Do You Know the Golden Rules of Eco Driving?

Are you an eco driver? Do you want to drive in a more environmentally friendly manner? You might be happy to learn that driving “greener” generally means that you also save money. You’ll buy less fuel and can use that savings to spend more on other things. And it’s fantastic for the environment. Learn the golden rules of eco driving and benefit both your pocket book and the planet!

Rule #1: Maintain Your Speed

 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Did you know that accelerating increases emissions? It does. If you can maintain a steady speed you’ll reduce emissions. The key is to strive to reduce the energy your car needs to maintain your speed. So if you drive a manual transmission, then try to use the highest possible gear at the lowest RPM. If you drive an automatic, generally your car will attempt to optimize and work most efficiently automatically, but you can help by not having a "lead foot," and letting your car gradually accelerate and shift down naturally.

Rule #2: Anticipate Traffic 

If you are able to anticipate traffic flow, you’ll be better able to maintain speed and conserve fuel as well. For example, if you see that the light is about to change, you can let your foot off of the accelerator - meaning you’re saving fuel. Anticipate it correctly, and you may be able to reduce your need to accelerate too much as well. Stomping on the accelerator or the brake both cause you to use more fuel than is absolutely necessary.

Rule #3: Keep Your Tires Inflated

It takes more energy for your car to move on underinflated tires. Think about trying to ride a bike with low tires. It takes you more energy to just push the pedals around. When they’re fully inflated, it’s much easier. The same is true for your car. Keep your tires properly inflated and you’ll use less fuel.

Rule #4: Keep It Streamlined

The boxier your car, the more air resistance there is. That means it takes more energy to move forward. Streamlined and aerodynamic cars tend to get better gas mileage. While no one is asking you to buy a new, more aerodynamic car, you can reduce resistance by not adding unnecessary external cargo to your car, or strapping bulky items to the outside of your car such as bikes.

Rule #5: Shift Early

Finally, instead of waiting for your manual transmission to redline before shifting, shift early. This keeps your RPMs low and helps reduce fuel consumption. Again, if you drive a car with an automatic transmission your car generally strives to shift when it’s optimal. If you drive a manual transmission then you get to decide when to shift. Shifting around 2000 RPM instead of 3000 or 4000 saves gas and cuts back on emissions.

The golden rules of eco driving aren’t difficult to follow. Pay attention to your surroundings so you can maintain your speed. Don’t be in such a hurry and take good care of your car.

Drive Smart: 8 Gas-Saving Driving Tips

As the price of gas begins to rise again and the threat of limited supply hangs over our heads, many people are looking for smart gas saving alternatives - especially with summer travel season at hand.  Here are a few handy tips to keep your fuel usage at a minimum throughout the summer road-trip season and beyond.

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1. Slow down or speed up.  The optimal speed limit for gas preservation is actually the 55 mph speed limit on most state highways.  Of course that doesn’t mean if the speed limit is 25 that you should go 55, or if the speed limit is 75 you should drive 20 mph under the speed limit.  However if the posted speed limit is 55, go for it and take pride in the fact that you’re saving gas.

2. Maintain your speed.  It actually uses more fuel to accelerate and brake repeatedly.  Choose your speed and stick to it as much as possible. If you have cruise control on your vehicle, this makes it easy to maintain a consistent speed, which is also very useful on long road trips.

3. Accelerate slowly.  The lead foot syndrome is a sure-fire gas waster.  When you press on the gas hard you’re releasing vast amounts of fuel.  Your engine can only burn so much and all the extra simply goes to waste. Some newer cars have an efficiency gauge to tell you how efficiently you are driving, but if yours doesn't, you will need to learn to shift up smoothly through the gears and let your car accelerate naturally. Learn where your car shifts into the next gear, and if you're driving an automatic, slowly accelerate to this speed, then let up slightly on the pedal to shift to the next gear, and repeat. Once you learn how to do this well, this will maximize your fuel efficiency.

4. Drop the weight.   Did you know that for every extra 100 pounds in your car you lose 2% in fuel efficiency.  Hop into that trunk or hatchback of yours and pull out all the extra junk.  Leave the jack and the spare tire of course!  However, that bag of workout clothing you’ve had sitting in the back for months and the empty picnic cooler can go.

5. Change your spark plugs and keep your car in tip-top shape.  The more efficient your car’s systems the more efficiently it uses fuel.  In fact, changing your old spark plugs if they're worn out can boost fuel mileage up to 30%. 

(Photo credit: greg.turner)

6. Make sure your tires have enough pressure.  Underinflated tires cause a significant reduction in fuel efficiency, since you will have more resistance on the road. 

7. Change your air filter.  Your air filter feeds the air directly into your engine and if it’s dirty you’re losing performance.  Typically, your air filter is changed when your oil is changed; however, it’s important to make sure. 

