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Tips for all drivers

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Revision as of 17:38, 26 July 2006 by Slalom (talk | contribs)
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Drive conservatively

Aggressive driving (speeding and rapid acceleration/braking) can lower your gas mileage by as much as 20%.

Glide to stops and accelerate slowly and evenly.

Drive consistently

Spend as much time at the same speed as possible. Mileage is worst during acceleration.

Use cruise control whenever possible, but only when the roads are flat.

Slow down

Each 5 miles per hour you drive over 60 mph can reduce your fuel economy by 10%.

Stay tuned up

Keep your engine running at its best, stick to all recommended maintenance intervals for things like spark plugs, spark plug wires, oils and filters.

Keep cool

Try to minimize the use of you air conditioning, especially in stop and go city driving. If you must run it, first drive with the windows open to get the extra hot air out, then make sure the AC is in recirc mode (so it doesn't have to keep cooling incoming hot air) and set the temperature to something warmer than full cold.

Don't sit idle

Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Turn the engine off when stopped for extended periods of time.

Check your tire pressure

Keeping tires inflated to the recommended pressure can improve fuel economy by up to 5%.

Unload your trunk

The more weight you carry, the more energy required to move it.

Declutter the exterior

Remove aftermarket bug and wind deflectors, and don't bother adding wings/spoilers, these things only add drag. If you have a removeable roof rack, remove it when not in use.

Treat your automatic like a manual

When you're stuck in traffic or waiting at a long red light, drop your transmission into neutral so the engine doesn't have to strain against the torque converter.

Combine chores and trips

An engine runs most efficiently when warmed up.