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How To Get Good Gas Mileage
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Published: October 19, 2006
As a consumer, there is little you can do about fluctuating gas prices. Although there has been some relief in the past month, gas still is relatively expensive. However, there are steps you can take to get better gas mileage out of your car.
Driving Tips
Believe it or not, how, when and where you drive your car will affect what kind of mileage you can get out of a full tank.
1. Keep daily trips and errands to a minimum. Driving around town, starting and re-starting your engine, consumes a large amount of gasoline. If at all possible, do not run all your errands in one day. If you have to visit a number or locations in the same area, park your car in a spot near all your destinations and walk.
2. Do not leave your car idling. If you are going to be waiting around for a few minutes, do not leave the engine running. Not only does it waste gas, but it also pollutes the air.
3. Avoid driving in the city. The stop and go traffic, as well as the driving habits can deplete gasoline. If you have to drive within the city, avoid what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) calls “jackrabbit” starts and stops. Drive smart by maintaining consistent speeds and braking gently. This can improve gas mileage by 5 percent.
4. Take the highway, but stay within the speed limit. While speeding may be a difficult habit to break, it is more cost-effective to avoid speeding. Your gas mileage decreases with speeds above 60 mph. Also, if you are traveling long distances via highways, use the overdrive gear and cruise control. Consistent speeds yield more efficient gas mileage.
5. Using the air conditioning when it is hot outside utilizes twice the gas mileage. First of all, gas burns quicker and more easily in high temperatures. Secondly, air conditioning uses more gas in itself. So, turn off the air conditioning and roll down the windows.
6. Eliminate excess weight. Extra weight on the rooftop or in the trunk can reduce fuel economy. Heavy items on the rooftop also create wind resistance, known as drag, and can decrease fuel economy by up to 5 percent, according to the FTC.
Maintenance Tips
1. Frequently change your oil. While most manufacturers recommend changing every 3,500 to 7,000 miles, it might be better to change every 3,000 miles or every three months. The U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency both suggest using the recommended grade and brand of motor oil for your vehicle as this can help improve fuel economy. In addition, try an energy conserving motor oil, which has friction-reducing additives. In any case, clean motor oil is better for the engine and helps improve gas mileage.
2. If the car’s engine has to work harder than it should, chances are, it uses more gas than it should. Make sure you are using the right kind of motor oil and are keeping the engine well tuned.
3. Use the correct type of gasoline. Refer to the car’s manual to find out what type it is, but most cars use regular octane. Also, try brands with detergent additives helping to keep your engine clean and particle-free.
4. Replace oil and air filters regularly. Clogged filters are a threat to fuel economy. For example, the FTC says replacing clogged filters can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
5. Do not overlook the benefits of proper tire inflation and alignment. Improperly inflated tires pose a driving hazard and can lead to rolling resistance.
Extra
The most important tip for improving gas mileage is simply to avoid driving – if you can. Take a walk, ride a bicycle or utilize public transportation.
Sources:
“Good, Better, Best: How to Improve Gas Mileage.” Federal Trade Commission. 18 October 2006. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/fuelalr t.htm/
“How to get Good Gas Mileage With Your Car.” eHow.com. 18 October 2006. http://www.ehow.com/how_6193_gas-mileage-with.html /
“How to Improve Your Car’s Gas Mileage.” WestisideTransmission.com. 18 October 2006. http://westsidetransmission.com/gasmileage.html/Wickell, Dale. “Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Truck or SUV’s Mileage.” About, Inc. 18 October 2006. http://trucks.about.com/od/fueleconomyratings/tp/i mprove_mileage.htm/
Driving Tips
Believe it or not, how, when and where you drive your car will affect what kind of mileage you can get out of a full tank.
1. Keep daily trips and errands to a minimum. Driving around town, starting and re-starting your engine, consumes a large amount of gasoline. If at all possible, do not run all your errands in one day. If you have to visit a number or locations in the same area, park your car in a spot near all your destinations and walk.
2. Do not leave your car idling. If you are going to be waiting around for a few minutes, do not leave the engine running. Not only does it waste gas, but it also pollutes the air.
3. Avoid driving in the city. The stop and go traffic, as well as the driving habits can deplete gasoline. If you have to drive within the city, avoid what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) calls “jackrabbit” starts and stops. Drive smart by maintaining consistent speeds and braking gently. This can improve gas mileage by 5 percent.
4. Take the highway, but stay within the speed limit. While speeding may be a difficult habit to break, it is more cost-effective to avoid speeding. Your gas mileage decreases with speeds above 60 mph. Also, if you are traveling long distances via highways, use the overdrive gear and cruise control. Consistent speeds yield more efficient gas mileage.
5. Using the air conditioning when it is hot outside utilizes twice the gas mileage. First of all, gas burns quicker and more easily in high temperatures. Secondly, air conditioning uses more gas in itself. So, turn off the air conditioning and roll down the windows.
6. Eliminate excess weight. Extra weight on the rooftop or in the trunk can reduce fuel economy. Heavy items on the rooftop also create wind resistance, known as drag, and can decrease fuel economy by up to 5 percent, according to the FTC.
Maintenance Tips
1. Frequently change your oil. While most manufacturers recommend changing every 3,500 to 7,000 miles, it might be better to change every 3,000 miles or every three months. The U.S. Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency both suggest using the recommended grade and brand of motor oil for your vehicle as this can help improve fuel economy. In addition, try an energy conserving motor oil, which has friction-reducing additives. In any case, clean motor oil is better for the engine and helps improve gas mileage.
2. If the car’s engine has to work harder than it should, chances are, it uses more gas than it should. Make sure you are using the right kind of motor oil and are keeping the engine well tuned.
3. Use the correct type of gasoline. Refer to the car’s manual to find out what type it is, but most cars use regular octane. Also, try brands with detergent additives helping to keep your engine clean and particle-free.
4. Replace oil and air filters regularly. Clogged filters are a threat to fuel economy. For example, the FTC says replacing clogged filters can improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.
5. Do not overlook the benefits of proper tire inflation and alignment. Improperly inflated tires pose a driving hazard and can lead to rolling resistance.
Extra
The most important tip for improving gas mileage is simply to avoid driving – if you can. Take a walk, ride a bicycle or utilize public transportation.
Sources:
“Good, Better, Best: How to Improve Gas Mileage.” Federal Trade Commission. 18 October 2006. http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/alerts/fuelalr t.htm/
“How to get Good Gas Mileage With Your Car.” eHow.com. 18 October 2006. http://www.ehow.com/how_6193_gas-mileage-with.html /
“How to Improve Your Car’s Gas Mileage.” WestisideTransmission.com. 18 October 2006. http://westsidetransmission.com/gasmileage.html/Wickell, Dale. “Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Truck or SUV’s Mileage.” About, Inc. 18 October 2006. http://trucks.about.com/od/fueleconomyratings/tp/i mprove_mileage.htm/
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