Random Fuel Saving Tips
With gas prices increasing all over the United States, this matter becomes burning hot in the country, too. Finally Americans joined the rest of the planet in a desire to save some gas. Here are some tips from the former car engine designer that can help you to achieve best gas mileage.
- Use landscape to your benefit. If road goes up and down, don’t try to maintain constant speed. Let your vehicle speed up down the hill, so its inertia will help it climb up the next hill, and let the speed decrease slightly while you are going up. Of course you have to coordinate this with the traffic flow, so other drivers don’t get mad at you.
- Avoid unnecessary idling. This does not mean to turn off your vehicle at the red light or when coasting in neutral. Such things are dangerous, and you’ll use up more gasoline when you fire up your engine yet again. But try and pass up parking or standing for any prolonged interval with your engine on. Bear in mind that your engine gives you 0 MPG when idling, and it all adds up.
- In a hot weather, turn off air conditioner and open windows while driving in the city if practical, and close windows and turn on air conditioner on freeways. At higher speeds (50 MPH and up) aerodynamic resistance becomes a main gasoline eater, at lower speeds air conditioner consumes more.
- Don’t fill your tank up fully, maintain it at half full. Depending on your tank capacity, your car or truck will have 50-100 pounds less to move all the time.
- Consider walking or using a bicycle for short trips, or using public transportation if convenient and cost effective. Yes, you save fuel (and money) when you are not using your car or truck.
All these tips will not turn your 15 MPG truck into a 40 MPG compact car, but they will help you to achieve best gas mileage possible in your current situation.
Filed under Automotive