26th March 2008

Improve Your Gas Mileage No Matter What You Drive

posted in Driving Tips |

The price of gas is still going up with no end in sight. Since we all can’t drive “gas miser” cars here is some tips that will help no matter what you drive.A very important consideration is how you drive or driving economically. First of all driving within the speed limit will help. Cars are made to travel at optimal speeds near 65 miles per hour so if your cruising at 90 miles per hour you’re not going to get optimal gas mileage.Driving appropriately also includes around town driving. Stop and go traffic can ruin your mileage and breaking hard and accelerating hard maneuvers will kill your gas mileage. Most stop lights are timed to turn green for cars moving at the speed limit. Speeding can put you out of sync with the lights leaving you breaking, idling, and accelerating from the lights.Shifting gears appropriately. The higher the gear the less fuel you use. If you have a standard transmission car shifting at a lower RPM will keep your mileage were you want it to be.Keeping your car properly maintained can be equally as important as good driving habits.Check you tires. Proper tire pressure is very important. Rotating tires will also insure proper tire wear. Make sure you car is properly aligned and goes straight down the road. If it isn’t your gas mileage is suffering and you may have front end parts that are in need of replacement.Make sure your air filter is clean. A dirty air filter can cut your fuel economy by 10 % or more. A clean air filter can also protects your engine and can prolong its life.

My last tip is to not carry heavy unnecessary items in your vehicle. Unused bike racks, ski boxes/racks, and other utility racks can add wind resistance to your

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