|
-Avoid prolonged warming up of engine, even on cold mornings - 30 to 45 seconds is plenty of time. Anything more burns up
fuel.
-Be sure the automatic choke is disengaged after engine warm up... chokes often get stuck, resulting in bad gas/air mixture.
-Don't start and stop engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the gas amount equivalent to when
you start the engine. Unless the wait is over one minute.
-Avoid "reving" the engine, especially just before you switch the engine off; this wastes fuel needlessly and
washes oil down from the inside cylinder walls, owing to loss of oil pressure.
-Eliminate jack-rabbit starts. Accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop. Don't push pedal down more than 1/4 of
the total foot travel. This allows carburetor to function at peak efficiency. Tests have shown saving up to 30-35%.
-Buy gasoline during coolest time of day - early morning or late evening is best. During these times gasoline is densest.
Keep in mind - gas pumps measure volumes of gasoline, not densities of fuel concentration. You are charged according to "volume
of measurement".
-Choose type and brand of gasoline carefully. Certain brands provide you with greater economy because of better quality.
Use the brands which "seem" most beneficial.
-Avoid filling gas tank to top. Overfilling results in sloshing over and out of tank. Never fill gas tank past the first
"click" of fuel nozzle, if nozzle is automatic.
-Maintain the gas tank at about half it's capacity. Full tanks carry more weight. Gasoline weights about 7 lbs per gallon.
a tank carrying over half hauls about an extra 40 to 70 pounds.
-Avoid rough roads whenever possible, because dirt or gravel rob you of up to 30% of your gas mileage.
-Automatic transmissions should be allowed to cool down when your car is idling at a standstill, e.g. railroad crossings,
long traffic lights, etc. Place gear into neutral position. This reduces transmission strain and allows transmission to cool.
-When waiting for a train at a railroad crossing or sittng in traffic for more than one minute, turn off the engine and
restart afterwards.
-Regular tune-ups ensure best economy; check owner's manual for recommended maintenance intervals. Special attention should
be given to maintaining clean air filters... diminished air flow increases gas waste.
(I take my car to Jiffy Lube)
-Inflate all tires to maximum limit. Each tire should be periodically spun, balanced and checked for out-of-round. When
shopping for new tires, get large diameter tires for rear wheels. Radial designs are the recognized fuel-savers; check manufacturer's
specifications for maximum tire pressures. 32 PSI is the best pressure setting.
-Auto air conditioners can reduce fuel economy by 10% to 20%. Heater fan, power windows and seats increase engine load;
the more load on your engine, the less miles per gallon.
-Drive on highways rather than city streets, where practical. A vehicle moving at constant speed is more efficient than
one that slows and speeds up.
-Remove excess weight from trunk or inside of car - extra tires, back seats, unnecessary heavy parts. Extra weight reduces
mileage, especially when driving up inclines.
-Only drive the car if it's absolutely necessary.
-Use Cruise control, especially on highways. Using cruise control will assure that the fluctuation in your foot's pedal
pressure will not allow the vehicle to accelerate or decelerate in disproportionate amounts.
-Choose the route with the flattest terrain and fewest stops.
-Organize activities and perform as many errands as possible in one trip.
-When the light ahead is red, just coast to it, especially in low gear. It saves on brakes too. You might not have to
stop completely.
-If possible, avoid driving during rush-hour & other peak traffic periods. Listen to WTOP 103.5 FM every 10 minutes
on the 8s for traffic reports. WPTF 680 AM in the Raleigh area does the same thing.
-Make a list and do all the grocery shopping once or twice a week.
-Public transportation may be cheaper, especially when traveling alone.
-Shop around for service stations with the lowest gasoline prices. You can use that link at the top of the page.
-Don't speed. Cars get about 21% more mileage at 55 mph then at 70 mph. Although I like to fo 70 MPH to get place faster,
but it does actually save on gas to go 55 or 60 mph
-Remove snow tires when winter ends. The deep tread uses more fuel.
-When starting your car, don't idle it for more than 30 seconds, even in cold weather. Today's cars are designed to be
driven almost immediately.
-Don't forget to release the hand brake before pulling away.
-Use the lowest octane gas that won't make your engine knock. Most cars run on 87 Octane. If the engine pings on acceleration
or up hills, use a higher octane grade.
-Use only your right foot for accelerating and braking. That way you can't accidentally ride the brake and use excessive
gas. (Well that's the proper way anyways.)
-Operate as small a car as possible for your driving needs. (Small cars weighing half as much as large cars use about
half as much gasoline!)
-Keep wheels aligned for better mileage. Longer tire life, too.
-Fuel your tank at a station when you don't expect a crowd. Early in the morning or late in the evening are the best times.
When there's a crowd, you might have to wait.
-Carpool whenever possible.
|
