Save Fuel Save Money..

Higher gas prices mean people are spending more money to keep their cars moving down the road. While there is no trick that will double the miles per gallon a car gets, motorists can increase their car�s fuel efficiency and performance through proper maintenance and the use of good driving habits. When you add in the fact that using less gasoline and conserving energy is also good for the environment, there are plenty of good reasons rivers should look to improve their automobile�s fuel economy.
Proper Maintenance
A properly operating car will drive more efficiently than one that does not receive regular check-ups. It can be economically wise to spend some money on automobile maintenance so you can save money every time you fill up at the pump. There are several basic things you can do to your car to help improve its fuel economy.

� Keep the tires properly inflated. If the tires are under-inflated your car will use more fuel to run.

Government studies indicate cars with under-inflated tires can improve their fuel economy by up to three percent if they maintain the appropriate air level for their vehicle. Also, do not put extra-wide tires on your car, as they have the same effect on fuel
economy as under-inflated tires.

� Keep your car properly tuned. Make sure your spark plugs are in good condition, that they are the right type and are properly gapped. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of four percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.

� Keep the air filter clean. Your car�s air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine, so replacing a dirty air filter will not only save gas, it will protect your engine. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car�s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent.

� Change the fuel and oil filters. Clean oil and fuel filters improve the performance of your automobile.

� Purchase gasoline in the morning. Temperatures are usually cooler in the morning hours, and the cooler gasoline is the denser it is. This means there will be slightly more gasoline in a gallon of gas when it is cool than when the temperature is warm. As the temperature rises the gallon of gas you bought in the morning will expand slightly. The amount of extra fuel is you receive is insignificant, but it is still slightly more than what you get at warmer temperatures.




� Observe Sensible Driving Techniques

� How you drive your car can save as much gasoline as keeping your car properly maintained.

� Drive at a steady pace, and avoid speeding and excessive braking. Your car will get its best mileage when it is driven smoothly. Driving in a stop-start-stop-start fashion only wastes gasoline. Driving at speeds over 60 miles per hour also will cause your mileage to decrease.

� Use your transmission and gears properly. A manual transmission can provide five to 10 percent better fuel economy than an automatic when driving in the city. If your vehicle has a manual transmission, shift gears as soon as the engine can run smoothly in the next gear. With an automatic transmission, lifting your foot slightly off the accelerator will make the transmission shift sooner. Use overdrive gears to decrease the car�s engine speed, reduce engine wear and save gas.

� Avoid excessive idling. An urban myth exists that says cars use less gas when idling than they do to stop and start, so many people believe they are saving gas by letting their car run for a few minutes on the driveway or in a parking lot. The truth is a car uses the same amount of gas when starting as it takes to have the car idling for approximately 30 seconds. If you want to save gas, and you plan on having your car in park for more than 30 seconds, stopping and restarting the engine is the economical thing to do.

� Remove excess weight from the car. Hauling extra cargo lowers your fuel efficiency. The lighter your vehicle is the less energy it takes to move it. It has been estimated that lowering the weight in your car by 100 pounds will add one to two percent to the fuel economy of your vehicle.

� Avoid excessive use of the air conditioning. Air conditioning can decrease the fuel economy of your vehicle by 15 to 20 percent. Use the vents unless temperatures become too uncomfortable.

� Avoid creating drag. Driving with the windows open, tying things to the antenna and strapping luggage to the roof makes vehicles less aerodynamic and creates drag. The more drag there is on your car the less fuel-efficient your vehicle will be.

Some information and statistics on this page were gathered from the United States Department of Energy�s Website on fuel economy. The site is located at www.fueleconomy.gov.

@mods if I have posted this thread in wrong forum section then move it to correct forum section