TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2012
• Don’t speed. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour.
• Drive efficiently. Avoid quick starts and stops. Combine errands to avoid making several short trips.
• Avoid idling. Turn off the engine if you have to wait. Idling wastes fuel and pollutes the air.
• Cruise when possible. Use cruise control, when appropriate, to improve fuel economy when driving on a highway.
• Clean out your trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce fuel economy by up to two percent.
• Don’t pile it on. Avoid loading items on the roof rack because it creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy by five percent.
• Tune up. Tuning your engine according to your owner’s manual can increase gas mileage by an average of four percent.
• Keep your tires pumped. Keeping your tires properly inflated and aligned can increase gas mileage up to three percent.
• Change your oil. According to the U.S. Department of Energy,you can improve your gas mileage by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil.
• Check your owner’s manual for the most effective octane level for your car. For most cars, the recommended gasoline is regular octane. In most cases, using a higher octane gas than the manufacturer recommends offers no benefit.
Posted 9:13 AM