Obviously, improving your fuel efficiency will save you money. Here are some tips to help you squeeze more mileage out of every gallon.
Tip: Use the fuel recommended by your owner's manual. Some people think they're doing their car a favor or that their car will run better by upgrading the fuel to mid-grade or premium. This isn't always the case! A quick check of the manual will tell you what type of gasoline your car was engineered for, which could save you a bundle every time you fill up.
Tip: Relax! Aggressive driving -- speeding, rapid acceleration, hard braking -- are sure ways to reduce your gas mileage. Drive smoothly and steadily to save fuel and also to extend the life of your engine, transmission, brakes and tires.
Tip: Check your speed. Your vehicle's fuel efficiency decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Once you're up to speed, maintain a steady pace in top gear and use cruise control. Keeping your vehicle at a steady speed is a great way to stay safe as well as fuel-efficient.
Tip: Reduce aerodynamic drag by removing unused equipment. Empty ski racks, bike racks and cartop carriers should be removed so your vehicle's engine doesn't have work overtime. Using extra power to overcome drag just means wasted gasoline. There are cartop carriers available here which can be folded for easy storage when not in use.
Tip: Check your tires. Under-inflated tires require more energy to roll. This not only wastes fuel, but also wears the tires faster. More information is available here about how important, and easy, it is to keep your tires in good condition. Having a good tire pressure gauge makes it easy to save time, tire wear and fuel consumption!
Tip: Gas mileage and engine maintenance go hand-in-hand. If your engine is poorly maintained, your gas mileage will be reduced dramatically. Follow the schedule recommended in your owner's manual and have your vehicle checked out if you detect any unusual sounds, smells or vibrations.
Tip: Use the correct grade of motor oil. Your owner's manual will direct you to the type your vehicle was designed to use. Also remember to look for motor oil that is labeled "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to take advantage of friction-reducing additives.
Tip: Replace dirty air filters. A clogged air filter can reduce your gas mileage. Replacing it will not only save fuel, but will keep impurities from damaging your engine.
Tip: Shop around for gas. Most gas stations carry the same quality fuel, so keep an eye out for the low prices around your area.
Tip: Lighten your load. Extra weight from a full trunk or cargo area can reduce your gas mileage. Here are some handy garage organizers to help you store that offloaded gear neat in a garage or shed.
Tip: Be efficient with a warm engine. A cold engine (one that hasn't been started for many hours) is less fuel efficient than a warm one. With that in mind, there are 2 pieces of advice for making the most of a warm engine. First, your engine warms up faster while driving than while sitting and "warming up" so don't let your vehicle sit at idle for more than 30 seconds. Start it up, drive it and then shut it off between errands to conserve fuel. Second, avoid many short, separate trips by combining as many errands as possible into one trip.
Tip: Unless you really need it, don't run the air conditioning. Running the air conditioner robs power from the engine and uses additional fuel. Open the windows and experiment with the vent and fan settings, instead.
Tip: Use overdrive gears during highway driving. Overdrive gears reduce engine speed, saving you gas money and engine wear. |
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