Go on a diet, and ten other roads toward better fuel economy
With gasoline
prices on their way back up again, automotive resource AAOW
magazine has thoughtfully compiled eleven ways to maximize fuel efficiency. The list includes:- Read your owner’s manual. Learn how to properly use those heated and cooled seats without burning a hole in your gas funds.
- Maintain your vehicle. Well-known among enthusiasts, a properly serviced and maintained vehicle gives optimum gas mileage.
- Calculate your mpg regularly. Consider servicing if your miles per gallon is off more than 10-percent.
- Lose weight. Remove those beach chairs and any sand from the trunk of your car.
- Turn it off. Turn on your car when you're about to leave, not when you expect your loved one to get out of the bathroom.
- Calm down. Sorry, but treating every stoplight like the start of a drag race will not save fuel.
- Premium versus regular. Use the latter if okay'd by your owner's manual.
- Don’t top the tank. You might trigger a 'check engine' lamp or spill fuel.
- Plan your day. The more 'cold' starts you do, the worse the gas mileage.
- Pump up the volume. That is, tire pressure. Check your manual.
- Get a gas card. One word: rebates.
[Source: AAOW via OnWheels.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Robert Farago 2:39PM (3/31/2006)
Drive less.
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jl 2:44PM (3/31/2006)
Let's face it, instead of beating around the bush; if all the fat ass Americans who drive honking SUVs started to drive smaller, sensible cars, the fuel consumption will be cut down at least 30%.
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Noah 2:55PM (3/31/2006)
Gas is heavy, don't fill up. It's more trouble but driving around with 35L (9.2gal) less gas saves you 26kg (57lbs) which is a lot. It's easier to lose 57lbs of gas than 57lbs of of the ghost of Christmas past.
Drive in the right lane, you'll feel less pressure and inclination to speed when you yourself are stuck behind a Lincoln going 10 under.
I can't stress enough #2 enough. That doesn't just mean get an oil change and maybe the air filter. There are other things that need to be changed too like O2 sensors, plugs and wires etc. They all help. Check for vacuum leaks too, phantom air will cause the engine to burn lean and the O2 sensor will detect this and richen the mixture to compensate and that'll use more gas.
Take a route that requires fewer stops even if it's a bit longer.
Buy motorcycle or scooter for the summer. My wife has a 50cc Yamaha BW's scooter that gets up to 100mpg, take that Prius!
--Noah
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EquinsuOcha 3:07PM (3/31/2006)
A. Cut down on smug. Don't talk with your eyes closed like you're better than everyone else because you drive a hybrid.
B. If you are closing out the bar, be sure that the "healthy" woman you are leading to the passenger seat keeps all of her chins inside the car at all times with the tinted windows rolled up. Aerodynamics are important and ridicule can cause you to speed away from the scene of the crime.
C. Cover your Japanese import car with stickers representing aftermarket parts or trim levels that don't actually exist in your car. Anything that says Type R, Injen, Greddy, Works, or K&N will automatically provide the theorhetical horsepower you need to compete with the rest of your doriftuuuuu buddies, without losing gas milage.
D. If you own an American made muscle car, be sure to put a gigantic windshield visor sticker on the front to let everyone know what kind of car it is. This warns others that not only are you of poor breeding stock, but the downdraft of single fertile women swerving out of your way will provide a vaccuum that will pull you down the road using less fuel.
E. Engine swap. Gut the Prius and put in a small block 350 just to offset the Sierra Club bumperstickers.
Hope I helped...
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HardwareGuy 3:28PM (3/31/2006)
Number 11 might improve your miles per DOLLAR, but it won't have much of an impact on your miles per gallon.
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theSAWzall 3:51PM (3/31/2006)
Conserve your momentum while driving. If your approaching a red light, try and slow down enough to catch it as it turns green (best not to do this during rush hour).
The air pressure one is most important for my Corolla's mileage. I know to add air if my mileage drops, and to let some out if I'm the wind blows me around in my lane.
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Crusin' 4:06PM (3/31/2006)
I think Poser #4's wife made him buy a MINIVAN or some wussy car. What a PUTZ!
And yes... I'll make sure check my tire pressure in the Boss 429 :)
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Me 4:23PM (3/31/2006)
Coast in gear whenever possible.
Most fuel injected cars shut off the injectors when the throttle is closed and the RPM is above a certain point.
My car has a MPG calculator, and I find in gear coasting, like on off ramps, to stop lights, etc, has more impact on mileage than avoiding brief hard acceleration.
$.02
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Chris 4:51PM (3/31/2006)
#4 - funny stuff :-)
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Bonita 6:00PM (3/31/2006)
One more thing:
Quit using Exxon/Mobil.
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bernie 6:43PM (3/31/2006)
How about "quit being a lazy ass and don't sit idling in the drive through?" Or "let your kid ride the bus that you've already paid taxes for." Move closer to work and combine errands. I know people in Atlanta who live 35 miles from their job, drive both ways alone and bitch about gas prices and traffic. I finally told one guy off and he won't speak to me... it's MY problem, I guess.
Filling your tank when its cool might be the most understated tip. Cooler gas yields you more volume and creates fewer fumes.
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Timothy McClanahan 12:46AM (4/01/2006)
1) Keep your auto clean - better aerodynamics = better mpg
2) Windows up & A/C on is better for aerodynamics than windows down & A/C off. Seriously. Best is windows up and fan-only on (no A/C)
3) Keep track of stoplights way ahead of you; coast rather than brake, try to not stop before the light turns green again, so you're not accelerating from a full stop. Saves on brake pads, too.
4) Use cruise control as much as is appropriate; this is _great_ for improving your mpg.
5) Switch to a diesel. Diesel VW Jetta gets 50% better mpg than Gas VW Jetta, plus the engine will last 3x or more longer. New ultra low sulfur diesel mandated in U.S. starting in Sept, I think, plus new particulate filters coming on new VWs. Also - biodiesel pollutes less and has better lubricity than regular diesel.
6) upcoming hydrogen-injection system from Canada. Keep an eye on this - can increase mpg by 10-15%, plus drastically lower emissions. Should work on any internal combustion engine (gas, diesel, CNG). May also prolong life of engine.
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Mini Repository 8:17AM (4/03/2006)
To actually calculate your MPG, and to compare it with other fuel consumption figures from around the world, we've created this handy tool:
http://www.minirepository.com/fuel-consumption/index.php
Thank you,
Minirepository.com
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