Driving Tips for Better Fuel Economy
With fuel prices soaring and the economy slumping, many drivers are feeling the pinch at the pump. The good news
is that there is something you can do about it - right now - and it won't cost you
a thing besides the effort it takes to change your habits.
If you'd like to monitor your improvements and measure your actual results, create a free FuelClinic.com account and you can use our online tools and reports to track and measure your mileage. Then you can see for yourself if changing your driving habits is worth the effort to you.
If you'd like to monitor your improvements and measure your actual results, create a free FuelClinic.com account and you can use our online tools and reports to track and measure your mileage. Then you can see for yourself if changing your driving habits is worth the effort to you.
1. Accelerate and brake smoothly
Proven Technique - Accelerating smoothly from a stop and braking softly conserves fuel. Fast starts, weaving in and out of traffic and hard braking wastes fuel and wears out some of the car components, such as brakes and tires, more quickly. Maintain a safe distance between vehicles and anticipate traffic conditions to allow for more time to brake and accelerate gradually.
2. Slow down and watch your speed
Proven Technique - Drive 55 miles per hour instead of 65 to save fuel. EPA estimates a 10-15 percent improvement in fuel economy by following this tip. Also, aim for a constant speed. Pumping the accelerator sends more fuel into the engine. Using cruise control whenever possible on the highway helps maintain speeds and conserve fuel.
3. Yield the right of way to aggressive drivers
Common Sense - Let overly aggressive drivers pass by at the first opportunity. It's easier that way. If you let them recklessly harangue and cajole you from behind, you may find yourself driving in an unsafe and inefficient way as well. It's better to let them by, smile and wave -- as they storm by in hasty frustration -- letting them waste their own fuel on their way to going nowhere fast.
Original content from About.com Hybrid Cars and Alt Fuels
4. Consolidate trips
Plan ahead to consolidate your trips. This will enable you to bypass congested routes, idle less, have fewer start-ups and less stop-and-go traffic. Whenever feasible, share a ride and/or carpool.
5. Coast down hills and slight grades
Advanced Technique - Whenever you get the chance, let gravity (that mysterious and wonderful force that affects all earthbound bodies) naturally drag you and your 4000-pound car down every hill you happen upon. The beauty here is that the steeper the hill, the faster you go (and this is with your foot nowhere near the gas pedal). It's like a free ride. And as long as the road is clear of traffic ahead of you, and you're not exceeding the speed limit. Of course - keep a watchful eye, but you will love that long, free coast.
Original content from About.com Hybrid Cars and Alt Fuels
6. Time merging into traffic when entering a highway
Advanced Technique - Smooth ... smooth ... smooth. If you find yourself stopped at the end of a long highway merge ramp, waiting to squeeze in line, you know for sure that you screwed-up and just cost yourself a good half pint of fuel. We love nothing more than to ease on down a long gentle merge lane and slip effortlessly in line with my tachometer registering just barely 2000 RPMs and the faintest wisp of fuel spraying through the injectors. Silly? Maybe. Efficient? Absolutely.
Original content from About.com Hybrid Cars and Alt Fuels
7. Coast whenever possible
Advanced Technique - Oh, how you love to coast, it's almost like riding for free. Lift off the throttle early and often and just let your vehicle freewheel down the road as the engine spins barely above idle and a diaphanous wisp of fuel squirts from the injectors. Coast down hills, coast up to stop signs, and coast into parking lots.
Original content from About.com Hybrid Cars and Alt Fuels
8. Gently accelerate before hills
Advanced Technique - Whenever you see an incline on the roadway ahead, begin to ever so slightly and gently accelerate. This gradual build-up of momentum lets you keep a lighter foot on the throttle as you enter the hill, and as the crest nears, lift off the gas pedal and the energy of inertia carries your car over the peak and down the other side.
Original content from About.com Hybrid Cars and Alt Fuels
9. Lift off throttle just before cresting a hill
Advanced Technique - Use inertia to your advantage. Even if it's not possible to build-up momentum before entering an incline (traffic can play havoc with the best-laid plans), still lift off the pedal as soon as possible near the peak. From this point, it works the same way--built-up energy carries you over the crest while the hardly-working engine practically idles along.
