With the summer well underway, gas prices have been climbing ever higher in its usual summer swell. Unfortunately, this is the time when many college students are working, and commuting to work by driving. Paying $40 a week for gasoline when you aren't making top dollar is a burden.
MSN auto has provided some tips for drivers to increase their fuel efficiency and avoid trips to the pump. Make commuting to your summer job worth having the job itself.
1. Don't drive like a maniac!
Changing your driving style can help you gain as much as 33 percent in fuel economy on the highway and 5 percent around town.
What should you do? Accelerate gradually, drive smoothly and with care.
2. Limit your use of the brake pedal
Avoid sudden braking, you are throwing away energy every time you step on it.
What should you do? Look far ahead on the road to learn the flow of traffic and make adjustments.
3. Follow the speed limit
Gas mileage rapidly decreases when you speed past 60 mph. A car going 55 mph can get about 15% better fuel economy than the same car going 65 mph.
What should you do? Limit speeding to optimize fuel efficiency.
4. Use cruise control
It smoothes driver input and evens speed, allowing drivers to take a look at what is going on with traffic up ahead.
What should you do? Use it whenever possible!
5. Don't idle!
Idling uses more energy than shutting the car off and restarting it.
What should you do? If you are sitting in traffic for more than a minute, turn off your engine.
6. Lower the air conditioning
Air conditioning uses a lot of fuel.
What should you do? Around town, lower your windows and open air vents. On the highway, keep your windows closed and the AC on low. Open windows reduce aerodynamics.
7. Pulse and Glide
This minimizes use of the internal combustion engine, but can only be used with hybrid cars.
What should you do? The idea is to accelerate to 40 mph, then ease off the accelerator until the arrow on the energy monitor is at zero. When the speed drops down to 30 mph, repeat.
8. Plan out your shopping trips
Combining errands into one trip saves gas because you are not driving out over and over again.
What should you do? Know where you are going and drive strategically so you don't double back or get lost. Organize car pools or park in one central location and walk.
9. Keep up with maintenance
Well maintained vehicles operate at fuel efficiency.
What should you do? Make sure the air filter and the fuel filter are clean and make sure your tires have enough air. Get regular oil changes and pay attention when there are signs of trouble.
10. Offload extra baggage
Just like you don't want to be carrying emotional baggage around, it's not good for your car to carry around baggage either. Extra weight decreases fuel mileage up to 2%.
What should you do? Remove anything that causes aerodynamic drag (i.e. a bug shield, roof rack or cargo carrier), which have the same effect as adding weight.
Many of these suggestions are behavior based so saving at the pump is within your control!
Drive safely,
Savvy Student
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