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Aggressive driving
(speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower gas
mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town.
Sensible driving is also safer. Fuel Economy Benefit: 5 to 33 percent;
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: 11 to 73 cents per gallon
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Gas mileage decreases
rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour (mph). Each five mph driven over
60 mph is like paying an additional 15 cents per gallon for gas. Observing
the speed limit is also safer. Fuel Economy Benefit: 7 to 23 percent;
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: 15 cents to 51 cents per gallon.
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Avoid keeping unnecessary
items in the vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in the
trunk could reduce your mpg by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on
the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and
affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones. Fuel Economy Benefit: 1 to
2 percent per 100 pounds; Equivalent Gasoline Savings: 2 to 4 cents per
gallon.
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Avoid excessive idling. Idling gets zero miles per gallon. Cars with
larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller
engines.
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Use
cruise control. Using cruise control on the highway helps maintain a
constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas. Use overdrive gears.
When overdrive gearing is used, the car's engine speed goes down. This
saves gas and reduces engine wear.
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Accelerate a little when approaching a hill, rather than hitting the gas
and switching gears once on the incline.
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Don't turn on the air conditioner as a first response to the heat. Start
the drive with the windows open to exhaust the hot air out of the rear
windows and then turn on the air conditioner if needed. This will also
enable the air conditioning to work faster and more efficiently when
turned on.
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Keep
vehicle's engine properly tuned. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of
tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an
average of 4.1 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair
and how well it is done. If the car has a faulty oxygen sensor, your gas
mileage may improve as much as 40 percent. Fuel Economy Benefit: 4 to 40
percent; Equivalent Gasoline Savings: 9 to 88 cents per gallon.
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Check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing a clogged air filter
can improve the vehicle's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. The
vehicle's air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of the
engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will
protect the engine. Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 10 percent; Equivalent
Gasoline Savings: up to 22 cents per gallon.
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Keep
tires properly inflated. Gas mileage may be improved by around 3.3 percent
by keeping tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can
lower gas mileage by 4 percent for every one-pound-per-square-inch drop in
pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last
longer. Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 3 percent; Equivalent Gasoline
Savings: up to 7 cents per gallon.
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Use
the recommended grade of motor oil. Gas mileage can be improved by 1 to 2
percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For
example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can
lower gas mileage by 1 to 2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for
5W-20 can lower gas mileage by 1 to 1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil
that is identified as "Energy Conserving" on the performance symbol to be
sure it contains friction-reducing additives. Fuel Economy Benefit: 1 to 2
percent; Equivalent Gasoline Savings: 2 to 4 cents per gallon. Note: Cost
savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.20 per gallon.
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Combining errands into
one trip saves time and money: Several short trips taken from a
cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip
covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Trip planning ensures
that traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient. With a
little planning, drivers can avoid retracing routes and reduce the
distance traveled as well. Fuel will be saved, and wear and tear on the
car will be reduced.
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Commuting:
Stagger work hours to avoid peak rush hours, and less time will be
spent sitting in traffic and less fuel will be consumed. If more than one
vehicle is available, drive the one that gets the best gas mileage
whenever possible. Consider telecommuting (working from home) if employer
permits it. If possible, take advantage of carpools and ride-share
programs. Weekly fuel costs can be cut in half and sharing saves wear on
vehicles if commuters take turns driving. Consider using public transit
(which is KATS in Sequoyah County) if it is available and convenient.
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A roof rack
or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow drivers to meet
their needs with a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease
fuel economy by 5 percent. Reduce aerodynamic drag and improve fuel
economy by placing items inside the trunk whenever possible. Pickup truck
drivers may also reduce drag by covering the bed of the truck.
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The Web site
http://www.fueleconomy.gov
also
has gas mileage estimates and more information for 1985-2005 model year
cars.
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The
difference between a car that gets 20 mpg and one that gets 30 mpg amounts
to $550 per year (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel
cost of $2.20). That's $2,200 extra in fuel costs in just four years.