Original content from About.com Hybrid Cars and Alt Fuels
10. Brake only when necessary
Advanced Technique - Eliminate wasted fuel from re-accelerating. Again, this follows on the heels of the previous trick. Don't touch those brakes unless you must, and look far down the road so that you can lift early and coast while adjusting to prevailing or developing conditions. It is a terrible waste of energy to accelerate up to speed only to have to nail the brakes and scrub off all that hard earned momentum. Worse yet? Now you have to step on the gas and burn those precious drops just to get back to where you were before.
Original content from About.com Hybrid Cars and Alt Fuels
11. Slow before entering a curve
Advanced Technique - When you see a curve ahead, lift off the throttle and let friction between your tires and the road surface reduce your speed. At about halfway through the arc, gently begin to accelerate for the straight stretch ahead. If you do this just so, you never have to touch the brake pedal.
Original content from About.com Hybrid Cars and Alt Fuels
12. Anticipate traffic flow and traffic signals
Advanced Technique - When on familiar roads, drive in accordance with the next traffic signal or congested intersection that you'll encounter on your trek. We've found this trick to be one of the most useful (and effective) of all. It's hard to beat the almost-magical efficiency to be found in timing smooth transitions from one set of conditions to another.
Original content from About.com Hybrid Cars and Alt Fuels
13. Don't drive while hungry, angry or tired
Common Sense - Often easier said than done, we admit. Aside from the obvious safety issues, these conditions/emotions don't exactly promote patience and gentleness. If you can induce yourself into a Zen-like blissful state, great. Just do your best to avoid these situations -- grab a sandwich, count to ten or catch a twenty-minute power nap.
Original content from About.com Hybrid Cars and Alt Fuels
14. No idling
Today's engines don't need a warm up. Start the car immediately and gently drive away. Don't leave your car idling. Prolonged idling increases emissions and wastes fuel. Turn the engine off in non-traffic situations, such as at bank and fast food drive-up windows, when idling more than 30 seconds.
15. Close windows at high speeds
Don't drive with the windows open unless your keep your speed under 50 mph. Driving with the windows open at highway speeds increases aerodynamic drag on the vehicle and lowers fuel economy.
16. Check your tire pressure
Keep tires properly inflated to the recommended tire pressure. This alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3-4 percent. Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel economy. They also wear more rapidly. Check the vehicle's door-post sticker for minimum cold tire inflation pressure.
17. Maintain your vehicle
Maintain proper engine tune-up to keep vehicles running efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that are fighting each other waste fuel. Replace air filters as recommended. Use a fuel with good detergent additives to keep the vehicle engine clean and performing efficiently. Always consult the Owner's Manual for proper maintenance.
18. Travel lighter
Avoid piling a lot of luggage on the roof rack. The added frontal area reduces aerodynamics and will hurt fuel economy, reducing it by as much as 5 percent. Remove excess weight from the vehicle. Unnecessary weight, such as unneeded items in the trunk, makes the engine work harder and consumes more fuel.
19. Choose the correct oil
Use good quality oils with the viscosity grade recommended in the owner guide. Ford recommends SAE 5W-20 oil for most cars and trucks to provide the best fuel economy. Only oils "certified for gasoline engines" by the American Petroleum Institute (API) with the starburst symbol should be used.
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Fuel Saving Tips
Maintain your vehicle
Maintain proper engine tune-up to keep vehicles running efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that are fighting each other waste fuel. Replace air filters as recommended. Use a fuel with good detergent additives to keep the vehicle engine clean and performing efficiently. Always consult the Owner's Manual for proper maintenance.
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Maintain proper engine tune-up to keep vehicles running efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that are fighting each other waste fuel. Replace air filters as recommended. Use a fuel with good detergent additives to keep the vehicle engine clean and performing efficiently. Always consult the Owner's Manual for proper maintenance.
Read More
Submit a Tip
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