Easy Ways to Lower Gas Consumption
Gas prices are going through the roof, and it doesn't look like they are coming down any time soon, regardless of what the government does. However, we should have always been aware and done what we could to increase gas mileage. It isn't just more cost effective, it lessens the amount of pollutants released into the environment.
The average car on the road burns more gasoline than they need to, and at the price of gas, this is taking a huge chunk out of the average consumers pocketbook. The good news is that it doesn't really take all that much to increase your gas mileage, and most of it can be done without the help of a mechanic. Let's look at the various things that can increase your gas mileage.
1. Tire Inflation - How many people actually check the pressure of the air in their tires? Yet, this is one of the biggest causes of gas guzzling that there is. A tire that is 5 pounds under inflated may not even look low, but can cause well over a 10% decrease in gas mileage. It is advisable to check the pressure in your tires at least once a month, more often if you travel a lot. As a rule of thumb, this is usually 32 psi (pounds per square inch), though this can vary. Even a very cheap pressure gauge from the supermarket will usually give you a pretty good idea of whether the tire is deflated or not, despite often being a little inaccurate.
Note that the car will also handle better if the tires are inflated to the correct pressure. Additionally, over inflating tires is as bad as keeping them under inflated and can lead to excessive tire wear and possible blowouts.
2. Air Cleaner - If the air cleaner becomes clogged, and this is something that can't necessarily be determined just by inspection, it results in an overly rich gas to air mixture, which means incomplete combustion. This will burn fuel faster to achieve the same amount of power in a clean engine, it will foul the air in he form of pollution, and it can cause fouling of he spark plugs or other damage that may be costly to repair.
3. Additional weight - The more weight a car must carry, the more gasoline it will take to move it along the road. This may seem overly simple, but most people carry non-necessary items in their cars, that simply add to the over all weight. On a long distance trip, even 10 pounds can be a substantial amount in additional gas consumption. Take things that are necessary on any trip, but remove those things that "might" be useful. Chances are that they will only cost you money in gasoline.
4. Windows vs. Air Conditioning - Many people have been told by well meaning individuals that running the Air Conditioner will result in a drop in gas mileage. They tell you instead to roll the windows down. Now, in days gone by, this might have been true, but it certainly isn't anymore. First, if your car has air conditioning, it is already running the belt to the air conditioner. Running the air conditioner won't result in much of a drop in gas mileage. Second, rolling down the windows results in a dramatic increase in air drag...the force that is trying to bring the car to a halt. To compensate, the engine must work harder, and burn more gas, in order to move. A car that isn't equipped with air conditioning, running down the road with the windows up, will probably be more efficient than a car that has air conditioning, with the windows up. But if you have air conditioning, use it, don't roll down the windows.
5. The tune-up - A decent tune-up can cost $20-30, or perhaps more. However, not only does this make the engine run better, it saves on gas and prolongs the life of the engine. A regular tune-up and oil change is something that should be done on a consistent basis. This isn't just for the gas mileage, but to also help prevent much more costly repairs to the engine. Remember, the cleaner an engine is, the better and more efficiently it will run.
6. Traveling with the gas tank half full - Believe it or not, you will save money if you keep the tank half full, rather than full. Gasoline has weight (see #3), so a full gas tank will lessen the gas mileage.
7. Speed - Most cars are designed to operate optimally at between 55 and 60 miles per hour. Driving at a lower or greater speed costs in gas mileage (and possibly traffic citations). Drive as close to 55-60 MPH as is legally possible.
8. Starts and stops - HOW you drive greatly affects the gas mileage. Rapid starts and stops burn up an incredible amount of your gas. This is the main reason that in town driving burns so much more gas than long distance driving. Also, along the same lines, it takes more gas to bring a car from a standing stop, into motion, than it does to accelerate. So when you know that you have to stop, start slowing down well in advance. If you are even creeping by the time you can go on, you are saving money and gas.
9. Warm-up - To get good gas mileage from the very beginning, the car engine must be warm. Sitting in the driveway with the car idling for a minute or two, in the summer, before heading out is far more fuel efficient than starting the car and taking off. And never rev an engine if you want to save gas. Revving an engine serves absolutely no useful purpose, it burns more gas, it causes unnecessary wear and tear on the engine, and it makes you look like an idiot.
10. Gas density - The colder the gasoline when you fill up, the denser it is. This means that you can save money by just filling up during the coolest hours of morning. It doesn't increase mileage, but it does put more in your tank per dollar.
11. Pumping your own - In many places, it is illegal to pump your own gas. However, if you do, set the nozzle to a lower fill rate, like the middle rather than full bore. The faster gasoline flows, the more of it that evaporates. Most commercial gas pumps have an air retrieval system that sucks the fumes back out of the tank and back into the station tanks. This will save them money, but you've already paid for the gas that has been vaporized. Lower the speed of fill up, and you will save money in the amount of gasoline that stays in your tank. Again, this doesn't increase mileage, but it will save you money.
All of these things combined can potentially save you a great deal of gas and money. They are definitely worthwhile to know, for anyone. If you know someone who drives and who hates the high cost of gas, let them know how they can save money. The more informed each of us are, the less dependent we are on oil, the more money we save, and the less we foul our air.
