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Driving Tips
Remove Unnecessary Items From Your Car
Each 100 pounds of weight decreases fuel efficiency by 1 %.
If the car isn't moving, but the engine's running, you're getting 0
miles per gallon and unnecessarily spewing who-knows-what into the
atmosphere. Make all adjustments to mirrors, seat belts, hair,
children - whatever - before starting up.
Sun shades, the kind you put in the windshield of your car, can do
more than help keep the car cooler - they can also keep the dashboard
and upholstery in better shape, and save fuel on hot days by reducing
the load on your air conditioner.
Keep your tail gate up.
Your truck will get better gas milage with the tail gate up than down
or with a net. Keeping the tailgate up reduces drag and improves milage.
Drive More Efficiently
Stay within posted speed limits. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour.
Stop aggressive driving. You can improve your gas mileage up to five percent around town if you avoid “jackrabbit” starts and stops by anticipating traffic conditions and driving gently.
Avoid unnecessary idling. It wastes fuel, costs you money, and pollutes the air. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a wait.
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. They improve the fuel economy of your car when you’re driving on a highway.
Remove excess weight from the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce a typical car’s fuel economy by up to two percent.
Avoid packing items on top of your car. A loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy by five percent.
Maintain Your Car
Keep your engine tuned. Tuning your engine according to your owner’s manual can increase gas mileage by an average of four percent. Increases vary depending on a car’s condition.
Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned. It can increase gas mileage up to three percent.
Change your oil. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can improve your gas mileage by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the performance symbol of the American Petroleum Institute contains friction-reducing additives that can improve fuel economy.
Check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing clogged filters can increase gas mileage up to ten percent.
Be skeptical of claims for devices that will “boost your mileage by an extra 6 miles per gallon,” “improve your fuel economy up to 26 percent,” or the like. EPA has tested over 100 supposed gas-saving devices — including mixture “enhancers” and fuel line magnets — and found that very few provide any fuel economy benefits. The devices that work provide only marginal improvements. Some “gas-saving” devices may damage a car’s engine or increase exhaust emissions.
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