8. Close or open the windows. There’s an age-old dilemma regarding which is more fuel efficient: to drive with the air conditioner running or to drive with the windows open. The truth is that both waste fuel and are relatively equal.  However, if you’re driving at high speeds the air conditioner may save a bit more gas and if you’re driving at low speeds then having the windows open is slightly more fuel-efficient.

Ultimately, the most fuel-efficient thing you can do is to carpool, take public transportation, walk, or ride your bike.  And the smaller the vehicle you’re in, the more fuel efficient it tends to be.  Try adopting one gas saving habit each week or month until you’re not only saving the environment and conserving resources, you’re saving hundreds of dollars each month! And before taking off on vacation this summer, be sure to take these factors into account, and save some money on your vacation travel.

Hybrid Car Comparison: Which Hybrid Car Should You Choose?

Hybrid cars are getting more and more popular today. In fact, more and more people are now purchasing hybrid cars for a number of reasons. One is that they will enjoy tax incentives as a buyer of a hybrid car, two is that they can save a lot of money from the rising cost of precious, expensive and limited fossil-based fuels and three, it will enable them to generate less pollution in the environment because of lower toxic emissions generated by hybrid cars.

Solon, Swedish hybrid car.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Because of the growing popularity of hybrid cars, more and more car manufacturers are now competing to produce the best hybrid cars. Many hybrid cars are now integrated with state-of-the-art technology that will enable consumers to save more on fuel, and also lower toxic emissions.

However, because of the growing market for hybrid cars, and also because of more and more car manufacturers that are now integrating hybrid technology in their cars, many people tend to get confused on which hybrid car to purchase. After all, if you listen to the car manufacturers, they all claim to have the best hybrid car!

In order to know which hybrid car to purchase, you have to compare them closely to know which hybrid car is for you and which hybrid car you can benefit from the most. You have to compare some factors of hybrid cars in order to determine which hybrid car is better than the others for your particular situation.

However, before you go on and compare hybrid cars, you first have to know a little something about how hybrid cars work and how you can benefit from them. First of all, hybrid cars use a clean and efficient source of energy - electricity - coupled with gasoline. Hybrid cars are what you can describe as a cross between a conventional gasoline-powered car and an electric-powered car.

This allows you to save fuel and emit lower volumes of toxic fumes because hybrid cars run on electricity when idling. What this means is that when you are stuck in traffic, and the hybrid car is running idle, or not in motion, it will automatically switch of the gasoline engine. Therefore, the hybrid car will run purely on electricity. Once you step on the accelerator pedal, it will automatically switch on the gasoline engine again to run the car.

Toyota Prius C concept hybrid car exhibited at the 2011 Washington Auto Show (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

So, now that you know how hybrid cars work, you now have to know how to compare hybrid cars in order to get the right kind of hybrid car for your everyday use.

First of all, you need to determine how you will use the car. If you have a family, you may want to get an SUV hybrid vehicle. This will enable you to carry more passengers. However, you also have to consider that SUV hybrid vehicles can cost a little more than other hybrid cars, and they are also less fuel efficient than smaller hybrid cars. Also, if you do a lot of long-distance highway driving, and don't sit in much traffic, your car will not save you as much money on gasoline costs as someone who does more city driving, so that's also a consideration.

The main advantage of a hybrid car is that it is fuel efficient. You have to choose a hybrid car that is the most fuel efficient for your needs in order for you to maximize its benefits. You can ask your dealer about the fuel efficiency of the car. They will be able to tell you how many miles a gallon it can save compared to conventional cars and other hybrid cars.

You will want to balance fuel efficiency with your own space and travel needs in order to choose the best option for you. But to start your search, Honda and Toyota are two of the leading companies today that produce affordable and efficient hybrid cars in a variety of shapes and sizes to suit your needs.

Handy Car Features That Minimize Gasoline Usage

The quest for relief from oppressive gas prices have led drivers on searches far and wide for ways to minimize the effect of the high prices on their wallets.  However, many drivers are literally at arm’s length from ways to help themselves, and do not even know it!  In fact, many features that come standard with new vehicles are not only convenient, but can help you to save on gas usage as well.

Since every gallon counts at today’s gas prices, even the simplest improvements to gas mileage can lead to more money in your pockets.  Although many products make gaudy claims to improve gas mileage drastically, most (if not all) of these claims are unproven.  As usual, the best remedies are usually the simple and somewhat obvious ones.  For instance, use your car’s already existing features to ease up on your gas usage when you are driving around from place to place.

Yaris Cruise Control (Photo credit: nebarnix)

Cruise control is a great feature for many reasons.  It can keep you from having to glance down at your speed all the time, for one thing.  This means that you can avoid getting a speeding ticket by merely setting a consistent speed that will not get you pulled over.  Using the cruise control feature effectively takes away any chance of you accidentally getting a heavy foot and an unintended speeding ticket as a result. 

However, cruise control is also a great way to conserve gas!  When you are on the highway, the cruise control can help your car to stay at a consistent speed.  This means that you will not be accidentally increasing your speed and making the car periodically work harder. 

