Driving Efficiency Tips
Drive Sensibly
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline. It can lower your gasoline mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than money.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 5-33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.07-$0.49/gallon
Observe the Speed Limit
Gasoline mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.10 per gallon for gasoline. Observing the speed limit is also safer.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 7-23%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.10-$0.34/gallon
Avoid Excessive Idling
Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gasoline at idle than cars with smaller engines.
Use Cruise Control
Using cruise control on the highway helps maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gasoline.
Use Overdrive Gears
When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gasoline and reduces engine wear.
Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned
Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gasoline mileage by an average of 4.1%, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it's done. If your car has a faulty oxygen sensor, your gas mileage may improve as much as 40%.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 4-40%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.06-$0.60/gallon
Check and Replace Air Filters Regularly
Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gasoline mileage by as much as 10%. Your car's air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gasoline, it will protect your engine.
Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 10%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: up to $0.15/gallon
Keep Tires Properly Inflated
You can improve your gasoline mileage by around 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Underinflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4% for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 3%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: up to $0.05/gallon
Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil
You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2% by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W- 30 can lower your gasoline mileage by 1-2%. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gasoline mileage by 1-1.5%. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 1-2%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.03/gallon