How to Maximize Your Vehicle’s Fuel Economy
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2. Behind the Wheel
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3. Driving a Clean Car Revolution
How you drive and take care of your vehicle can have a big effect on how
much fuel you use. Follow these simple tips to save money and reduce
pollution.
1. Before You Hit the Road
Cars run their best and consume less fuel when they are well
maintained. Below are a few ways to keep your car in peak condition and
keep money in your wallet:
Keep your vehicle well tuned. Simple
maintenance—such as regular oil changes, air-filter changes, and spark
plug replacements—will lengthen the life of your vehicle as well as
improve fuel economy and minimize emissions. Just follow the schedule in
your owner’s manual.
Check your tires. Keeping your tires properly
inflated and aligned saves fuel by reducing the amount of drag your
engine must overcome. Make sure to get a set of low rolling resistance (LRR) tires. Tires that reduce rolling resistance by 10 percent can improve gas mileage by one to two percent for most passenger vehicles.¹ They are now more common on new vehicles, so in some cases it is just a question of buying a new set of the same thing.
Be weight-conscious. Don’t carry around items you
don’t need. For every 100 pounds of weight in your vehicle, fuel economy
decreases by one to two percent. Also, reduce drag by putting bulky
items inside the vehicle or trunk instead of on a roof rack.
Keep track of your fuel economy. A drop in your
vehicle's fuel economy can be a sign of engine trouble. Keep track of
your fuel economy by noting the odometer reading and the number of
gallons purchased each time you fill up. To calculate your gas mileage,
divide the number of miles traveled between fill-ups by the number of
gallons purchased. Most hybrid cars and even some conventional gas
vehicles have special gauges that make it even easier to keep track of
your fuel economy in real-time, so you can see how your driving habits
are impacting your fuel efficiency.
The way you drive can have a big impact on your mileage and your wallet. Consider the following when cruising down the road:
Drive moderately. A green light does not signal the
start of a NASCAR race. High-speed driving and jack-rabbit starts
increase both fuel use and emissions. Going 65 mph on the highway
instead of 75 can cut your fuel use up to 20 percent, and making more
gradual stops and starts will bring even more savings.
Don't let your vehicle idle for more than a minute.
During start-up, your engine burns a little extra gasoline. However,
letting your engine idle for more than a minute burns more fuel than
turning off the engine and restarting it. You can make it easy on
yourself by purchasing a vehicle with “stop-start” technology that will
automatically shut off the engine and restart it when you take your foot
off the brake pedal. This technology, once only found on hybrid
vehicles, is beginning to enter the marketplace on conventional
gas-powered cars and can cut fuel consumption by around 5 percent.
Park in the shade. Minimize evaporation of fuel and keep your vehicle cooler in the summer by parking in the shade.
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Although the tips above will help reduce your fuel costs and
emissions, the best way to cut your expenses at the pump and reduce your
oil consumption is to use—and advocate for—better transportation
options that end our dependence on oil.
Keep moving, but drive less. Driving less is the
best way to reduce the environmental impact of your transportation needs
and spend less at the pump. Link errands, carpool, walk, bike, or use
mass transit whenever possible. Choose a place to live that reduces your
need to drive. If your family already has one vehicle, consider trying
to meet your travel needs without buying a second one. In all these
cases you can check off everything on your to-do list while putting
fewer miles on your car.
Buy a more fuel-efficient vehicle. If you are in the market for a new vehicle, choose the most fuel-efficient
one that meets your needs. Thanks to strong new fuel economy standards,
there are more efficient options in dealer showrooms than ever before,
including steadily-increasing numbers of conventional gas powered cars
that achieve greater than 40 mpg. Hybrids and plug-in vehicles achieve
even greater fuel savings, and are especially good choices for those who
drive in stop and start city traffic. View our resources on electric vehicles, hybrids, plug-in electrics, battery-electrics (and how they achieve far less climate pollution than their gas-powered counterparts), or fuel cell vehicles for more information.
Advocate for better transportation policies.
Americans must demand a change to the transportation system that works
for us—one that’s much more efficient, provides better transportation
options, and begins to tap into clean, reliable, oil-free sources like
electric cars and advanced biofuels. Through a combination of smart
federal policy and private sector innovation we can expand consumer
transportation choices and cut projected U.S. oil use in half in 20 years. To be a citizen advocate for better transportation solutions, visit the UCS action center.