If you have an “overdrive” option for your car, you should use the overdrive gears whenever possible.  Overdrive allows your engine to work much less than it would otherwise.  Of course, the less your engine works, the less gasoline you use.  In other words, overdrive alone will increase your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. 

While you are at it, keep your eye on your RPM gauge, especially if you drive a manual transmission automobile - but you can learn to use this in an automatic car as well.  After all, any time your car is running in the high end of the RPM range, you are using more engine power than you need to, and thus more gas.  Make sure that you are not staying in the low gears for too long before shifting, and spend as much time in the comfortable RPM range of higher gears as you can, since you will save yourself some gas in the process.  The RPM gauge is another example of an under-utilized feature that, if used correctly, can help you to conserve gas. (In an automatic transmission car, with a little practice, you can learn to use the gas pedal to shift gears smoothly and work your way up into the higher gears sooner.)

Symbol of Air conditioning in a BMW car. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

While we are talking about features to use, let’s also mention a feature that you should stay away from if you are trying to conserve gas: the air conditioning feature.  If you turn on your car’s air conditioning, your car will end up working much harder than usual, which means your car will consume more gas to fuel that work.  The easy translation here is to avoid the air conditioning whenever you can.  After all, it may be hot out, but you definitely do not want to have to sweat it out while pumping gas into your empty tank, right? Whenever the weather is cool enough, crack the windows a bit and enjoy the breeze - and save money on gas.

As you can see, there are many fairly basic features your car may already have that, with regular use, can help you go longer between trips to the gas station.  Even though some of these features may only have a small effect on your car’s gas usage, if you follow all of the tips, it will add up.  With gas prices as high as they are now, even if you can save a gallon or two here and there, that can be a pretty substantial savings for you!

4 Little-Known Ways to Improve Fuel Economy

There is not a single driver among us who would not prefer to spend less of their hard-earned cash at the fuel pump.  That is why people are becoming more and more aware of the many simple and cost effective ways that they can improve their fuel economy.  However, what do you say to people who are already familiar with the basics?  Fortunately, there are many little known ways that you can improve your gas mileage.

Steady speed fuel economy 1997 study (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Just about everyone knows that if you want to save gas, you need to drive slower.  By now that's pretty much common sense. But even though you can save a lot of gas by going slower on the highway, many people are unwilling to do so. So what are some ways to increase gas mileage without having to do things that you are not willing to do in the long term?

1. First of all, stop neglecting the regular maintenance that your car needs.  According to studies, a dirty air filter can cost you up to 20% of the gas mileage you should be receiving.  A quick change of spark plugs can increase your fuel economy by over 10%.  Also, many people are not aware that they can increase their gas mileage simply by keeping their tires properly inflated!

2. Similarly, too many drivers are carting around a vehicle full of unnecessary things that are robbing them of valuable gas mileage.  For every 250 pounds of excess gear in your car, you can count on around one mile per gallon lost.  Also, make sure that you take bike racks and other items off of your vehicle when it is not the proper season.  It may take a few minutes, but such items produce extra wind resistance, which makes your vehicle work harder to accelerate or maintain speed.

3. You can even save some money on gas while you’re spending money- at the gas pump, that is.  For example, when the auto shut off kicks in, do not squeeze in a couple of extra cents to make the dollar amount even.  This is one of the ways in which people waste money, since most of that extra gas will not end up properly going in the tank.  Also, most drivers are unaware that a loose gas cap can not only cause your “service engine” light to go on, but can also result in lost gasoline, which escapes as vapor out of the tank.

EPA fuel economy and environmental comparison label for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt (Dual fuel vehicle electricity-gasoline) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

4. Finally, make sure that you use your car’s features to their maximum effect.  You can save a little money on gas by using your cruise control often, since your engine will not be working to match the fluctuations in pressure that you are putting on the gas pedal.  Also, make sure that you use the overdrive function when possible, since it allows your engine to avoid overworking itself.

Driving and maintaining your vehicle in a way that allows for increased fuel economy is mostly a matter of having the proper knowledge, then putting that information to work.  It is vital that you not only know the methods for increasing gas mileage, but that you are consistent in their implementation, as just trying one of these tips once or twice isn't likely to make a significant difference in your fuel efficiency - you need to make it a habit.

3 Tips For Changing Your Driving Style to Conserve Gasoline

Gas prices have spiked again recently, but they've been up and down so much over the past year, people are seeming not to notice as much - which I think is kind of the point.... In  my opinion, the oil companies do this on purpose - it's a form of (as a friend of mine used to say) "cooking the frog." They're getting us used to these spikes, so we don't notice as much that the price is going ever higher - eventually we won't make a peep when it's $5.00/gallon and more....  That's my take on it anyway.

Drive (Photo credit: kaysha)

But most people can improve their mileage substantially, effectively lowering their price for gasoline, with a few simple adjustments. One of the most important is driving style. I find when I pay attention to my driving style, I get SUBSTANTIALLY better gas mileage (like 5mpg or so).

