Car Gas Mileage Improvement

A Tip You Haven't Yet Heard

No one wants to waste gas with today's high fuel prices. Most of us do, however, waste gobs of valuable gas without even realizing it. But here is a gas-saving tip that you won't see anywhere else, and it hits the nail on the head:

Our poor gas mileage and thoughtless wastefulness is due to the fact that we're almost always in a hurry. When you are in a rush and running behind, saving gas and money is the last thing on your mind. No, you hop in your car or truck, fire it up and speed away, often driving like a fireman on his way to a fire.

Therefore, the single biggest thing you can do to save money and fuel is to allow yourself an additional 10 minutes - at minimum - to get to your desitination. "I can't spare 10 more minutes," you might say. Well, the reality is that 98 percent of the time you will NEED that additional 10 minutes anyway. Here's why: The traffic will be heavier than you anticipated, you'll need to run back into the house for something you forgot, a last-second distraction will hit you that needs your attention, etc. and etc.

Regardless the reason, that ten minutes will nearly always come in handy. But the advantages of getting to where you need to go on time are only the tip of the 'benefit iceberg:" You will be moving and driving relaxed - no need to rush - so your blood pressure will be lower. This makes you happier and healthier - quite literally. And let's not forget the better gas mileage, which saves you big bucks over the month, and helps save the planet.

Following is a list of specific tips and techniques:

1. Avoid speeding, rapid acceleration and hard braking - "agressive driving," which all result from being in a hurry! Aggressive driving not only results in poor health and shorter lifespan (for you AND your car), but reduces your gas mileage up to 35% at highway speeds and around 5% in the city.

2. Avoid long periods of idling as a way to warm up a cold engine. Instead, warm your engine for around 30 seconds and then drive slowly for a few blocks or so. . This way your transmission and other parts - not just your engine - get warmed up evenly too. These other 'non-engine' components need gradual warming as well.

Long periods of idling do nothing but waste fuel and put large amounts of cabon monoxide and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

3. Combine several short trips into one longer one. Because several short trips use up to twice as much gas as one longer, multi-purpose errand trip.

4. Slow down - avoid speeds over 65 mph.

....Think about these facts:

For each 5 mph over 60 mph you pay an extra 15 cents per gallon of gasoline - maybe more depending on fuel prices today. But it works out to be around 12 to 85 cents per gallon of gas you stand to save! This is astonishing but it is true.

The reason for this drastic savings (or loss) is due to the fact that around eighty-five percent (85%) of your engine's power is used to battle wind resistence at speeds above 65 mph. And this is true even for 'slick cars,' with low coefficeints of drag.

5. Avoid using your car's air conditioning at speeds under 30 mph. The reason for this is your a/c compressor robs lots of power from your engine, but the negative effects diminish quite a bit at steady highway speeds.

6. Keep your tires inflated to the correct pressure - and aligned as well - for an overall fuel mileage improvement of about 3.4 percent.

You probably already knew that a lighter vehicle gets better gas mileage than a heavier one. Then get the junk out of your trunk! I know, however that if it's 'out of sight it's out of mind.' But getting rid of excess weight just sitting in your trunk is an easy way to increase your mileage.

These things are easy to do and will save you lots of money on your next tank of gas. Just as important, perhaps, is that you will help reduce America's dependence on foreign oil while helping save your environment.

But don't forget the biggest single thing that will help you arrive on time alive and relaxed, with more money in your pocket and helping save the environment:

Leave 10 minutes early every single time!