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Gas Saving Tips
By Mr Ethanol | June 15, 2007
usatoday:
Tire pressure
Driving a car with underinflated tires is like running laps with 5-pound weights strapped to each leg. Underinflated tires can sap 4% to 10% out of a car’s potential gas mileage, says John Frala, associate professor of advanced transportation at Rio Hondo College in Whittier, Calif.
The correct tire pressure, which might be different for front and rear tires, is found in a car’s owner’s manual. Sometimes it’s pasted inside the glove box door or attached to a door frame.
Check the pressure when the tires are cold. When replacing tires, try to buy a new set with the least amount of rolling resistance, Frala says.
Lower-octane gas
Drivers can get by with using low-octane fuel — regular rather than premium — in many cars, says Boyd Coddington, a hot rod builder and host of American Hot Rod on the Discovery Channel. But not all. Coddington says owners with high-performance engines, such as the one in his Mercedes-Benz 500 SEL, need to stick with higher-octane fuel.
Economical driving habits
Everyone knows not to treat stoplights like a trip to the drag strip. But fewer know that trying to squeeze through an intersection on a yellow light can conceivably use more gas than stopping for one.
The problem is that drivers stomp down on the accelerator to make it through the light, sometimes driving gas consumption to higher levels than if they had stopped and idled, Frala says.
Coddington says the key is smooth driving. “If someone is always on and off that gas pedal all the time, that’s going to kill the gas mileage,” he says. “Brake pads are cheaper than gas.”
Try to squeeze more out of a gallon of gas by combining trips. Coddington says he encourages workers to have parts delivered to his plant rather than driving out to suppliers to pick them up.
Weight reduction
It’s time to open the trunk and see what kind of weight can be jettisoned. Golfers who love to tote around their clubs can save weight by leaving them at home when they aren’t headed to the course. But don’t get ridiculous. Keep the spare tire.
Tuning up
Cars run more efficiently when they are kept in tune. It often makes sense to get them tuned more often than the manufacturer recommends.
You might do some of the work yourself. For instance, spark plugs can be easily checked and cleaned or replaced, says Mike Forsythe, managing editor of Haynes Repair Manuals in Newbury Park, Calif.
He also recommends pouring a bottle of fuel-injector cleaner in the gas tank every six months or so to help the engine maintain peak efficiency.
Air conditioning
If you can get away without using air conditioning, you’ll save gas. But opening windows as a replacement won’t help.
“If you roll down the windows, you create more drag,” Frala says. “Late-model cars are designed for more aerodynamic efficiency by having their windows in the ‘up’ position.”
A Honda Civic driven at 45 miles per hour incurs a 4% energy efficiency loss if the windows are open, he says.
Proper oil grade
Use the lightest grade of oil recommended by the vehicle’s manufacturer. A multiviscosity oil such as 5W30 can save gas compared with regular 30-weight oil because it creates less friction, Frala says. The engine doesn’t have to work as hard.
Filters
Dirty air filters make it harder for the engine to breathe, Forsythe says. Frala says air filters should be checked once a year and replaced every 18 months.
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