Most drivers are not thinking of fuel consumption when they drive. In past years, it might not have been as much of a consideration, but with the gas prices getting to be so high, we must all think about how we can reduce our gas usage.  After all, it is getting harder and harder to be able to afford frequent fill-ups at the gas station!  What follows are a few pretty basic ways that you can change your driving style to a more fuel-efficient one.

1. One big mistake that many drivers make is accelerating too often.  If you pay attention, you will notice that the vast majority of drivers accelerate almost all the time.  It does not matter whether they are 50 feet from a red light or a turn that they will have to slow down for, they will continue to have their foot on the gas right up until they have to brake.  This is a mistake for a number of reasons, all of which can affect fuel consumption.

First of all, it makes no sense to speed up towards a red light that you will have to stop for in a short distance.  Instead, why not take your foot off the gas and coast a bit?  This will not only allow you to save your brakes, but if the light changes, you can continue coasting until it is time to accelerate, and you may be able to do so without ever having to completely stop.  Your car will use a lot less gas starting from a coasting speed of 20 miles per hour than it would from a complete stop.  Again, the light is red anyway, there is simply no need to accelerate towards it.

2. If you have a turn coming up shortly, there is also no need to accelerate right up until the point where you must turn.  Why do so, when you will then have to brake aggressively in order to safely make your turn?  Instead, when you reach a reasonable distance to your turn, take your foot off the gas pedal and coast a bit before slowly easing on the brake and making your turn.  Doing so will not cost you much time, and it will save gas as well as your brakes, both of which cost a fair amount of money.

Driving Cars in a Traffic Jam (Photo credit: epSos.de)

3. Finally, try not to tailgate behind other drivers, and anticipate future stops or having to slow down.  If you give yourself a good amount of distance between yourself and the car(s) in front of you, you can see whether people are stopping or turning with much more notice, which allows you to coast a bit rather than having to slam on your brakes.  Again, you’re only wasting gas if you speed up to ride the bumper of the car in front of your.  This is needless, rude, and can also be the cause of an accident!

Think of it as trying to keep your engine RPMs as constant as possible. Try watching your tachometer (the gauge that measures your engine's RPM), and learn to drive while minimizing the spikes and keeping the engine's speed as even as possible - usually mine is the most efficient when I'm around 2,000 - when I'm in that range, I know I'm getting close to 40mpg, and it's taken me a while to learn how to get up to 40-45 mph without the needle going over 2,000, but it definitely works!

These subtle tweaks to your driving style won’t cost you any time or money, and will save you a lot of gas and wear and tear on your car.  Also, if you drive less aggressively, you will accumulate less traffic tickets and accidents, which can cost you way more money than gas ever did! It's a positive change all around. Also as a mental benefit, I've noticed that when I drive less aggressively, I also feel less aggressive, which reduces my stress and even helps me enjoy driving more. Try practicing all of these tips over the next several weeks, and you may be surprised to see how much your mileage improves!

Hydrogen Boosted Gas Engines - Wave of the Future?

With the ever increasing cost of gasoline prices, auto makers are having to work overtime to cost-effectively improve fuel economy, while still meeting the strict emission requirements of today with gasoline engines.

Image via WikipediaOne promising way to boost the fuel economy of gas engines is to add hydrogen to the fuel/air mixture in the engine.  Since hydrogen isn't available at the local gas station, selling a hydrogen-boosted gas engine wasn't on the list of engines - until now.

Lack of Emissions
A major cost and environmental advantage to hydrogen boosted gas engines are low amounts of NOx emission gas, which will completely eliminate the need for external NOx emissions control.  Currently, NOx emissions control is a major cost problem for diesel engines which use expensive traps to meet the emission standards.  Diesel engines particulate emissions that must be collected by a filter that should be changed periodically.

Hydrogen boosted engines on the other hand require neither NOx or particulate control and require only a low cost oxidation catalyst to control very small amounts of exhaust which is formed mostly during the engine starting up and warming up.  Additional cuts in emissions control requirements stem from the engine's ability to use only the clean hydrogen enriched charge during the cold start phase when 90% of emissions are generated in the emission test.

Image via WikipediaCost
The hydrogen boost system is effectively a bolt-on technology that can be added to an existing vehicle's engine compartment.  According to those developing the system, the cost of the system is less than half of the added cost for a diesel vehicle. 

The Future
Prototype hydrogen boosted engines are now be installed in test SUV vehicles that have sufficient space for the reformer and its related system.  The start of long-term road testing for performance, reliability, and durability information is planned for later next year before the system goes further into development.

Four cylinder gasoline engines will likely be the prime candidates for the technology as high gas prices continue to generate competition among the higher fuel economy models that seek MPG leadership. 

With gas prices getting higher and higher, hydrogen boosted gas engines offer you the chance to get more miles per gallon and not have to worry about burning up all of your fuel.  Instead of having to go out and buy a diesel or hybrid to conserve fuel, hydrogen boosted units will help you preserve gas.

