Gas prices may be on the decline for now but there is no reason why you should not find ways to save on fuel costs. With a few easy to do practices, you can significantly improve your gas mileage and start saving up on gas expenses. Here are some effective gas mileage tips:
Be an efficient driver – Avoid aggressive driving habits such as speeding, rapid acceleration and excessive braking as these can lower your gas mileage anywhere between 5-33%. Always observe the speed limit; the gas mileage of a vehicle significantly lowers at speeds of above 60mph. Remove unnecessary heavy items in your vehicle as this can also reduce your MPG. When running short errands such as picking up the kids, or going to the drive-thru, avoid excessive idling as this also wastes gas. Use cruise control and overdrive gear.
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As fuel prices continue their inexorable rise, car owners should find ways to get more miles from every gallon of gas. Fortunately, there are easy ways to save up on gas money. Here are some smart driving tips from The Car Care Council.
Combine errands in one trip and get good directions before you head out to minimize driving unnecessary miles.
Lighten the load by getting stuff out of the car, including the trunk, with the exception of important emergency items such as a spare tire, flares and a first-aid kit. Items that are not needed weigh the vehicle down, causing an increase in gas usage.
Stay within the speed limit and use cruise control on the highway. Gas mileage usually decreases when going over 60 miles per hour (mph).
Avoid aggressive driving. Your driving behavior has a lot to do with fuel economy and sudden stops and starts and rapid acceleration decrease your vehicle’s miles per gallon (mpg).
Check the condition of the gas cap. Approximately 17 percent of vehicles on the road have loose, damaged or missing gas caps, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year.
Don’t idle your vehicle and go inside instead of waiting in long lines at the drive-through window to avoid wasting gas.