Fuel Economy: More Miles for the Money
By Teresa Ambord
Every driver knows, gas prices fluctuate. Sometimes it seems like a bargain, other times, a rip-off. Either way, we’re all slaves to the price of a gallon, right?
Maybe. There are lots of products out there designed to boost your gas mileage. But the jury is still out on whether or not they are worth the extra cost. Still, there are a lot of ways to get better mileage right now, most of which don’t cost a cent.
Buying Gas
- Fill your gas tank during the coolest hours of the day. As the temperature rises, gasoline expands, filling up your tank faster and costing you more. Since gas is sold by volume, you are paying for that expansion without getting any more gas. At cooler temperatures, gas is denser. So by filling up in the morning, you end up paying only for what you get.
- Check your owner’s manual for the recommended octane to use in your engine. Using a higher-than-recommended octane costs more and does nothing for your engine.
Oil and Filters
- When you change your oil, don’t use a heavier grade than recommended. Using too heavy a grade adds friction and reduces engine efficiency.
- Keep filters changed regularly. Clogged filters reduce airflow causing more gas use.
Running the Engine
- Avoid unnecessary warm-up time. Even in cold weather, 30 to 45 seconds is plenty.
- Don’t turn the engine on and off more than you need to. You can idle for a full minute before you burn up the gas it would take to restart your engine.
- If your engine is an automatic, let it cool down at long waits (like railroad crossings) by putting it in neutral.
- Don’t rev the engine, especially just before turning it off. Revving wastes gas and washes oil down from inside the cylinder walls, owing to a loss of oil pressure.
Parking
- As often as possible, park your car in such a way that, when you leave, you can pull out forward instead of backwards. It takes more gas to drive in reverse.
Trunk Junk
- Remove excess weight from the car. If you’re in the habit of carrying a toolbox full of tools, you’re paying for it in gas mileage. Consider carrying only the tools you’d need for a minor breakdown. Get the bowling ball out of the trunk, and take that box of old clothes to the Salvation Army and you’ll get better gas mileage.
Avoid Start-Stop Driving
- Plan ahead. If you see a red light down the road, and traffic permits, start coasting in advance. There’s a good chance the light will be green again by the time you get to it. You’ll not only save gas by avoiding start-stop driving, but you’ll also save your brakes. And if you drive the legal speed limit, you are more likely to hit most of the green lights.
- Avoid jackrabbit starts. For optimum performance, accelerate smoothly from a dead stop.
- If you normally drive to work during rush hour, save gas as well as wear and tear on your nerves by leaving just a few minutes early. If you avoid the rush time, the minutes you save are multiplied. Leaving six or seven minutes earlier than usual can get you there fifteen minutes sooner. You’ll use less gas and maybe have time for a relaxed cup of coffee and a newspaper.