Even though they aren't available to buy right now, they will be very soon.  Many manufacturers are looking into them, as they offer gasoline engines something like never before.  If you own a gas powered vehicle and have thought of giving it up to go diesel, you might want to think again - as hydrogen boost units may change the world of gas engines forever.

What Are the Most Fuel Efficient Vehicles?

As a follow-up to Monday's post, here is a list of the most efficient gas-powered cars in the various car classes. New innovations in fuel efficiency are happening all the time, so hopefully this list will soon grow much longer (and higher in efficiency). Be sure to check back Friday when we will discuss one particularly promising innovation that could greatly increase the mileage numbers for just about any car out there.

Image via Wikipedia1. Most efficient overall - Honda Insight hybrid
With 60 mpg city and 66 mpg highway, the Honda hybrid has top honors as most fuel efficient in the United States.  With a 1.0 gas engine mated to an electric motor, the insight was designed to make the most of the power by using low resistance tires.  The bad things about the Insight include a cramped interior, seating for two, and a very odd exterior styling, which some find unappealing.

2: Most fuel efficient mid size car - Toyota Prius hybrid
(60 mpg city and 51 mpg highway)
The Prius, unlike the Honda Insight, is capable of carrying 5 people plus their gear.  The Prius will generate a total of 110 HP from its gasoline engine and electric motor.  The sleek shape to the Prius has a low co-efficient drag although Toyota has managed to do this with a larger, yet more driver friendly vehicle than the Insight.

3. Most efficient compact car - Honda Civic hybrid
(49 mpg city and 51 mpg highway)
With a reputation of being the cheapest hybrid in North America, the Civic hybrid takes the great design of the regular Civic and makes it a lot more efficient.  With an output of 110 HP, the Civic hybrid is very competitive for the class. 

Image by Prior Design NA (priordesignusa.com) via Flickr4. Most efficient sub compact car - Volkswagon diesel
(37 mpg city and 44 mpg highway)
The Volkswagon Beetle diesel is ahead of even the sub compact hybrids.  Making 100 HP, the Beetle diesel may not sound that powerful, although the 177 lb-foot of torque will put shame on every other vehicle in the same class. 

5. Most efficient station wagon - Pontiac and Toyota
(30 mpg city and 36 mpg highway)
The Pontiac Vibe and Toyota Matrix are both the result of a joint venture of Toyota and General Motors.  Both vehicles come equipped with Toyota engines, although a lot of the design and engineering came from General Motors.  Both the Matrix and the Vibe are versatile with active lifestyles.  With a fuel efficient 1.8L 4 cylinder that produces 126 HP, the Matrix and the Vibe aren't going to win a street race although they make up for it with smoothness, efficiency, and refinement.

6. Most efficient large car - Hyundai Sonata
(24 mpg city and 34 mpg highway)
The Sonata is a major surprise, beating out very stiff competition.  The 2.4L 4 cylinder engine is very smooth, responsive, and powerful.  The suspension however, is soft, and geared more towards comfort than handling.  This isn't a BMW, although the build quality is great, clearly demonstrating that Hyundai is no longer a second rate manufacturer.

Choosing a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle

With winter coming, and those travel-filled holidays, many people are thinking of looking for a more fuel-efficient vehicle. This week we are focusing on this topic, starting today with exploring a few important considerations to look at when choosing a vehicle. Later this week we will post a list of the most fuel-efficient cars, as well as some very exciting upcoming innovations in fuel efficiency.

Whether gasoline prices may be crimping your your household budget, you would like to reduce the U.S. dollars that flow to the Middle East for oil, or perhaps you are motivated by your concern for the environment, or even the nagging reality that oil is a depleting resource that shouldn't be wasted, making a fuel-efficient choice in a new car is of greater importance to many these days.

Here are 3 important things to consider when choosing a new vehicle:

Image via WikipediaFuel economy
To put it into perspective, the fuel economy are the numbers posted on the window sticker of a new vehicle.  Studies have shown that the average driver only receives 75 percent or so of the mileage figures that are on the sticker, so be sure to take that into account.

You can use these numbers to determine the best type of vehicle for your purchase.  The numbers will let you know how many MPG your vehicle will get, so you can compare vehicles and then go from there.

Hybrid pricing
The gas electric hybrid vehicles are normally priced higher than non hybrid counterparts, anywhere from a couple of thousand dollars to several thousand dollars.

Image via WikipediaHybrids can get a lot of miles per gallon, some averaging around 45 - 55.  This is great for those who want to save money on gas, as hybrids can go many extra miles on a full tank of fuel and they come with extended warranties as well.

Diesel efficiency
Diesel powered vehicles are yet another fuel efficient option.  Diesels are known for getting extra mileage from every gallon of fuel.  They also offer much better torque than many gasoline engines.  The price differential they have over gasoline engines are usually much smaller than that of the hybrid.

