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TIPS FOR INCREASING YOUR FUEL ECONOMY |
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In no particular order, the following tips and/or reminders can help you get more miles-per-gallon from your car or truck. While most of the tips provided below may not be "new" to you, implementing any one or several will result in more miles-per-gallon of gas which is money in the bank! |
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Driving |
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You've heard it many times before, but it's a fact...Slow down! Drive the posted
speed limits. Your fuel efficiency (gas mileage) drops significantly when
you're driving above 60 mph! According to the Department of Energy (DOE), for
every 5 mph you drive over 65 mph your gas mileage will decrease about 7
percent. Decreasing your average speed from 65 mph to 55 mph can increase your
mileage up to 15 percent and dropping your average speed from 75 mph to 55 mph
can increase your mileage as much as 25 percent! For high-profile vehicles such
as trucks, vans, SUV's, etc., the amount of savings can be even greater.
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If your vehicle is equipped with it, use your cruise control whenever it makes
sense. And be sure to set it at the speed limit, which not only will control
your speed; it will also improve your miles-per-gallon! You should avoid using
cruise control in hilly or mountainous areas. Cruise control systems maintain
vehicle speeds fairly aggressively and will sometimes accelerate your vehicle
rapidly going up grades trying to accurately maintain the "set" vehicle speed
and your gas mileage may suffer because of it.
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You've also heard this one many times before, too. When taking off from a stop,
ease the gas pedal down. Quick acceleration (commonly called "jack-rabbit"
starts) from a stop not only requires more gas, it also speeds up "wear and
tear" on many other components! We don't mean to imply that kids on skateboards
should be able to pass you going down the street, but working your engine
harder than necessary does waste a lot of gas.
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Using your air conditioner requires more gas. Generally, if you have a choice
between rolling your windows down and using your A/C, turn your A/C off and
roll your windows down at speeds below 30 ~ 40 mph. Above 40 mph, roll the
windows up to reduce aerodynamic drag and use your A/C, as necessary. For the
best fuel economy, keep your windows rolled up and the A/C off. Also, using the
"Recirculate" or "Max A/C" setting in your vehicle allows the A/C system to
continually cool the same air in your vehicle instead of cooling the hot air
that would be introduced into your vehicle through the "Fresh" air vents.
Continually cooling the same air will lower the interior temperature more
quickly and greatly reduce the load requirements of your A/C which will
ultimately result in improved fuel savings, especially during longer trips.
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Avoid long periods of engine idling. It's a waste of gas! During periods of
extended idling such as at railroad crossings, lengthy stoplights, waiting for
your child to stop talking to their friends while ignoring you and get into the
vehicle, etc. it is recommended that you shut off the engine and restart it
when you are ready to proceed. Since the advent of electronic fuel injection,
the amount of additional fuel used to start your engine is minimal and should
not affect your gas mileage significantly.
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Anticipate traffic conditions and plan your route accordingly. When you're out
in traffic, maintain the correct distance from the car in front of you, which
is much safer and will improve your fuel economy! Especially in conditions such
as these, many of the tips discussed here can be used to improve your gas
mileage while reducing the stresses placed upon your vehicle as well as the
stresses placed on the driver. Smooth moderate take-offs, allowing the vehicle
to coast behind the vehicle in front of you at a safe distance and using the
brakes sparingly and only when necessary. After implementing these tips, you
will find that even stop-and-go driving has become a little more enjoyable.ok,
less miserable.
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Don't use your car as a storage facility. Remove all the camping gear and other
unnecessary items. Carrying around extra weight requires more gas. Studies have
shown that for every 100 pounds of additional weight you are carrying in your
vehicle, your mileage can be reduced by as much as 1 to 2 percent.
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Accessories are great, but there may be hidden costs. Any additional mass added
to the exterior of your vehicle will increase drag and have a negative effect
on your gas mileage. Accessories such as sunroof wind deflectors, spoilers, air
dams, fender flares, nose masks (bras), etc. can disrupt the airflow over your
vehicle and cost you a little (and sometimes a lot) in gas mileage. If you
happen to have a roof rack, especially the storage bin style, take it off and
use it only when it is absolutely necessary. Those ultra-wide low profile tires
really make your car look good and sets you off from the rest of the crowd, but
don't forget those nasty hidden costs. Wider tread tires create a tremendously
higher amount of rolling resistance and is definitely on the list of gas
mileage bad guys. In fact, there are tires manufactured and marketed as "low
rolling resistance" tires that are specifically designed to reduce the amount
of rolling resistance they create to improve your gas mileage as much as
possible. When it becomes necessary to replace the current tires on your
vehicle, you may want to look into the availability of tires of this type for
your vehicle.
