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You Can Use Less Gas!
Buying gas can be painful, when the prices go up and your mileage seems to go down. There may be a few things you can do, however, to make fewer trips to the gas pumps.
Use the correct fuel grade. Most vehicles don't benefit from higher-octane, higher-priced gasoline, so use the lowest grade recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.
Avoid idling and rush hour traffic. You burn a lot of gas while idling – up to a gallon every hour. So, avoid rush hour traffic when possible.
Drive the speed limit and use the cruise control. Speed limits are calculated for maximum safety, and they also reward you with maximum gas mileage. You can get up to 20% more mileage traveling 55 than 70 mph. Using cruise control provides additional gas savings.
Don't top off the tank and be sure to tighten the cap. When buying gas, stop when the pump shuts off automatically. Since your gas tank needs both fuel and fumes for best operation, tighten the gas cap after every fill-up.
Drive evenly. Hard stops and quick starts burn gas. Take your foot off the accelerator and coast a bit before stopping for a traffic light or a stop sign. Pretend you’re driving with a dozen eggs on the passenger seat—drive so that none of them break!
Open windows at slow speeds. Use A/C on highways. Around town, turn your air conditioning off and roll down the windows. Air conditioning is a drain on gas mileage. On the highway, though, open windows create drag at speeds of 40 mph or more, so roll them up and use the air conditioning.
Fill up at the right times. Cooler temperatures in the early morning or late evening create fewer vapors. Get a fill-up three days before a holiday to help you save on the per-gallon price at the pump. Often, prices rise around special big-driving weekends or holidays.
Remove junk from the trunk. Added weight in your vehicle affects fuel economy, so take unnecessary items out of your trunk.
Don’t use rooftop carriers. Approximately one quarter of each gallon of gas is needed to overcome wind resistance, so avoid carrying things on your roof. If you have no choice, use an aerodynamic carrier to help minimize drag.
Published 04/04/07
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