“Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.” -Benjamin Franklin
As the cost of fuel increases we are all looking for ways to save gas here and there. For most of us, we really don’t have the option of using a bike or walking to work and on errands so we have to drive. If you are in the process of getting a different vehicle, pay close attention to the mpg, as over the life of the vehicle the cost of fuel really adds up. However, most of us are making do with our current vehicle. Because of this, I have compiled a list of ideas and suggestions that will help us save money as we commute. Most of these ideas are minor adjustments that while on their own may not make a huge difference, but put together they can have a noticeable effect.
- Slow down! The faster you go, the more drag your vehicle creates which eats your gas mileage. Try driving 62 mph instead of 75 mph and you will notice an estimated 15% decrease in fuel consumption and 20 to 30% decrease if you go 50 instead of 75 mph.
- Avoid accelerating and braking quickly. Try to anticipate traffic so you can apply slow steady pressure to both the gas pedal and the brake. Aggressive driving can reduce your miles-per-gallon by as much as 37% so you might reconsider the need to be the first one off the line at the stop light. Avoid revving your engine and jackrabbit starts. Although it is fun to beat the vehicle next to you, the addition fuel consumption is enormous.
- Keep your speed constant as long as possible. Using your cruise control can save you up to as much as 14% on fuel consumption, as the speeding up after slowing down requires more fuel than maintain one steady speed.
- Use the A/C sparingly. If you need air flow, try rolling down your window if you are driving around town. During highway driving you are supposedly better off to use your A/C.
- Avoid excess idling. When you are sitting still, you are getting 0 mpg. If you are going to be idling for longer then a minute, go ahead and turn the car off.
- Lighten your load. The heavy the vehicle, the more energy (gas) it takes to move it. So before you go somewhere, make sure you don’t have excess items in your trunk or back seat that could add unnecessary weight. This affects smaller vehicles the most.
- Plan your trips. If you make an effort to combine your errands and prevent running out on single mission trips, you will reduce your fuel consumption.
- Maintain your vehicle. A well maintained car runs the most efficiently. This includes (and not limited to) oil changes, replacing the air filter, engine tune ups, and checking your tires for proper inflation and wear.
One last note: Be careful about making modifications to your vehicle. As with anything, there are scams out there that don’t work and will damage your vehicle. Also, even with modifications that work there is the danger of voiding your warranty so keep that in mind before adding or subtracting from your car.