What Really Improves Car Fuel Efficiency?
Everyone wants better car fuel efficiency these days. With prices rising, especially gasoline prices, who wouldn't be in the market for some advice to get farther on a tank of gas? In fact, chances are you routinely get a list of gas mileage tips forwarded to you from some well-meaning friend. Which of these tips are really worth doing? Read on and find out.
Does your car have a cruise control? If it does, you should be sure to use it when you are out on the highway. Tests have shown that this simple move can improve your gas economy by as much as 14 percent.
Another sure-fire way to get farther per gallon of gas, although it may take longer, is simply to slow down. Every mile per hour faster than the speed limit is not only dangerous to your health, it is also wasteful of your fuel. There is also the very real possibility of getting a traffic ticket, which will further add to your costs. Average savings in gasoline costs alone is 12 percent.
A tip that will not only improve your car fuel efficiency but is also good for the environment is to turn off the engine when you are not moving. Idling for over a minute is wasteful. As someone pointed out, an idling car gets zero mpg. And here's just a thought. To decrease the amount of time your car is idling, consider going into the bank or the fast food place instead of using the drive-through. Just think of the good exercise you'll get as you conserve that non-renewable, expensive gasoline. Probably the single most important thing you can do to improve your gas mileage is to relax and quit being a maniac out on the road. Aggressive driving is a notorious fuel waster. And just what is aggressive driving? It is marked by such things as accelerating quickly when entering a freeway and braking quickly when you have to stop. It is much more efficient to accelerate slowly and to brake slowly over a longer period. For example, try taking 15 seconds to come to 60 miles per hour instead of 10 seconds, and you will immediately notice a huge savings in gas. When stopping, begin to slow down well in advance of your stop. If you do all these things, you may find that you can get as good of figures for gas consumption as you would if you bought a new hybrid car. But if you are looking for a new car, the hybrids certainly are the champions of fuel efficiency - if you can afford one. When you go to buy one, look for one with a continuously variable transmission. Also, be aware that four wheel drive will use more gas than simple front wheel drive. If you are buying a non-hybrid new or used car, and want to get good fuel economy, consider one with a standard transmission. Also look for the smallest engine that will do what you need it to do. If a four cylinder engine will suffice, don't look for a six-cylinder.
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