| With the escalating price of gas, buying a | | | | minimizing harmful emissions.Keep Your Engine |
| fuel-efficient car makes a lot of sense. | | | | Properly Tuned-Getting regular tune-ups when |
| Approximately 15% of new car buyers reject a | | | | your car is out of tune or has failed an emissions |
| model due to poor gas mileage. Nearly 40% of | | | | test may improve gas mileage by about 4%. If |
| those consumers who eliminate a full-size SUV | | | | your car has a faulty oxygen sensor and you |
| due to gas mileage ultimately purchase a midsize | | | | have it fixed, gas mileage could improve as much |
| SUV instead, while nearly 20% purchase another | | | | as 40%. Make sure the spark plugs, if you have |
| model altogether. (J.D. Power and Associates, | | | | them, are firing properly, replacing them when |
| Sept. 2004.)But even if you don't currently own a | | | | necessary. Have the engine timing checked for |
| fuel-efficient car, there are lots of ways you can | | | | accuracy.Check & Replace Air Filters |
| improve the fuel efficiency of your present | | | | Regularly-Replacing a clogged air filter could |
| vehicle until you're ready to purchase one of the | | | | improve a car's gas mileage by as much as 10%. |
| best gas mileage cars. Your personal driving habits | | | | Additionally, it will protect your engine from |
| have a big effect on your fuel use and costs. You | | | | impurities. Change this more often if you live in a |
| can better manage your vehicle operating costs | | | | dusty climate, drive on dirt or gravel roads or if |
| as well as minimize the emissions it produces by | | | | you drive off-road for fun.Keep Tires Properly |
| driving less and more efficiently. Here are some | | | | Inflated-Your gas mileage can increase by about |
| tips to help. | | | | 3.3% if you keep tires inflated to their proper |
| First, you need to know what kind of mileage | | | | pressure. It takes more effort and gas for the |
| you are getting. Calculate this by filling up your | | | | engine to propel an underinflated tire than a |
| tank and recording the odometer reading-or you | | | | correctly inflated one-which provide less |
| can reset your trip gauge to zero. Next time you | | | | road-resistance, thereby improving fuel efficiency. |
| get gas, fill the tank again and divide the miles you | | | | Beware over-inflation, though, which can lead to |
| traveled between fill ups by the quantity of gas | | | | handling problems and uneven tire wear. Check |
| you bought on this fill-up. This is your car's miles | | | | tire pressure on a regular basis, looking for signs |
| per gallon or mpg. If it's pretty dismal, here's how | | | | of uneven wear or embedded objects that can |
| to turn your fuel guzzler into a fuel saver: | | | | cause air leaks. In winter, check tire pressure if |
| Drive slower: The aerodynamic drag on your car | | | | there is a sharp change in temperature, as cold |
| increases noticeably the faster you drive. The | | | | weather decreases air pressure in the tires. |
| drag force at 70 mph is about double that at 50 | | | | Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil-Fuel |
| mph, so keeping speed down can increase your | | | | efficiency can improve by 1-2% if you use the |
| mileage considerably. Gas mileage decreases | | | | manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. |
| rapidly at speeds over 60 mph. Each 5 mph | | | | Also, if you change your own oil, look for motor |
| above 60 mph is like paying an additional $.10 | | | | oil rated as "Energy Conserving" to be sure it |
| gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also | | | | contains friction-reducing additives.Check Which |
| safer for everyone.Maintain a constant speed: | | | | Gas to Use-Choose the correct octane gas for |
| Every time you speed up, you use energy, some | | | | your car by checking your owner's manual. It's |
| of which is wasted when you slow the car down | | | | not necessary to buy the "super" high-octane gas |
| again. By maintaining a constant speed, especially | | | | unless your car manufacturer recommends it or |
| driving the posted speed limit, you will improve | | | | your engine knocks without it. While you won't do |
| your fuel efficiency. Just by increasing your | | | | harm to the engine, you will be paying more than |
| highway cruising speed from 62 mph to 74 mph | | | | you need to, since premium (highest octane) gas |
| you increase fuel consumption by about 20%! | | | | sells for an average of 17 cents more per gallon |
| Using cruise control on the highway helps you | | | | than regular gas. Only about 6% of cars sold in |
| maintain a constant speed and will usually save | | | | the U.S. need premium gas, according to the AAA. |
| gas.Drive gently: Aggressive driving-speeding, rapid | | | | Also, avoid topping off your gas tank, since in |
| acceleration and hard braking-wastes gas. These | | | | warmer weather, fuel expansion can cause an |
| bad habits can lower your gas mileage by 33% at | | | | overflow and you'll be wasting precious fuel. You |
| highway speeds and 5% in the city. In addition, | | | | want to be a fuel saver-not a fuel waster!Planning |
| reasonable driving is safer for you and others, so | | | | & Combining Trips: Combining errands to do |
| you may be saving more than gas money. | | | | together and in similar areas saves time and |
| Consider using overdrive gears on the highway, as | | | | money. Several short trips starting from a cold |
| this decreases engine speed, reducing fuel usage | | | | engine can use twice as much fuel as a longer |
| and engine wear.Avoid Excess Idling: Idling gets 0 | | | | multi-purpose trip that covers the same distance |
| miles/gallon and wastes fuel and money, is hard | | | | when the engine is warmed up. With a little |
| on the engine and adds to toxic emissions. Cars | | | | advance planning, you can avoid high traffic areas, |
| with larger engines typically waste more gas at | | | | road construction, retracing your route and |
| idle than those with smaller engines. Turn off your | | | | ultimately reduce the distance you travel while |
| engine if you think you will be stopped for more | | | | running errands. You'll not only save on fuel, but |
| than 30 seconds. However, if you're driving a | | | | also reduce wear and tear on your car. |
| fuel-efficient car like a hybrid, your electric motor | | | | Commuting: If you can alternate your work |
| is on when you idle, so you're not wasting any | | | | hours to avoid rush hour, you'll spend less time |
| gas at all! | | | | sitting in traffic and burn up less fuel. For stop and |
| Minimize air conditioning: Using your air conditioner | | | | go traffic, drive your best gas mileage car if you |
| in hot weather can increase your fuel | | | | own more than one vehicle. Contemplate |
| consumption by more than 20% in city driving. | | | | telecommuting (working from home) when your |
| Whenever possible, close all windows and use the | | | | job permits. If you can, participate in carpools and |
| air vents to circulate air instead of air conditioning. | | | | ride-share programs. You can cut your weekly |
| You will improve your fuel efficiency in summer | | | | fuel costs in half and save wear on your car if |
| by minimizing the use of air conditioning and using | | | | you take turns sharing driving with |
| your car's flow-through ventilation, especially on | | | | others.Traveling: A roof rack or carrier affords |
| the highway. If you must use the air conditioning, | | | | additional cargo space and helps out when you |
| set the controls to a level that lets the system | | | | have a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack |
| cycle, and turn it off once the interior of car is | | | | decreases fuel efficiency by 5%. Reduce the wind |
| cooled down enough. Also consider such options a | | | | resistance and increase your fuel efficiency by |
| sunroof and tinted glass to keep the car cool.Keep | | | | putting objects inside the trunk when possible. |
| Your Car in Shape: Maintaining your vehicle in top | | | | Also, remove any unnecessary items, especially |
| working condition saves you fuel and money, and | | | | heavy ones, as an extra 100 lbs. in the trunk |
| reduces long-term maintenance costs while | | | | reduces a car's fuel efficiency by about 1 to 2%. |