With plenty of options available (more every day), you're sure to find what you need to help conserve fuel. Before you make a purchase, always remember to shop around and find what's best for you.

A Controversial Approach - Slow Down and Save Gas

Gas prices have every driver feeling the pressure these days.  With gas prices continuing to soar upwards, no driver wants to have to visit the pump any more than they absolutely have to.  That is why it is important to find easy ways that you can increase your fuel efficiency when driving, so you can save a little bit of gas in the process.  After all, every little bit helps, right?

Image via WikipediaThe best ways to save on fuel consumption when you drive are also quite often among the cheapest methods, as well.  For instance, did you know that you can save on gas expenses simply by making a few small changes to your driving style?  If this sounds too good to be true, do not worry!  It is quite possible to increase your fuel efficiency quite dramatically, with even a few subtle changes to the way that you drive.  Read on to find out just how you can accomplish these changes.

First of all, you should know that driving in excess of 55 miles per hour really eats up a lot of gas.  If you compare your mileage when you are driving 55 miles per hour to your mileage when you are driving 75 miles per hour, you will see a drastic difference.  Many experts have speculated that you use about 20 to 25 percent more fuel when you are driving 75 miles per hour, compared to what you would use if you drove at 55 miles per hour.  That is why it is very important to consider going a little bit slower when you are driving on the highway or interstate road.

Although some may see this as a sticking point, since it may seem like a bit of a chore to have to putt along at 55 miles per hour when everyone else is going 65 miles per hour (or even faster), remember that you will still get to where you are going, and in the process you will save some money.  If you are only going a short way, such as a one hour trip, you will only spend about ten extra minutes on the road.  At that point, you have to decide for yourself whether getting to your destination a few minutes faster is worth paying several extra dollars in fuel expenses to get there.  If your trip is shorter, such as a thirty mile trip, going ten miles per hour slower will only cost you five minutes of driving time!  Surely, you can afford an extra five minutes spent in the car?

Image via WikipediaIt is important to note that you do not necessarily have to drive 55 miles per hour to get the benefits of increased fuel efficiency.  Even if you slow down from, say, 65 miles per hour to 60 miles per hour, you will still save a bit of gas.  You just will not save as much as you would have, if you had gone down to 55 miles per hour.  However, any gas savings are better than no gas savings, so even if you can slow down just a little bit, you will be helping yourself out the next time you have to go to the gas station! 

It is also important to remember that going slightly over 55 miles per hour does not cost you as much fuel efficiency as an increase in speed when you are already going quite fast.  In other words, five extra miles per hour when you are already going 70 miles per hour will cause a more marked decrease in fuel efficiency than the difference experienced when you go five extra miles per hour over 55 miles per hour.

You won’t only enjoy increased fuel efficiency by driving slower.  You will also avoid getting costly traffic tickets, which can often cost hundreds of dollars.  Plus, you will be a safer driver, and more likely to escape a potentially deadly crash.  If you want to save money at the pump, you should seriously consider slowing down your speed.

More Easy Ways to Improve Your Gas Mileage

Here are some recent articles on improving your gas mileage - something we all are thinking about lately, with the rapid increase in gas prices these days - especially since we can't all drive a car like the one in the picture! :-)

Image via Wikipedia

Check out the tips below, and feel free to share your own as well!

Tips For Improving Gas Mileage « CBS Los Angeles
With gas prices flirting dangerously with $4 per gallon for regular, a few easy changes might help Los Angeles drivers improve their fuel economy.
Publish Date: 03/09/2011 20:45
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2011/03/09/tips-for-improving-gas-mileage/

How to Improve Gas Mileage and Save Money
How to improve your gas mileage and same some money through fuel economy. Tips on getting better gas mileage.
Publish Date: 03/17/2011 10:01
http://wangsgard.com/2011/improving-gas-mileage/

10 Ways to Improve Mileage | Get Better Gas Mileage
In today's economy, many consumers are being hardest hit in the wallet especially at the pump. There are many ways to cut back, but many still need to drive to work, activities, or get necessities, but they want to do it with the most ...
Publish Date: 03/10/2011 10:01
http://www.get-better-gas-mileage.com/?p=15

 

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• How to Improve Your Motorcycle Gas Mileage (motorcycleinsurance.org)

The Best Ways to Use Less Gas

Unfortunately for all of us who drive regularly, gas prices are on the rise again - and don't appear to be stopping anytime soon.  Since most of us have accepted the reality of that sad fact, there is only one way for us to limit the amount of money we spend on fuel, and that is by using less of it!  Although increasing your fuel economy can seem like an intimidating thing to attempt, it really is not difficult at all.  In fact, the majority of the methods that really work for increasing fuel efficiency are either free or very inexpensive, and most of them are quite easy to accomplish!

Image via WikipediaThe two main areas of opportunity for decreased fuel consumption are driver behavior and vehicle performance.  Driver behavior has to do with things like changing your driving style, planning your trips, and other things that have to do with you and how you operate your vehicle.  Vehicle performance has to do with keeping up on regular maintenance and making sure that your vehicle is doing as it is supposed to do at all times.  Let’s discuss some specific tips of each type.

