Top 10 Ways To Save Fuel - 1

By Author: Hugh Nguyen
Total Articles: 2
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While the season of high gas prices might be over, you never know when those prices will skyrocket again, which is why you should start practicing fuel-saving ways, so that when gas does reach the $4-dollar mark again, your wallet won't suffer.

Whether you drive a hybrid or gas-guzzling SUV, chances are you can still squeeze a bit more distance out of each gallon of gas. Even two to three more MPGs can make a big difference. Here is a list of 10 fuel saving tips that have helped others over the years and it can also help you improve your car's fuel economy. While most of these tips will give you a slight increase in MPG, when using them all together, you can see a dramatic increase in fuel improvement, which is always a good thing.

1 Slow Down

Let's face it: we all have a heavy foot at times. The speed racer inside of all of us likes to take over every now and then, but one of the best ways to save gas is to simply reduce your speed. We all want to get to where we are going faster, but in the end, don't we end up there? As speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially. Try driving the actual speed ...
... limit for a couple of days and you will definitely see a difference in how long your gas lasts. Instead of filling up every week, your gas might last you for a week and a half. You'll save a lot of fuel and your journey won't take much longer if you take a slower pace. Try it, it might also get you out of a ticket!

2 Check your tire pressure

You might not think it really makes a difference, but your tires play a big and important part in good gas mileage. Under-inflated tires are one of the most commonly ignored causes of crummy MPG. Tires lose air due to time (about 1 psi per month) and temperature (1 psi for every 10 degree drop); under-inflated tires have more rolling resistance, which means you need to burn more gas to keep your car moving. One way to make sure your tires' pressure is always good is to buy a reliable tire gauge and check your tires at least once a month. A good tip is to make sure to check them when they are cold, since driving warms up the tires along with the air inside them, which increase pressure and gives a false reading. Use the inflation pressures shown in the owner's manual or on the data plate in the driver's door to make sure your tires' pressure is correct for your type of car.

3 Check your air filter

Making sure your air filter is clean is important since a dirty air filter restricts the flow of air into the engine. This harms performance and economy for your ride. Air filters are easy to check and change actually: emove the filter and hold it up to the sun. If you can't see light coming through it, you need a new one. Consider a K&N or similar "permanent" filter which is cleaned rather than changed; they are much less restrictive than throw-away paper filters, plus they're better for the environment. If you do not want to do it yourself, you can easily go to your mechanic or an automotive specialty garage.

4 Accelerate with car

A heavy foot on the pedal can make your gas decrease with every punch you take after a red light. If you drive an automatic, accelerate moderately so that the transmission can shift into the higher gears. Stick-shifters should shift early to keep the revs down, but don't lug the engine -- downshift if you need to accelerate. If you accelerate to speed then have to brake right away, that's wasted fuel.

5 Chill with the trucks

In traffic jams, cars speed up when it clears and then suddenly stop when traffic stops. This stop and go movement can actually decrease your fuel since you're accelerating and then stopping fast. Trucks, on the other hand, just roll along with traffic at a leisurely pace. A constant speed keeps shifting to a minimum -- important to those who have to wrangle with those ten-speed truck transmissions -- but it also aids economy, as it takes much more fuel to get a vehicle moving than it does to keep it moving. Rolling with the big rigs saves fuel and helps you keep your cool while stuck in traffic.

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