Money Green Life

Due to high gas prices and the current recession, people are looking for ways to improve gas mileage in their cars. I previously posted an article on how to save money at the pump. This is a follow-up to that post, call it Part 2, if you will, but this will focus more on how to improve gas mileage while driving. With gas prices not seeming to be coming down any time soon, I am constantly looking for bargain gas stations. For instance, I will never pump gas around my work area because it’s always about 15-20 cents/gal more expensive than they are near my home. But even with that, it still becomes makes a big dent in my wallet after every fill-up. If we all learn to become better more gas efficient drivers, the dent in our wallets will become a little less severe and will contribute to help saving our environment. I’ve gathered some of the most practical tips and compiled them here. Follow these tips and you should be on your way to driving your car in a more eco-friendly way. I realize that these tips are of common knowledge to most drivers and commuters, but it’s always a good simple reminder as we tend to neglect these simple practical ways to save gas.

1. Stay Away From Stop-and-Go Driving Habit: Drivers can improve gas mileage simply by avoiding quick stops and quick accelerations. You can save up to 30% of your gas consumption just by staying away from stop-and-go driving. So, driving at a steady, constant speed can save you more money than you might think. Using cruise control during highway driving will help as well. If your commute is primarily in the city where stop-and-go is abundant, try to have a smoother stop-and-go’s by anticipating stops by taking your foot off the gas pedal to slow down to maximize coasting time. Also, constant smoother acceleration is more efficient than quick and hard acceleration. What uses the most gas when driving on city streets is accelerating.
2. Avoid Speeding: I understand many drivers like to speed especially on highways. Most cars are designed to have optimal gas efficiency at around 40-45 mph, call it the “sweet spot” if you will. At this speed, you car will perform at its optimal to receive the most miles per gallon of gas used. In contrast, 0 mph is the worst gas efficient speed since you’re still using gas but not going anywhere. If your car is bigger, say like a pick-up truck or an SUV, then your sweet spot will be at a lower speed. If the car is smaller, then the sweet spot willat a higher speed. Driving at 65 mph instead of 75 mph will save you about 10-15% in gas costs. That’s $0.25-0.375/gallon! You can save over $5.50 in your 15 gallon fill-up by driving 10 mph slower in highways.
3. Regular Maintenance Is Important: Keeping your car in its optimal shape is a no-brainer. I have to admit that one thing I hate to see is the check-engine light!! Once, this infamous light came on in my car and I took it in to the shop, only to find out that my gas cap wasn’t screwed in properly after a routine fill-up. This allowed too much air into my fuel system causing that dreaded light to come on. It cost me over $125!! Anyway, I digress. Anyway, it’s important to take your car in for maintenance service. Even if you have to wait in the waiting room it’s worth it. I usually take my iPhone out and play on it continuously until my car is finished. Regular maintenance can help increase gas mileage.  You can improve gas mileage as much as 10% just by replacing dirty air filters.
4. Windows or AC: This one is a tough one. It can be argued either way with supporting facts. The popular TV show, Mythbusters had two episodes devoted to this idea and each test favored different setting. One said keeping windows closed was better while the other indicated that using AC was better. Since it’s a toss-up, I suggest you use whatever you are comfortable with. If you enjoy driving with windows down, then do it. If you’re like me and enjoy conditioned air better, then use air conditioner. I believe the gas efficiency difference in this case is too minor to worry about it.
5. Turn Off The Car: Whenever I have to wait for a friend because he wants to stop at a 7-Eleven to get a soda, I never know whether to keep my car idling or shut the engine off! As I said in #2 above, you have to worst gas mileage at 0 mph, namely idling. So, it’s recommended that you turn off your car if you know you’ll be waiting for more than 1 minute. Doing so will help save you 15-20%!
6. Empty Your Trunk: This is another no-brainer. Common sense tells us that it takes more power and energy to lift and a 15-lb dumbbell than a 10-lb dumbbell. The heavier it is, the harder it is to move it. That philosophy applies to cars as well. I love bowling and I have always carried a huge bowling bag with two 15-lb bowling balls in it in my trunk at all times. Although that load isn’t enough to do much damage, it doesn’t help the cause either. They say that for every 100 pounds of weight removed from the car, you will improve gas mileage by up to 2%.

So, the next time you’re on the go, remember these tips and become an eco-friendly driver by reducing gas consumption in your car. If you improve gas mileage in your car, you are helping save the environment. If you have other tips, please share!