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Plan your trips and try to group them together. Grouping your errands together
will not only help you save gas, but can also save you a lot of time. Single
short trips are not as efficient time-wise as planning out an excursion to a
number of locations and taking care of all your needs in one wind-swept spin
around town. Every time you start your vehicle with a cold engine, additional
fuel is used to shorten the warm-up time and to improve cold operation
driveability. A number of short trips in a warmed-up vehicle are better for
your mileage and also the durability of your engine. Also, try to drive your
most fuel efficient vehicle. If you have a choice between driving your V-8
powered Ford F 150 pick-up truck or your Daewoo Leganza, your Leganza is
probably your better miles-per-gallon choice.
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Pedals are not your gas-mileage friend! Everyone is aware that the more you
push down on the gas pedal the more gas you use. The pedal that is usually not
associated with gas mileage is the brake pedal. The more you use the brakes,
the more gas that is wasted. Even the slightest pressure on the brake pedal can
cause the brakes to drag slightly increasing the amount of gas you use.
Allowing your vehicle to coast along at speed (with your foot completely off of
the gas pedal) or to slow down gradually before applying the brakes can improve
your gas mileage significantly. You should refrain from tapping the brake pedal
to maintain proper following distances. Instead, try to accelerate at a slower
pace leaving adequate room to coast behind the vehicle ahead of you without
touching the brake pedal. This will not only improve your mileage, but will
also lessen the "wear and tear" of your vehicle.
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Vehicle Maintenance |
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Change your engine oil and oil filter at regular intervals and be sure to use
the correct grade of "Energy Conserving" oil. Also, be sure to check your air
filter on a regular basis and change it whenever necessary. A dirty or even
clogged air filter can cause as much as a 10 percent loss in gas mileage as
well as a loss in overall vehicle performance. While a lack of performance may
seem contrary during a discussion about improving gas mileage, remember that
when a vehicle is performing poorly, a driver will have a tendency to
accelerate more aggressively to overcome the power loss, which will result in
an even greater decrease in gas mileage.
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Ensure all fluid levels are checked and adjusted to the correct levels. You
can't expect your vehicle to operate at its most efficient levels if it's
thirsty.
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Keep your engine in "tune". Follow the maintenance schedule provided in your
Owner's Manual for spark plug, fuel filter, drive belt, etc. inspection/change
intervals. Keeping your engine in top condition will ensure it is capable of
providing maximum fuel economy results and will provide for improved
durability.
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It's a fact that a vehicle exterior that is free of damaged and is clean and
waxed will add to your miles-per-gallon! As we mentioned earlier, the airflow
over your vehicles exterior (commonly referred to as "aerodynamics") is related
to the amount of drag or resistance created when driving down the highway. A
clean and polished exterior will provide for the lowest amount of drag. It will
also help to bring you the highest resale value when it comes time to sell your
vehicle.
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Read your Owner's Manual! Knowing how to operate your vehicle safely and
efficiently can translate into increased miles-per-gallon! This important
publication will provide you with insights into virtually everything you need
to know about the operation of your vehicle from the grade of gasoline you
should use to maintenance interval requirements to various specifications you
will need and a lot more!
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Tires! You can't say enough about proper tire maintenance and the need to
ensure every tire is correctly inflated! Be sure your tires are always at the
properly inflation pressure (PSI) including your spare tire. Check your tire
pressure frequently! Tires should be checked with a good quality tire pressure
gauge once a week. Driving with tires that are underinflated will increase
their rolling resistance and could cause a drop of 1 to 2 miles per gallon!
Proper tire inflation pressures are provided in your Owner's Manual and on a
label usually on the fuel door, the glove box door or on the door doorjamb. If
your tires are not wearing correctly, have the alignment checked and adjusted.
And be sure to rotate your tires on a regular basis (every 5,000 to 6,000
miles).
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If your "Check Engine" light is on, have a qualified service technician find
out what is causing the malfunction and have it repaired. This will go a long
way toward fuel efficiency and it also helps to reduce emissions and keeps the
air clean!
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Protect your gas cap! According to Service Tech Magazine, approximately 17
percent of vehicles on the road have either misused or missing gas caps which
results in loss of 147,000,000 gallons (yes, it said millions) of gas per year
that vaporizes into the atmosphere.
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Use the grade of gasoline recommended by the manufacturer, which is explained
in your Owner's Manual. Only use "premium" grade fuel if it is specified. Using
premium gas when your engine is designed to operate on regular only costs you
additional $$$. There simply is no advantage.
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As we stated at the beginning, you have probably heard most of the tips provided above at one time or another and they may not be "new" to you. However, if you decide to implement just one of them or several, the results will be increased fuel efficiency / more miles-per-gallon of gas! |
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