Many of our customers have a lot of questions about fuel economy. With gas prices so high who wouldn't? We are all suffering at the gas pumps, but there's something you can do about it! Most people who are concerned about gas mileage want to know what they have to buy in order to increase their fuel economy The biggest change you can make won't cost you a penny, but it's up to YOU to make it happen. If you change your driving style just a little you can see big benefits in the long run. Here are just a few things you can do without dropping any cash to get a few more MPGs.

 

1. Green means 'go', but not 'go as fast as you possibly can'. When that light turns green try to ease into the accelerator instead of making every traffic signal a weekend at the drag races. Your engine burns the most fuel during acceleration, so the more lead in your shoe the more often you're going to fill up the tank.

 

2. Drive the speed limit! Especially on the highway, your vehicle will need to maintain a fairly high RPM in order to climb hills and overcome wind resistance. The faster you're going the higher the rate of fuel consumption. It's also important to realize that exceeding the speed limit by 5-10 mph really doesn't get you to your destination all that much faster. For example if you have a 50 mile commute to work and the speed limit is 50 mph, you will arrive in 1 hour. Driving 55 mph would only save you 6 minutes, and driving 60 mph would only save you 12 minutes. Compare that with the amount of extra gasoline your engine burns running at 3500 rpms instead of 3000 in order to maintain a higher speed. Unless you like to push the limits to get to work on time every day it's probably worth it in the long run to keep your highway speeds at the posted limit. You'll also enjoy not having to pay those speed violation fines in court!

 

3. Keep your tires aired up to the recommended pressure. Not only does underinflation of your tires promote uneven tire wear it also increases the amount of work your vehicles engine must do to get and keep the vehicle moving. An underinflated tire has a larger contact patch on the pavement, and therefore encounters more resistance as it rolls along. DO NOT overinflate your tires thinking you can improve your vehicles economy even more. This can be dangerous and costly in the event of a tire failure. Follow the tire manufacturers recommendations stamped on the sidewall of the tire when checking and adding air. If you have your tires filled with Nitrogen instead of air your service shop will fill them to the correct pressure.

 

4. Don't be afraid to roll down the windows on a nice day. Your vehicles air conditioning system uses a pump that is run by the engine, so any time you have the A/C on your engine is under a slightly higher load. No matter how slight, any extra load on an engine means higher fuel consumption. If you can stand it, try leaving your air conditioner off for the extent of an entire tank of gas and see how much farther you go. You might be surprised at the difference. You can even compromise and run the air conditioner ONLY when you are at a steady speed, turning it off while you accelerate from a stop, during stop-and-go driving, or bumper to bumper traffic.

 

If you follow these simple guidelines not only can you save yourself some money at the pump but you just might contribute to a better driving experience for everyone on the road. Once you've got the hang of that come down to Film At Eleven, Inc. to find out what other solutions we can offer you to improve your fuel economy.