Top 10 Fuel Saving Tips
Chances are you can squeeze a bit more distance out of each gallon of fuel, and at today's gas prices, an improvement of just one or two miles per gallon can really add up. These ten fuel saving tips can help you improve your car's fuel economy and take some of the sting out of high fuel prices. Most of these tips will give you a very slight increase in miles per gallon, but use several together and the gas mileage improvements really add up.
- Slow down - One of the best ways to save gas is to simply reduce your speed. As speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially.
- Check your tire pressure - Under-inflated tires are one of the most commonly overlooked culprits of maximum gas usage. Tires lose air due to time and temperature; under-inflated tires have more rolling resistance, which means you need to burn more gas to keep your car moving.
- Check your air filter - A dirty air filter restricts the flow of air into the engine, which harms performance and economy. Air filters are easy to check and change; remove the filter and hold it up to the sun. If you can't see light coming through it, you need a new one.
- Accelerate with care - If you drive an automatic, accelerate moderately so the transmission can shift up into the higher gears. Stick-shifters should shift early to keep the revs down, but don't lug the engine -- downshift if you need to accelerate. If you accelerate to speed then have to brake right away, that's wasted fuel.
- Hang with the trucks - A constant speed keeps shifting to a minimum as it takes much more fuel to get a vehicle moving than it does to keep it moving.
- Get back to nature - Consider shutting off the A/C, opening the windows and enjoying the breeze. It may be a tad warmer, but at lower speeds you'll save fuel. That said, at higher speeds the A/C may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows and sunroof.
- Back off the bling - New wheels and tires may look cool and they can certainly improve handling, but if they are wider than the stock tires, chances are they'll create more rolling resistance and decrease fuel economy. If you upgrade your wheels and tires, keep the old ones. For long road trips, the stock wheels give a smoother ride and better economy.
- Clean out your car - If you're the type who takes a leisurely attitude towards car periodically go through your car and see what can be tossed out or brought into the house. It doesn't take much to acquire an extra 40 or 50 lbs. of stuff and the more weight your car has to lug around, the more fuel it burns.
- Downsize - If you're shopping for a new car, it's time to re-evaluate how much car you really need. Smaller cars are inherently more fuel-efficient, and today's small cars are roomier than ever. Worried about crash protection? The automakers are designing their small cars to survive crashes with bigger vehicles, and safety features like side-curtain airbags and electronic stability control are becoming commonplace in smaller cars.
- Don't drive - Not a popular thing to say on a car site, I know, but the fact is that if you can avoid driving, you'll save gas. Take the bus, carpool, and consolidate your shopping trips. Walking or biking is good for your wallet and your health. And before you get in your car, always ask yourself: "Is this trip really necessary?"