Changing your driver behavior for the better to increase gas mileage can be very easy.  For instance, think about how you could avoid driving during peak traffic times, or altering your route to avoid busy areas.  You can also plan ahead to make sure that you do not make several trips to the store or other places.  If you can plan your trips logically, you can do all of the things you need to do while avoiding making extra trips.

A very important part of driver behavior has to do with staying off the gas and driving more conservatively.  Doing aggressive things like accelerating towards a red light or driving in excess of 70 miles per hour on the highway only rob you of valuable fuel economy.  Many people do this to arrive places sooner, but the amount of time saved is not really worth the heavy loss in fuel efficiency!  (We will cover this tip in more detail later this week, so be sure to check back for this post.)

Image via WikipediaTo make sure you are getting the best vehicle performance for maximum fuel economy, make sure you stay up to date on maintenance.  This includes simple things like keeping the proper amount of air pressure in your tires, as well as more expensive things, like getting regular tune-ups.  You also need to pay attention to details by doing things like using the correct grade of motor oil.  You can even improve your vehicle’s performance by getting rid of excess stuff filling up your trunk!  According to experts, 250 pounds of extra weight can drop your fuel economy by one mile per gallon!  That adds up, especially over a long period of time.

The proper way to reduce your gas usage is by combining improved driver behavior with the best possible vehicle performance.  Only by emphasizing both will you experience the type of fuel economy that your vehicle is truly capable of.  On the other hand, if you stubbornly refuse to do such simple things, you will find yourself at the gas pump very often, which no one wants to do these days!  Therefore, the best course of action is to make a few simple changes while paying attention to your car’s performance.  That way, you can keep your money in your wallet and avoid paying more at the gas pump.

Free Ways to Increase Your Gas Mileage

Companies are well aware that consumers are desperate to reduce their fuel consumption.  That is why the market has been flooded with products that supposedly increase your gas mileage significantly.  Let’s ignore the fact that none of these products’ claims have been proved by the Environmental Protection Agency for a minute.  It really does not matter either way, because the fact is that there are plenty of ways to increase your gas mileage without having to spend a dime!

Image by Abhi Here via FlickrIt is rather unfortunate that many of these extremely easy ways to increase gas mileage are still unknown by much of the general public.  The gas prices and their constant increases have caused the economy to sputter, and have put a lot of pressure on lower and middle class families.  It is important for these folks, along with everyone else that drives regularly, to know that they can save on their gas costs without making any extra financial investment!

Many of the methods for increasing gas mileage are quite simple.  For instance, did you know that having the proper level of air pressure in your tires can help you to save gas?  It is true!  Best of all, most gas stations and even car washes have free air machines that will help you to monitor and adjust your tire pressure according to whether it is a bit high or low.

You can also increase your gas mileage by avoiding certain things while driving.  For instance, you can avoid using the air conditioning system in your vehicle, since air conditioning makes your engine work harder, which in turn means that you use more gas.  At the same time, you can drive with the windows up on cold days, which will also improve your aerodynamics, and thus, your gas mileage.  Open windows increase drag, which causes resistance that your car must overcome, after all.

Image via WikipediaAnother great tip for increasing gas mileage without spending a penny is simply to slow down a bit on the highway.  If you stay at the speed limit for most highways (55 miles per hour), you will be operating your vehicle at right around the optimum speed for maximum fuel efficiency.  Any faster than that, and you will be sacrificing fuel efficiency to get to where you are going just a little bit earlier. (It is estimated that every additional 5mph over this speed costs you 10% of your fuel efficiency.)

You should avoid doing certain other things, as well, such as idling your engine while you run errands or buy items at the store.  It is always better for your gas mileage for you to turn off the engine when you are stopped, even if you are only going to be gone for a couple of minutes.  You are wasting gas if you leave your car running, since you have no need for it to be running when you are not going anywhere!  You also do not need to “warm your car up” in the winter, as the only way to truly warm an engine up is by driving.  If you want it to be warm inside when you get in, try to limit the amount of time you warm up the interior of the car, at least.

These are just a few of the free methods for increasing fuel efficiency.  Try these ideas, and see how well they work for you!

Related articles on Saving Gas:

• Tips Series: What Really Saves Gas & How Much? Six Common Gas-Saving Tips Tested (helpwithdebtnow.com)
• Energy Efficiency at Home and 'On the Go' Can Ease Pain of Cold Weather, Rising Gas Prices, Advises Alliance to Save Energy (prnewswire.com)
• Tips Series: 10 Gas Saving Tips Increase Your Mileage & Save You Money (helpwithdebtnow.com)
• 11 Ways to Save Gas (moneyning.com)

How to Organize a Car Pool to Reduce Gas Expenses

Today we are continuing our topic this week - ways to save gas (remember, saving gas not only saves you money, but also helps the environment, and the people who live in it!)

