Fuel-efficient driving can not only save you hundreds of dollars in fuel each year but also improve road safety, prevent unnecessary wear on your vehicle and save the environment.
- Drive Sensibly
Benefit: 5%-33%
Frustrated driver can higher his gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. - Observing the speed limit
Benefit: 7%-14%
Each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.14 per gallon for gas. Observing the speed limit is also safer:) - Properly tuned engine
Benefit: 4%
Fixing a car that has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4%, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.
Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%. - Vehicle with roof rack
Benefit: 2%-17%
Hauling cargo on car roof increases aerodynamic drag which lowers fuel economy by around 2% to 8% in city driving, 6% to 17% on the highway, and 10% to 25% at Interstate speeds. If you need to use an external cargo container, removing it when it’s not in use will save fuel and money. - Keeping unnecessary items
Benefit: 1% each 100 lbs.
Remove excess weight, especially heavy items. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones. - Properly inflated tires
Benefit: 3%
The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver’s side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner’s manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire’s sidewall. - Replace a clogged air filter
Replacing a clogged air filter on an older vehicle with a carbonated engine can improve both fuel economy and acceleration by a few percent under normal replacement conditions.
