A Special Thanks to
Tara Baukus Mello at Edmunds on some good tips while driving.
1. Follow the Recommended Maintenance.
Proper maintenance also means using the right octane gas and the recommended grade of motor oil.
2. Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated.
You can improve your fuel economy by about 3.3% if you keep your tires inflated properly. Refer to the owner's manual or a sticker on the doorjamb of the driver-side door.
3. Take a Load Off.
Heavier vehicles require more energy to move. 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 percent in the typical vehicle.
4. Don't Drive Aggressively.
Mashing the accelerator pedal from a stoplight, braking hard and speeding all contribute to a decrease in fuel economy. Driving at the speed limit will give you mostly green lights, which improves your gas mileage as well as reduces the wear on your brakes. On the highway, the DOE says that every 5 mph you drive over 65 mph represents a 7% decrease in fuel economy.
5. Use the Highest Gear Possible.
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.
6. Use Cruise Control Selectively.
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. If you are driving in hilly terrain, using cruise control typically causes your vehicle to speed up faster (to maintain the preset speed) than it would if you were operating the accelerator yourself.
7. Think Clean.
Keeping your car washed and waxed improves aerodynamics and therefore affects fuel economy. Engineer Tom Wagner, Jr. reported to
Stretcher.com (as in stretching your dollars) a 7% improvement in fuel economy, from 15 to 16 mpg, during a 1,600-mile road trip.
8. Avoid Excessive Idling
When a car is idling, it is using fuel, yet not going anywhere. This translates to 0 mpg.
9. Think Before You Vent(ilate)
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.
10. Combine Your Errands
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. According to the DOE, several short trips all begun with a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a single, longer trip that covers the same distance.
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