Fuel Saving Techniques

[James]

Fuel Saving Tips

Drive More Efficiently

The surest way you can improve your fuel cost is to change your motoring habits. Listed below are 12 effective techniques to lend a hand... no need to buy expensive add-on equipment or additives and gimmicks.

1. Aggressive driving
Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking wastes gas and can lower your gas mileage by as much as 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Driving carefully is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money. If you drive an automatic, accelerate moderately so the transmission can shift up into the higher gears. Those with manual transmissions should shift early to keep the rpms down, but don't lug the engine -- downshift if you need to accelerate. Keep an eye well down the road for potential slowdowns.

2. Speed Factor
One of the best ways to save gas is to simply reduce your speed. While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed or range of speeds, gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

3. Idling Gets 0 MPH
Even on cold mornings - 30 to 45 seconds is plenty of time to warm your engine. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the gas amount equivalent to when you start the engine.

4. Keep RPM Low
Revving the engine, especially just before you switch it off wastes fuel needlessly and washes oil down from the inside cylinder walls, potentially causing loss of oil pressure. Travelling at fast rates in low gears can consume up to 45% more fuel than is needed.

5. Excess Weight
The more weight your car has to lug around, the more fuel it burns. An extra 100 pounds could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. Remove snow and ice in the winter and unnecessary items from inside your car.

6. What a Drag
Shut off the air conditioner and open the windows it may be a tad warmer, but at lower speeds you'll save fuel. However, open windows at highway speeds cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10% to 20%. A loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent. Snow and ice will also make your car less aerodynamic.

7. Think Ahead
If you accelerate, do it before you reach a hill, not while you're on it.

8. Keep Your Car in Shape
Regular tune-ups can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done; check owner's manual for recommended maintenance intervals.

a. Special attention should be given to maintaining clean air filters... diminished air flow increases gas waste. A faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

b. Using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil can improve your gas mileage by 1–2 percent.

c. Keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent. Under-inflated tires have more rolling resistance, which means you need to burn more gas to keep your car moving and can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. Proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver's side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner's manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire's sidewall. Tires lose air over time (about 1 psi per month) and temperature (1 psi for every 10 degree drop); Buy a reliable tire gauge and check your tires at least once a month. Be sure to check them when they are cold, since driving the car warms up the tires along with the air inside them, which increases pressure and gives a falsely high reading.

d. Remove snow tires during good weather seasons; traveling on deep tire tread really robs fuel!

9. Cool Your Tranny
Automatic transmissions should be allowed to cool down by placing your transmission into the neutral position when your car is idling at a standstill, e.g. railroad crossings, long traffic lights, etc.. This will also reduce transmission strain.

10. Plan Your Trips
Save you time and money by combining errands into one trip. Short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip when the engine is warm.

11. Don’t Drive
Carpools and ride-share programs can cut your weekly fuel costs in half and save wear on your car. Many urban areas allow vehicles with multiple passengers to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes which are typically less congested, further improving your fuel economy and commute time. Consider using public transit if it is available and convenient for you. Before you get in your car, always ask yourself: "Is this trip really necessary?"

12. Finally Fuel
Early morning or late evening, the coolest times of day, are the best times to buy gasoline. Gasoline is densest then and keep in mind - gas pumps measure volumes of gasoline, not densities of fuel concentration. You are charged according to "volume of measurement".

a. Keep a record of your gas mileage. This will help you make informed choices such as certain brands of gas provide you with greater economy because of better quality so choose your gasoline carefully.

b. Never fill your gas tank to the top. Overfilling results in sloshing over and out of your tank. If nozzle is automatic it will automatically shut off when your tank is full.

Looking for a More Fuel Efficient Vehicle?

Selecting which vehicle to purchase is the most important fuel economy decision you'll make and here are some suggested sites to help you:

1. http://oee.nrcan.gc.ca/transportatio...de-winners.cfm

2. http://www.consumerinformation.ca/ap...1&language=eng

3. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $948 per year (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $3.79).

That's $4,740 extra in fuel costs over five years!

I would love to hear your suggestions. Please visit my website for more money saving and money making ideas. http://blog.DynamicLifeEnterprises.com

[robertgpitts]

Hi James,

All great suggestions. Since I work mostly from home, I've been using my mountain bike for short trips to the grocery store, bank and library. It's amazing how much money I've saved on gas by simply not using the truck, even for short trips. It really adds up.

Robert Pitts
Freedom Personal Finance

[Executive]

Great Stuff, Thanks!

[cccfree]

Hi James,

All great suggestions. Since I work mostly from home, I've been using my mountain bike for short trips to the grocery store, bank and library. It's amazing how much money I've saved on gas by simply not using the truck, even for short trips. It really adds up.

Robert Pitts
Freedom Personal Finance

I like that idea! Going to post these tips on our blog!

[Jonathan K]

5. Excess Weight
The more weight your car has to lug around, the more fuel it burns. An extra 100 pounds could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. Remove snow and ice in the winter and unnecessary items from inside your car. by James

I cleaned out my trunk of my car recently. I probably had about 20-50 pounds of stuff in there. This is a great tip!

10. Plan Your Trips
Save you time and money by combining errands into one trip. Short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip when the engine is warm. by James

Yes, this is a great money saver. I try to run as many errands as possible in one day. Also a friend recently informed me they buy a Walmart gift card before any road trip. They purchase $300 or so and save an additional 10 cents per gallon the whole trip!