Maximize Your Fuel Economy
Gas prices may be at their lowest levels since 2010, but why spend more than you have to? With that in mind, here are some helpful tips to maximize your fuel economy. And best of all, most of them are free!
This may surprise you, but how you drive plays a huge role in the kind of fuel economy you can expect. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, aggressive driving can lower your efficiency by as much as 33% on the highway and about 5% around town. Aggressive driving is defined as a pattern of speeding combined with rapid acceleration and braking. If you stomp on the gas when the light turns green and then stomp on the brakes to stop again, you are going to use a lot more fuel then someone who accelerates and decelerates more gently. On a related note, observing the speed limit can help you improve your fuel economy by 7-14%. Every vehicle achieves its optimal fuel economy at a slightly different speed, but a good rule of thumb is that vehicles tend to do best in the 50 – 55 mph range, and their fuel economy plummets at speeds in excess of 55 mph.
Avoid hauling cargo on your roof. A large roof-top cargo box can reduce fuel economy by as much as 25% on the interstate, whereas rear-mounted cargo boxes will only reduce fuel economy by up to 5%. On the subject of cargo, removing excess weight from the car is good for a couple of percentage points in fuel economy. It might be time to take those golf clubs out of the trunk!
Keep your tires properly inflated. Check your tire pressure regularly, and fill your tires whenever they fall below the recommended rating listed in your owner’s manual. If you can’t find your owner’s manual, the recommended air pressure is usually also listed on a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, keeping your tires properly inflated can improve your fuel economy by up to 3.3%. More importantly, maintaining proper tire pressure is an important safety consideration, as it allows your tires to function the way they were designed to. As an added benefit, keeping your tires properly inflated will prolong the life of your tires. Not bad for a couple quarters!
By making sure to use only the recommended grade of motor oil, you can improve your fuel economy by 1-2%. You need to change the oil anyway so you don’t ruin the engine… so make sure to put the right kind in.
Just by using the right oil and keeping up with your tire maintenance, you can expect fuel savings of around 4-5%. But if you really want to save on gas, make sure your engine is properly tuned. A faulty oxygen sensor can make you lose as much as 40% efficiency, which is enough to make that new oxygen sensor pay for itself and then some.
