 Accelerate
normally from a fully stopped position. "Flooring"
the gas pedal pushes more fuel to the engine and wastes gasoline.
Slow
down. Drive steadily. Slowing down or speeding up wastes
gas. Every time your speed exceeds 55 mph your fuel economy drops
by 2 percent. Avoid tailgating, not only is it dangerous, but slowing
down unexpectedly negatively affects your fuel consumption.
Driving
fast in low gears consumes up to 45% more gas than is needed.
We suggest that you drive at the speed limit because it saves you
1/3 of the cost of a gallon. Every mile over the speed limit adds
$.02 cents per gallon and it burns faster. So try cruising on the
highway.
Wind
resistance. Exceeding 45 mph forces your car to overcome
tremendous wind resistance which in turn uses more horsepower and
gas.
Close
your windows. When driving on a highway keep your windows
closed. This relates to the property of wind resistance. Your car
has to work harder to maintain the desired speed causing air drag
and losing momentum.
Stick
shifts are more economical then automatic cars. Manual
shift driven cars allow you to change to highest gear as soon as
possible, thereby letting you save gas. However it can also cause
the engine to overload and premature wearing of engine parts may
occur.
Think
ahead when approaching hills. Don't accelerate when driving
uphill it makes your mileage per gallon go up. Instead, try to drive
at the same speed, or even a little slower.
Remove
the luggage & roof racks from your car and all related
outdoorsy gear and put it away until they are back in season. Get
rid of the junk in your trunk. The extra wait reduces your mileage
per gallon.
Avoid
using your engine needlessly. Resting your engine consumes
a lot of gas. However, if and when you are at a standstill at a
railroad crossing, or long traffic light, etc. place gear into neutral
position. This reduces transmission strain and allows transmission
to cool without wasting fuel.
Don't
take a long time to warm up the engine, 40 seconds is enough
time.
Avoid
overfilling the gas tank. If the nozzle is automatic, wait
for the click which indicates that you have filled up your car to
full capacity. Overfilling the tank causes spills and wastes gas.
The
best time to buy gas is when it's coolest outside - which
is either early morning or late evening. During these times gasoline
is densest. Density measures mass per unit of volume and gas pumps
measure volumes of gasoline, not densities of fuel concentration.
You are charged according to "volume of measurement".
Choose
type and brand of gasoline carefully. Certain brands provide
you with greater economy because of better quality. If your vehicle
does not require premium grade gas don’t use it. You get better
fuel economy with a lower gasoline grade.
Check
your vehicle's air filter and tire pressure. A clogged
or dirty air filter can slow your vehicle down and use more gasoline.
Under-inflated tires could cause excessive drag, slowing the vehicle
and causing the engine to consume more gas.
Avoid
driving on roughness whenever possible, because dirt or
gravel strips your gas mileage. Now with the ability to use navigation
devices and maps you can “mapquest” the least resistant
traveling distance avoiding too many curves and turns and corners,
since all the extra maneuvering requires more fuel.
Perform
regular check-ups to ensure smooth operation of your vehicle.
As you know, any unforeseen malfunction causes problems in other
areas. Even if your car seems to be running well, that mystifying
“Check Engine” light could represent a dead oxygen sensor
or some other emissions control problem that causes the vehicle
to waste several miles per gallon. Air
conditioners can reduce fuel economy by 10% to 20%. Heater
fan, power windows and seats increase engine load; the more load
on your engine, the less miles per gallon. During
cold weather watch for piled up snow and ice on the car
frame since they cause tremendous wind resistance. Warm water will
quickly dissolve any accumulations.
Look
into hybrid cars. They are very efficient and environmentally
friendly. It may feel different driving it at first, but the fuel
savings you get out of the vehicle are phenomenal. There are hybrids
out there that will get you 66 miles per gallon!
Get your money back right at the pump by using Gas
Rebate Cards. Here’s a great bonus tip that will
increase your gas savings twofold! Use one of the top rated gas
rebate cards of your choice like "The Discover® Platinum
Gas Card" or "Blue Cash® from American Express"
to buy a prepaid discount gas card(s) at your local gas station
and then use it at the pump. Not only are you saving money by using
the discount gas card, but you are also getting cash back for buying
it with a gas rebate card! Now that’s what we call real savings!
Try this tomorrow and see how much more money you’ll get back.
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