Fuel Saving Tips

Top 10 Fuel Saving Tips Guide Picks From Aaron Gold, http://cars.about.com/od/helpforcarbuyers/tp/ag_top_fuelsave.htm I like to save fuel for two reasons: 1) I'm concerned about our dwindling oil supplies and 2) I'm a cheapskate at heart. I've compiled ten tips that can help you squeeze a few extra miles (or at least a few extra feet) out of each tank of gas. Like clipping coupons, the individual contributions may be small, but the total savings can add up nicely. 1) Check your air filter A clean air filter is the key to good fuel economy. A dirty air filter restricts the flow of air into the engine, which harms performance and economy. Air filters are easy to check and change; hold the filter up to the sun and if you can't see through it, you need a new one. Consider a K&N or similar oiled filter which is cleaned rather than changed; they are much less restrictive than throw-away paper filers. 2) Keep up the (tire) pressure Under-inflated tires can easily cost 2 to 3 MPG or more. Buy a reliable tire gauge, check your tires when they are cold (driving the car warms up the tires and the air in them, increasing the pressure), and keep them properly inflated. Use the inflation pressures shown in the owner's manual or on a data plate in the driver's door jamb. 3) Slow down As speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially. If you one of the "ten-over on the freeway" set, try driving the speed limit for a few days. You'll save a lot of fuel and your journey won't take much longer. Just be sure you keep to the right, so you won't impede the less-enlightened. 4) Hang with the trucks Ever notice how, in bad traffic jams, cars seem to constantly speed up and slow down, while trucks tend to roll along at the same leisurely pace? A constant speed keeps shifting to a minimum -- important to those who have to wrangle with those ten-speed truck transmissions -- but it also aids economy, as it takes much more fuel to get a vehicle moving than it does to keep it moving. 5) Try premium Most new cars will run well on any grade of gasoline, but I've heard anecdotal evidence of older cars getting better economy from higher octane gasoline. Try a tank or two, record your mileage, then do the math, translating cost-per-gallon to cost-per-mile. The expensive stuff just might turn out to be cheaper. 6) Get back to nature Consider shutting off the air conditioning and opening the windows. (Personally, I don't always mind the heat, but I do mind showing up all sweaty and smelly; the solution is to bring an extra shirt and arrive early, leaving time to change.) Keep in mind that at higher speeds the A/C may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows and sunroof. 7) Back off the bling New wheels and tires may look cool, and they can certainly improve handling. But if they are wider than the stock tires, chances are they'll create more rolling resistance and decrease fuel economy. If you upgrade your wheels and tires, keep the old ones. I have fancy sport rims and aggressive tires on my own car, but I keep the stock wheels with a good narrower-tread performance tire in the garage. For long road trips, the stock wheels give a smoother ride and better economy. 8) Clean out your car The more weight your car has to haul, the more gas it needs to do the work. If you're the type who takes a leisurely attitude towards car cleanliness -- and I definitely fall into that group -- periodically go through your car and see what can be tossed out or brought into the house. It doesn't take much to acquire an extra 40 or 50 lbs. of stuff. The difference in economy may be small, but every little bit counts, right? 9) Out with the new, in with the old Many people I know keep their old cars around even after they buy a new one. A spare car, especially if it's an econobox, can be good insurance against temporary rises in gas prices due to world events. The costs of keeping the car may or may not be less then the fuel saved, but it does allow for more predictability in your budget. 10) Don't drive Not a popular thing to say on a car site, I know, but the fact is that if you can avoid driving, you'll save gas. Take the train, ride your bike, carpool, consolidate your shopping trips. And always ask yourself: "Is this trip really necessary?"