15 Gas Saving Tips for Summer
August 26th, 2015 by Eli P
Everyone likes to hit the road and go places during the summer, but no one likes the bite a gas bill can take out of their wallet. To cut down on your summertime fuel expenses, try these 15 gas-saving tips.
1. Drive smart. A warm engine works more efficiently than a cold one. When running multiple errands, drive to the farthest destination first, and then work your way back home.
2. Cool yourself the natural way. On hot days, turn off the air conditioner and roll down the windows.
3. But not on the highway. At 60 mph and above, open windows create drag. When on the highway, roll them back up and turn on the AC.
4. Empty your trunk. Less weight in the rear produces better gas mileage. If you drive a pickup, keep the bed free of anything that doesn’t belong there.
5. Close the tailgate. Open pickup tailgates create an air drag that can take 30 miles off the driving range of a full tank.
6. Right turn, Clyde. This may take some planning, but a right-turn only route can lower gas usage by 3 percent by reducing idling at stoplights.
7. Avoid traffic. Easier said than done, but driving at consistent speed is always more efficient than stop-and-go.
8. Take the racks off. If you’re not using those roof racks to carry, skis, surfboards or bicycles, take them off. Reducing air drag by even a little improves MPG.
9. Park farther away and walk. Driving around a parking lot looking for the closest spot wastes time and gas.
10. Keep tires properly inflated. Few things reduce fuel performance like under-inflated tires. Oversize or “sport” tires may look good, but they also use more gas.
11. Check your alignment. Even a small wobble on the front end can reduce fuel efficiency by a significant amount.
12.Idle less. After 20 seconds of idling, your car starts using more fuel than it takes to restart the engine.
13. Stop speeding. Driving 65 instead of 75 can increase fuel economy by about 10 percent.
14. Avoid abrupt stops and starts. Instead of racing up to stoplights and hitting the brakes, anticipate traffic stops and let the car slow itself down. When the light changes, accelerate smoothly and gently.
15. Get a tuneup. Few things will do more to improve fuel performance, especially on older, high-mileage cars.
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