1. Avoid rooftop carriers. Approximately one quarter
of each gallon of gas is needed to overcome wind
resistance, so avoid carrying things on your roof. If
necessary, use an aerodynamic carrier to help
minimize drag.
2. Remove junk from the trunk. Added weight in your
vehicle affects fuel economy, so take unnecessary
items out of your trunk.
3. Go the speed limit. Use cruise control. Speed
limits are calculated for maximum safety –
they'll also reward you with maximum gas mileage. You
can get up to 20% more mileage traveling 55 than 70
mph. Using cruise control provides additional gas
savings.
4. Drive evenly. Avoid hard stops. Quick starts burn
gas while hard stops also cost you. Take your foot
off the accelerator and coast a bit before stopping
for a traffic light or a stop sign.
5. Avoid idling and rush hour traffic. You're burning
fuel while idling – up to a gallon every hour.
So, avoid rush hour traffic when possible.
6. Open windows at slow speeds. Use A/C on highways.
Around town, turn your air conditioning off and roll
down the windows. On the highway, open windows create
drag at speeds of 40 mph or more, so roll them up and
use the air.
7. Don't accelerate up hill. Build up speed before an
incline, and then maintain it on the way up. Coast on
the way down for additional fuel economy.
8. Fill up when it's cool and before holidays. Cooler
temperatures in the early morning or late evening
create less vapor. Also, getting a fill-up three days
before a holiday will help you save on the per-gallon
price at the pump.
9. Don't top off gas and tighten the cap. When buying
gas, stop when the pump shuts off automatically. And
remember, your tank needs both fuel and fumes, so
tighten the gas cap after every fill-up.
10. Use the correct fuel grade, any brand. Most
vehicles don't benefit from higher-octane,
higher-priced gasoline, so use the lowest grade
recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. The federal
government also has standards for gasoline to be
sold. That means one brand of gas isn't better than
another.
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