Good, Better, Best: How to Improve Gas Mileage
Whether you are shopping for a new car or just trying to maintain the one you have, you can take some steps to get the best mileage out of your gas purchases. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, offers these tips to use fuel efficiently:
On the Road: Drive More Efficiently
* Stay within posted speed limits. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour.
* Stop aggressive driving. You can improve your gas mileage up to five percent around town if you avoid “jackrabbit” starts and stops by anticipating traffic conditions and driving gently.
* Avoid unnecessary idling. It wastes fuel, costs you money, and pollutes the air. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a wait.
* Combine errands. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
* Use overdrive gears and cruise control when appropriate. They improve the fuel economy of your car when you’re driving on a highway.
* Remove excess weight from the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce a typical car’s fuel economy by up to two percent.
* Avoid packing items on top of your car. A loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy by five percent.
At the Garage: Maintain Your Car
* Keep your engine tuned. Tuning your engine according to your owner’s manual can increase gas mileage by an average of four percent. Increases vary depending on a car’s condition.
* Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned. It can increase gas mileage up to three percent.
* Change your oil. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can improve your gas mileage by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the performance symbol of the American Petroleum Institute contains friction-reducing additives that can improve fuel economy.
* Check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing clogged filters can increase gas mileage up to ten percent.
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These notions really work. I have improved my mileage by almost 20%...25mpg in the last tankfull, from a typical of 21 before. My car is perfectly happy with 87octane by the way, even if the mfg recommends premium. And 70mph is the point at which the car starts to use noticeably more fuel. At 80mpg on the freeway, my car mileage decreases by a solid 20% or more.
Although I have found that using cruise control on hilly terrain is not effective, as the car charges up a hill at constant speed, rather than easing up, loosing some inertia, to be recaptured down the hill that follows.
In summary a 10% saving across the board is easiliy within reach, without changing your car, or doing anything "unusual", like junking your SUV. Where's the gov with some national level program of getting the message out?
Al |
