Increasing Your Gas Mileage

Saving on Gas

• Reduce usage of your car:
  • Combine trips and only drive when it is necessary. Short trips burn the majority of gas and time.
  • Car pool to work or taking the kids to school.
  • Walk or bike to work - this saves on gas and parking costs while improving your health.
  • Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work, or move closer.
  • Check out your options for local public transportation. This will save you gas as well as potentially the cost of parking.

• Put your car in neutral with your foot on the brake when waiting at a long light. The engine will run more efficiently and use less gas than having it in "drive."





 
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• Lower your speed from 70 miles per hour to 55 mph to net you 20% more miles per gallon of gas. When you drive 75 mph instead of 65, you waste about 30 cents a gallon.





 
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• Always make sure that your tires are properly inflated.

• Remove unused roof racks to reduce aerodynamic drag





 
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• Gas card: The Visa card cosponsored by AAA gives you back 2% to 5% on purchases made at the pump with no annual fee (800-551-0839, www.aaa.com). Do make sure to pay your credit card bill in full each month so that interest costs don't wipe out the savings.

• Choose a route with trees or buildings along the road to prevent crosswinds

• Avoid drive-through windows, which lead to excessive idling





 
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• Drive shoeless to modulate the accelerator to the finest degree





 
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• Avoid “warm-up” idling -- as it wastes fuel

• Avoid parallel parking (which causes you to do multiple reverse/forward maneuvers)

• When gas prices are low ...
  • Try to fill up your car when prices are down. Don't wait until your tank is empty. Whenever prices are lower than your last fill up, top off your tank.
  • Buy a five-gallon gasoline can and fill it up when prices are low. Then use it when gas prices have risen. Do make sure to check local hazardous storage rules.
• Avoid rush hour traffic. Go into work early and leave early. Listen to the radio and go in non-peak hours.

• Drive at a steady pace. Accelerate and decelerate smoothly and minimizing your use of the gas and brake pedal as much as safely possible. If you have it, use cruise control.





 
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• Turn off your engine, if you have to wait for more than one minute. If will cost less money to start your car than it does to run it for one minute.





 
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• Renting a car: Make sure to choose the model that gets the best gas mileage. To compare fuel economy among cars - visit this website: www.fueleconomy.gov.

• Buying a new car:
  • www.fueleconomy.gov has gas mileage estimates and more information for 1985-2008 model year cars. Selecting which vehicle to purchase is the most important fuel economy decision you'll make.
    
    The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $930 per year (assuming 15,000 miles of driving annually and a fuel cost of $3.72). That's $4,650 extra in fuel costs over five years! Most Fuel-Efficient 2008 Model Year Vehicles
    
    Use www.fueleconomy.gov's Find and Compare Cars section to find the most fuel efficient vehicle that will meet your needs.