With the rising prices of petroleum and other types of fuel, it isn't a
surprise that the market has been and will continue to fall for “low mileage, high power vehicles”.
“For Sale” signs are popping up all over the windshields of any vehicle
that gets less than 25 miles on one gallon of fuel. The crunch is on,
and it’s about that time when we start to tighten the belts of our fuel tanks.
But don’t be pulling out your sharpie markers to write-out your “For Sale by Owner” sign just yet. There are quite a few ideas to help you get better fuel economy with your current vehicle, so try our top 5 tips before running out and buying a 3 cylinder, 2 seater, solar- powered micro excuse for a vehicle (after all, the kids might get embarrassed!)
- Turn off the AC and open the windows. Did you know that your fuel economy can decrease by as much as 20% when you have the air conditioning on at maximum force? So why not roll down those windows and cruise on down the highway the old fashioned way instead of blowing your fuel economy to smithereens. If you shut the AC off just half of the time, you will increase your mileage by at least 10%. Over an average tank of 400 miles, you’ll get an average of 40 more miles than you would if the AC is on full blast. Parking in a shady spot will help to reduce the amount of AC needed to cool down your car on a sweltering hot day, too.
- Get regular oil changes and tune-ups. Keeping your machine up to date with the proper maintenance is essential to getting the best performance out of your car, including the MPG.
- Take off gradually from red lights. Some may feel the need to “Punch IT!” when the light turns green. However, that driving tactic alone drops your fuel economy by 20%. Slow and steady, the turtle wins the race (and gets the best mileage, too).
- Avoid stop-and-go traffic whenever possible. The consistency of non-consistent driving and speed create an incredibly high fuel bill at the end of the month. If at all possible, avoid the traffic lights and construction sites at peak/rush hour so your car won’t be idling for hours, and therefore wasting fuel. How about parking your car at the local fast food restaurant and walking inside instead of burning up all of that precious fuel while sitting in line at the drive thru?
- Slow Down! Leave your home a few minutes earlier than you usually do and knock down your speedometer a few notches, for cruising at good ol’ 55 MPH is the optimum speed for maximum fuel economy.
