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Tips For Saving Fuel

Gas prices keep going up. Here are 10 tips to help you reduce the amount of gas you use :

  1. Follow the Recommended Maintenance
  2. A vehicle that is well maintained means it will operate with greater efficiency. This not only improves your overall vehicle performance, but it will improve your fuel economy as well. Fouled spark plugs, a dirty air filter or clogged fuel filter will all affect your fuel economy.

  3. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
  4. Underinflated tires require more energy to roll, which translates into more frequent fill-ups. You can improve your fuel economy by about 3.3% if you keep your tires inflated properly.

  5. Take a Load Off
  6. Heavier vehicles require more energy to move, so carrying around excess weight will also affect your mileage. Empty out your trunk (or even your backseat) of unnecessary items. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk will reduce your fuel economy by 1% to 2% in the typical vehicle.

  7. Don't Drive Aggressively
  8. We're not talking road rage here, but the type of driving many people do when they are in a rush. Mashing the accelerator pedal from a stoplight, braking hard and speeding all contribute to a decrease in fuel economy. Give yourself extra time to get to your destination and think "steady and smooth" as you drive.

  9. Use the Highest Gear Possible
  10. Cars are designed to start in the lowest gear possible because that's where they have the most power, but that power translates to an increase in fuel consumption. To improve your fuel economy, drive in the highest gear possible when you are cruising at a steady speed, such as on the highway.

  11. Use Cruise Control — Selectively
  12. Using cruise control can improve your gas mileage by helping you maintain a steady speed, but only if you are driving on mostly flat roads.

  13. Think Clean
  14. Keeping your car washed and waxed improves aerodynamics and therefore affects fuel economy by 7% during a 1600-mile road trip.

  15. Avoid Excessive Idling
  16. When a car is idling, it is using fuel, yet not going anywhere. This translates to 0 mpg. When you leave your car running while you are waiting in line at the drive-thru, or as you wait outside your kids' school, you are wasting fuel.

  17. Think Before You Ventilate
  18. Running your air conditioner does cause your vehicle to consume more fuel, but driving with your windows rolled down can be even worse due to the increase of drag on the vehicle. If you are driving slowly, such as around town or in city traffic, then you are better off leaving your windows open, if at all possible. For highway driving, roll up the windows and turn the air conditioning on.

  19. Combine Your Errands
  20. A little planning can make a big difference in fuel economy. When your engine is cold, it uses more fuel than when it is warm. Combining errands can improve your gas mileage because your engine will be warm for more of the trip. It might also mean you travel less total miles.


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