- Top Ten Ways to Save More Fuel
Below are the top ten ways you can save gas in your car. Try a few of these productivity enhancements and help reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
1. Tire Pressure – Check tire pressure and bring it up to recommended levels
2. Use Synthetic Engine Oil – Synthetic oil reduces friction in the engine and lasts longer between oil changes..
Correct tire pressure and use of synthetic engine oil together will cut gasoline use by 1-3%
3. Use a Light Touch on the Accelerator and Brakes – Coasting up to red lights or traffic jams saves fuel. Avoid Jack-Rabbit starts (except in many hybrids where quick starts can save fuel)
4. Drive Slower – The slower you drive, the less energy it takes to propel you and your car down the road.
5. Buy a hybrid – They are more fuel efficient than a traditional gas car by using an electric motor and batteries to supplement propulsion as well as turning off their engines when they’re stopped.
6. Remove unused heavy junk from the trunk – A lighter car takes less energy to propel it down the road.
7. Open windows and turn off the AC at speeds under 35mph – If you are going faster than 35mph, roll up all the windows and turn on the AC. Open windows cause drag at high speeds that burns more fuel than running the AC.
8. Put shades in the windshield when parked to keep the auto interior cooler – It will take less fuel to cool off the car when you get back in to drive.
9. Use a Trip Computer – If your car has a trip computer that will display interactive fuel mileage, leave it in that mode. Studies show that monitoring the fuel mileage on a trip computer provides feedback that helps drivers keep good habits and use less fuel. A British Government report shows that this type of “eco-driving” can save as much as 10-15% of fuel in the long run and costs nothing to implement.
10. Work from home - Work from home one day a week and stay off the road if possible.
All of these productivity improvements together can save a 2010 net present value of $400 billion dollars. For more information, see Reinventing Fire, by Amory Lovins.