Image by Wildebeast1 via FlickrWho would not want to spend less money at their local gas station every week?  It would be hard to find someone who is not interested in conserving gas, but doing so is much harder than it would seem to be, at times.  One of the most obvious ways to reduce fuel expenses is to simply not drive, but for many people, that is really not feasible.  After all, most people have responsibilities that require them to be at specific places at certain times, and this in turn requires them to operate a motor vehicle to get there.

However, many people are not taking advantage of the somewhat popular practice of car pooling.  Car pooling has been around for years now, and while it has steadily increased in popularity, it still is not as widely used as it should be.  The reasons vary, as some people simply prefer to drive by themselves to and from places, and others do not know anyone that lives near them, or do not want to coordinate a regular car pool.  The reality is, however, if you want to save money on gas, there are few better ways to do so than by participating in a car pool.

Organizing a car pool can be fairly simple.  For instance, it can be as easy as posting a sign up at your work, or asking around to see if anyone who shares your place of employment lives near you.  If they live along your route to work, you can also simply pick them up every day, in exchange for a little monetary contribution towards the expense of gas.  This will not cause you any major inconvenience, but it will save you a lot of money spent on fueling up your car each week!

Image via WikipediaMany people only think of car pooling as a way to get to and from work, but there are many other times when a car pool is an equally great idea.  For instance, you can form a car pool with people that live near you for things such as going to the gym, shopping at the grocery store, or heading out to the mall.  If you are planning on taking a vacation, it can be a very expensive endeavor, especially if you will be driving.  However, if you pair up with a couple that you enjoy being around, you can all take one car and cut your gas costs literally in half!

It may not always be convenient to car pool, but the barriers are usually not that serious.  What you really have to consider is whether it is worth it to you to have the comfort of driving in silence and solitude, even if it means that you will pay the full cost of gas all by yourself.  Most people would rather have a little company, all while saving some money at the fuel pump.  That is why car pools continue to be a fairly common thing, even to this day.  If you have never tried car pooling before, give it a shot!  With gas prices being so high, there really has never been a better time than now to give car pooling a chance.  You never know, you may even enjoy the company and make a new friend or two!

Easy Methods of Saving Gas

Gas prices are a hot topic once again these days, as they have once again begun an upward climb.  Many drivers are understandably frustrated, as they are being squeezed hard by the high prices, and seem to have no way to make gas more affordable for themselves.  Since it may be foolish to expect a drop in gas prices anytime soon, one of the best ways to deal with the ridiculous price of gas is to look for whatever ways you can to reduce your gas usage.

Image via WikipediaMany of the best methods for reducing gas usage are also among the very easiest!  This is very fortunate for those who do not have mechanical expertise or extra money to invest in products that make exaggerated claims of increased fuel efficiency.  If you number yourself among the many that are growing tired of spreading themselves thin because of gas prices, take a look at some of these very simple and free ways to free yourself of some of the cost of gas.

Of course, it is obvious that when you do not drive your car, you use no fuel, which is easily the most affordable option of them all.  However, if your car stays parked at home, so do you!  (At least in areas with insufficient public transportation as well as walking friendly neighborhoods - which sadly, is most of America....) What are the alternatives when you have places to go and people to see?  Well, a car pool is a great option, if you can make it work.  Car pools have been around for years and are quite common.  With a car pool system, you can reduce your impact on the environment while you also reduce the impact of gas prices on your wallet!

Image by Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com via FlickrMost people think of car pools as a way to get to work, but if you know someone who lives near you that has other places to go, you can still car pool!  If you have to go to the mall, for instance, check and see if one of your neighbors wants to go, as well.  Maybe next time, they will return the favor.

Smart trip planning is another weapon that consumers have to fight the roaring albatross that is gas prices.  To swing this deadly blade and slay the beast, simply plan ahead when you go out to make sure that you consolidate all of your shopping and errand-running needs into one trip.  If you live in a small town and must take the highway to get shopping done, it is even more important to plan your trips well to avoid excess driving!

One big “no-no” that is easily avoided is leaving your car’s engine on when you are not going anywhere.  This can include when you run in quickly to the store or gas station, or when you are waiting for a friend to come outside so you can go somewhere together.  In most cases, it will make much more sense to simply turn your engine off.  If you are not currently moving, there is really no reason to have your engine on.

Finally, avoid having excess weight in your car when you are driving around.  This means that you do not want to leave items that you do not need in your car for long periods of time, particularly if they are somewhat heavy.  This also means that you probably want to make friends with very light people!  Well, that may not be true, but it is important to reduce the weight in your car, since every 100 pounds can cause you a loss of 1 or 2 percent of your fuel economy.

It is plain to see that increasing your vehicle’s fuel efficiency does not have to be a complicated or expensive process.  It is important to remember that there are alternatives to simply staying home and not driving if you want to save money on gas.  The trick is simply to be a bit smarter about where, when and how you drive.