Looking to save money on gas? Here are 10 easy tips that can help.
December 9, 2009 at 2:42 pm
1. Reduce Idling
Turn off your engine during long traffic lights, in heavy traffic, or while waiting to pick someone up.
2. Slow Down
The Department of Energy calculates that for every five miles a motorist drives above 60 mph, a fuel efficiency loss of between seven and 23 percent occurs (depending on make and model). Most cars get the most efficient mileage figures between 45 and 55 miles per gallon. Any jump to 65 mph significantly reduces fuel efficiency, while a further jump to 75 mph over long periods can result in an expensive return to the pumps. To make up for lost time, leave a little earlier. Setting your cruise control can also help you maintain a steady speed.
3. Go Manual
Manual transmissions actually cost as much as $1000 less than automatic transmissions at the dealership – so you get instant savings right away. Choosing your own gear also allows you to shift up earlier or into neutral on downhill stretches or when approaching lights. Remember though that many car companies now gear their automatic transmissions for optimal fuel consumption and keep in mind these two things: In many states, coasting is illegal; and never, ever switch off the ignition, which may shut off the power steering or brakes. Yikes!
4. Maintain the Power Train
Keeping your engine properly tuned can result in efficiency savings of 4 percent (but fixing a faulty oxygen sensor could affect as much as a 40 percent increase in efficiency). Check and replace air filters, to keep impurities from damaging your engine, to improve mileage by 10 percent. Keep tires properly inflated for a 3.3 percent efficiency increase. Badly inflated tires can shade efficiency 0.4 per cent for every 1 psi drop in pressure. Use a recommended grade of motor oil and look for product that says “Energy conserving” on the API performance label, to improve mileage 1-2 percent.
5. Hypermiling
A long practiced technique among truck drivers, this rose to fame as gas went above $3 per gallon. This technique can improve efficiency by as much as 40 percent. It means pumping up tires to the maximum rating on their sidewalls, which may be higher than levels recommended in car manuals; using engine oil of a low viscosity; and drifting behind other vehicles on the highway to reduce aerodynamic drag. However, speeding up and slowing down to follow another vehicle may not really help your MPG and could lead to a dangerous crash and expensive bill.
6. Lighten Up
Clearing any extra equipment or junk (such as golf clubs) can have an impact on your gas mileage. The EPA estimates that for every 100 pounds of weight your car carries, fuel efficiency dips by 2 percent. Taking all that extra stuff out from the back can also help in the event of a crash, as it won’t come flying forward and harm anyone.
7. Plan and Combine Trips
Try to run errands in off-peak hours when roads are less crowded. Also, plan trips based on your needs for down the road so that you aren’t taking multiple trips to the grocery store a week.
8. Buy/Trade Smart
Dealers are realizing the trend toward smaller vehicles, and the value of big vehicles is going down. If your bid to save cash is more about your bottom line than going green, it might be worth pulling out a pencil and doing some quick calculations. Yes, you can save a thousand bucks a year by trading a 14 mpg guzzler for a smaller 22 mpg daily runner, but will these savings be offset by trading in at a time when demand for big SUVs is at an all-time low?
9. Buy the Right Model
Look at the hybrids available right now. Most car-makers have a cache of fuel-saving models on their lots. So much so, you’ll be spoiled for choice. Do some research to find out the best fuel saving vehicle for you.
10. Go Retro
Want the most fuel efficient car out there? How about a Geo Metro? This long-ridiculed wonder from the 1990s has sprung into demand as a result of its 50 mpg efficiency. Many older vehicles are great on gas-mileage, so drive them with pride!
[Source AOL News]
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