Tips To Save Gas And Be Green

As the prices get higher, there are things that we all can do to save fuel. We’ve rounded up some of our favorite ways that everyone can test drive to drive greener.

Controlled Accelerations

By accelerating slowly and steadily to our cruising speed, we let the vehicle work more efficiently at becoming an object in motion from an object at rest. If we gun the gas and try to get to speed quickly, then we stand the greater chance of needing to slow down again, losing all of that momentum.

Empty Out The Trunk

An extra 100 pounds in the trunk will reduce your fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent in the typical vehicle.

Turn Off The Air Conditioning

It has been suggested that air conditioning in a vehicle can increase fuel consumption by up to 10 percent.

Keep the Vehicle Maintained

It is important that a vehicle gets serviced at regular intervals. Dirty oil is not only bad for your vehicle, but it requires more energy to work an engine through sludge.

Lose the Clown Shoes

Driving footwear must have a sole thin enough to feel the amount of pedal pressure needed to meet the necessary braking and accelerating. One of the most important tools you have in driving greener is making the connection between your foot and the response of the car. A big shoe with a few inches of padding removes the sensitivity of the foot, making that connection harder to make.

Keep the Vehicle Streamlined

A vehicle that moves through the air more efficiently takes less energy to push, and this translates to less fuel consumption. One good way to do this is to keep the windows rolled up. Another way to keep the vehicle streamlined is to remove those roof and bike racks when not in use.

Slow down

In a typical family sedan, every 10 miles per hour you drive over 60 is like the price of gasoline going up about 54 cents a gallon.

Coasting To a Stop

When you see a red light or stop sign coming up, then let of the gas and coast to the stop instead of remaining accelerated and hitting the brakes when you get there.

Know when to use Cruise Control

Cruise control can be a valuable tool on the highway to maintain a steady speed (and to save from speeding), but it lacks the tools that you have in your head.

Choose the Best route

It is interesting to note that the most efficient route to take in your driving may not be the shortest.

Turn It Off

If you are stopped on the road for an extended period of time – such as a train passing, road construction, or an accident – then consider turning the vehicle off after 20 seconds or more.

Avoid the Drive Thru

A fast food drive thru requires you to waste fuel as you wait in line for the pickup. But parking the vehicle and walking in you save that fuel.

Check Your Air Pressure

Properly inflated tires can reduce fuel consumption by up to 3 percent.

Make Driving Count

One of the best ways to drive greener is to, simply put, not drive. By combining chores to a single trip it can save greatly on the fuel requirements as well as saving your valuable time.

Make It a Game

Make saving gas a game. Track fuel used or miles driven this week, and see if you can beat it next week. Set goals for yourself along with the rewards.

Filed Under: Cars & Transport