|
1. Drive more efficiently
- Stay within posted speed limits – gas mileage decrease rapidly at speeds above 60 MPG.
- Stop Aggressive driving – You can improve your gas mileage up to 5% around town if you avoid “jackrabbit” starts.
- Combine errands – several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
- Use overdrive gears and cruise control when appropriate.
- Remove excess weight from the trunk – an extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce a typical car’s fuel economy by up to 2%.
- Avoid packing items on top of your car – a loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy by 5%.
2. Maintain your vehicle
- Keep your engine tuned – tune up your engine according to your owner’s manual.
- Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned.
- Change your oil regularly – use manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil.
- Check and replace air filters regularly – replace any clogged filters.
3. At the Pump
- Use the octane level you need – your owner’s manual recommends the most effective octane level for your vehicle. For most cars, the recommended gasoline is regular octane. In most cases, using a higher octane gas than the manufacturer recommends offers no benefit. Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of money.
- Make certain your gas cap fits properly.
4. Air conditioning
- Minimize your use of air conditioning to improve your fuel efficiency in the Summer. To stay cool at highway speeds, use your car's flow-through ventilation. When driving in the city, open a window.
5. Idling Time
- Reduce warm-up idling to 30 seconds. Start driving after no more than 30 seconds of idling. Avoid high speeds and rapid acceleration for the first five miles or so to allow all moving parts of your vehicle to warm up.
- If you are going to be stopped for more than 10 seconds, turn your engine off (except in traffic). Idling your vehicle for more than 10 seconds uses more fuel than it would take to restart your engine.
- Avoid using a remote car starter. These devices encourage you to start your vehicle before you are ready to leave, which means unnecessary idling.
- When the temperature drops below 0°C, consider using a block heater to warm your vehicle"s engine before you start it. This will reduce engine wear, improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions from your vehicle. An automatic timer can be used to turn on the block heater two hours or so before you plan to start the vehicle.
To see the rest of the 10 ways to save gas, please see this and other helpful articles by clicking HERE
| 