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Fuel Efficient Driving

7 Free and Easy Ways to Increase Your Gas Mileage
How to Improve Your Gas Mileage Step 2
 

Previous step to better gas mileage: 1. Correct Tire Pressure

Your personal style of driving has a large effect on your gas mileage. Learning fuel efficient driving methods can dramatically improve your gas mileage and save you a lot of money!

What is Fuel Efficient Driving?

1. Gradual acceleration: Your right foot directly controls the amount of fuel used by your engine. Think of the gas pedal as being directly connected to you wallet or bank account. The harder you press it, the faster money is withdrawn. When you accelerate rapidly your gas mileage can be a low as 3 to 5 MPG. That drains a lot of cash. Accelerate gently in low gears and allow your transmission shift into higher gears as soon as possible (or do it yourself in a manual transmission). Gradually increase your speed as you get into higher gears. If your automatic transmission has a sport mode, don't use it. This delays shifting and will decrease your gas mileage.
    

2. Fuel Economy Vs Speed -U.S. Dept. of Energy

   Drive at lower speeds: Your gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 MPH (see chart).
   
   Driving at 60 MPH instead of 75 MPH can increase your highway gas mileage by 20%!.
   
   Your gas mileage decreases about 7% for every 5 MPH increase in speed above 60 MPH. Giving yourself more time to get where you are going will save you money.
   
   
3. Drive smoothly: Driving smoothly maximizes your gas mileage. In addition to accelerating gradually, ease off the gas and coast up to the next traffic light or stop sign. The next light may even turn green while you are slowing down. You will be surprised at how far you can coast while maintaining a reasonable speed. When you have to brake hard, it's a sign that you could have let off the gas much sooner. Maintaining longer following distances gives you more room to slow down gradually, and can also prevent accidents.
   
   Smooth driving combines gradual acceleration with coasting. It is a safe, relaxing, and low stress way to drive that will save you money on gas.
    
4. Use cruise control in the right conditions: Using your cruise control on mostly flat highways in light traffic will increase your gas mileage. In hilly areas, using the cruise control will accelerate and downshift your vehicle frequently, causing increased fuel consumption. Turn it off while driving in hilly areas and allow your car to slow down on the hills, and only down shift when absolutely necessary. Using cruise control on flat highways is the smoothest and most fuel efficient way to drive. Just don't set the speed too high.
    
5. Avoid unnecessary idling: No matter how efficient your vehicle, you always get 0 MPG when you're stopped and idling. Shut your engine off if your will be stopped for more than 30 seconds (unless, of course, if you are in traffic). Park your car instead of using the drive-through, and turn it off while waiting for people, trains, and roadwork.
    
6. Avoid heavy traffic: Creeping along in heavy traffic is not much better than idling.
   
   In addition to the frustration and wasted time,
   you are likely getting only about 5 to 8 MPG.
   
   Check the traffic report or traffic web sites before you leave to see if you can avoid the congested areas. Avoid rush hour traffic whenever possible. See if your employer will allow you to shift your work schedule an hour or two to avoid the worst traffic times. You may also want to consider working closer to home, if possible, to provide big savings in time and money.
   
   When you are stuck in heavy traffic try to find a slow speed that keeps you from having to start and stop all the time. Truckers drive this way. Take a look at how they do it.
   
   
7. Use the air conditioner wisely: Your air conditioner requires a lot of engine power and can reduce your gas mileage as much as 20%. At low speeds, you can drive with your windows down, but close them most of the way at high speeds to reduce wind resistance. When you really need to use the air conditioner, set the temperature at a moderate level and avoid using the maximum setting. This will allow your air conditioner compressor (which uses the power) to shut off part of the time.