Whether you are shopping for a new car or just trying to
maintain the one you have, you can take some steps to get the
best mileage out of your gas purchases.
On the Road: Drive More Efficiently
1. Stay within posted speed limits. Gas mileage decreases
rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour.
2. Stop aggressive driving. You can improve your gas mileage up
to five percent around town if you avoid "jackrabbit" starts and
stops by anticipating traffic conditions and driving gently.
3. Avoid unnecessary idling. It wastes fuel, costs you money,
and pollutes the air. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a
wait.
4. Combine errands. Several short trips taken from a cold start
can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same
distance when the engine is warm.
5. Use overdrive gears and cruise control when appropriate. They
improve the fuel economy of your car when you're driving on a
highway.
6. Remove excess weight from the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in
the trunk can reduce a typical car's fuel economy by up to two
percent. Avoid packing items on top of your car. A loaded roof
rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel
economy by five percent.
At the Garage: Maintain Your Car
7. Keep your engine tuned. Tuning your engine according to your
owner's manual can increase gas mileage by an average of four
percent. Increases vary depending on a car's condition.
8. Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned. It can
increase gas mileage up to three percent.
9. Change your oil. According to the U.S. Department of Energy
(DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can improve
your gas mileage by using the manufacturer's recommended grade
of motor oil. Motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the
performance symbol of the American Petroleum Institute contains
friction-reducing additives that can improve fuel economy.
10. Check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing clogged
filters can increase gas mileage up to ten percent.
At the Pump: Use the Octane Level You Need
11. Your owner's manual recommends the most effective octane
level for your car. For most cars, the recommended gasoline is
regular octane. In most cases, using a higher octane gas than
the manufacturer recommends offers no benefit. Unless your
engine is knocking, buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of
money.
In Advertising: Check Out Claims About "Gas-Saving" Gadgets
12. Be skeptical of claims for devices that will "boost your
mileage by an extra 6 miles per gallon," "improve your fuel
economy up to 26 percent," or the like. The EPA has tested over
100 supposed gas-saving devices -- including mixture "enhancers"
and fuel line magnets -- and found that very few provide any fuel
economy benefits. The devices that work provide only marginal
improvements. Some "gas-saving" devices may damage a car's
engine or increase exhaust emissions.
In the Showroom: Consider the Alternatives
13. Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) operate on alternative
fuels, such as methanol, ethanol, compressed natural gas,
liquefied petroleum gas, electricity, and others. Using these
alternative fuels in vehicles may reduce harmful pollutants and
exhaust emissions.
14. Government Rules require labels on all new AFVs to give the
vehicle's estimated cruising range and general descriptive
information. Find out how many miles a new AFV travels on a tank
or supply of fuel because, gallon for gallon, some don't travel
as far as gasoline-powered vehicles.
15. Hybrid Electric Vehicles offer another option for car
buyers. These vehicles combine the benefits of gasoline engines
and electric motors and can be configured to achieve different
objectives, such as improved fuel economy and increased power.
