The
traditional heavy summer driving season has not yet arrived,
yet gasoline prices nationwide are already soaring. Prices
are much higher than a year ago and could see even more
volatility as the driving season progresses. To help motorists
cope, the Department of Energy Alliance to Save Energy
campaign offers consumer tips to get better mileage and
reduce gasoline expenses.
"Keeping vehicles properly maintained and driving
smart can significantly boost mileage and lower gasoline
costs," said DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner.
Alliance President Kateri Callahan added, "Households
paid more than $4,000 last year to power their homes
and vehicles. Con-sumers can cut those costs with [these]
tips."
Basic Maintenance Pays Off
Keep your car properly tuned up to improve gas mileage
by about 4 percent; replacing a faulty oxygen sensor
can improve mileage by as much as 40 percent.
Keep air filters clean to improve mileage by up to
10 percent. Replacing clogged or dirty air filters also
keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine.
Keep tires properly inflated to improve gas mileage
by about 3.3 percent and improve tire safety and longevity.
Every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires can lower
gas mileage by 0.4 percent.
Use the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor
oil to improve your gas mileage by another 1-2 percent.
Look for "Energy Conserving" on the API performance
symbol to ensure friction-reducing additives.
On the Road...
Curtail aggressive driving. Speeding and rapid acceleration
and braking cut mileage up to 33 percent at highway
speeds and by 5 percent in town. Nix jack-rabbit starts
in favor of slow acceleration from a dead stop.
Obey the speed limit. Speeding cuts fuel economy
7 to 23 percent, as gas mileage decreases rapidly above
60 mph. Driving faster than 60 mph is like paying more
than the posted amount for each gallon of gas.
If available, use your vehicle's overdrive gear when
appropriate to reduce engine speed, which will enable
you to save gas and reduce engine wear.
Use cruise control to help cut fuel consumption by
maintaining a steady speed during highway driving.
Pack lightly when traveling, and avoid carrying items
on your vehicle's roof. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk
cuts a typical car's fuel economy 1-2 percent. (CONTINUE...) |
