When I purchased a Hybrid car, I became obsessed with gas conservation. Toyota pushed this obsession on me by placing a screen on the dashboard that showed the miles-per-gallon. This screen constantly updated as I drove along. It was a complete distraction. I couldn’t help but look down every two seconds to see if I was getting more distance for the money. I actually became pretty proficient at increasing my miles per gallon. The paranoia in the form of the MPG screen on my dashboard caused a high learning curve.
Here are some gas-saving tips I researched and learned through my own experiences:
1) Go the speed limit: Slowing down your speed on the highway just 5 mph can save 7% fuel consumption. This can equate to saving 25-cents per gallon! Above 50 mph, your MPG actually decreases quite rapidly. [This chart was taken from www.fueleconomy.gov]
3) Slow to start: When you start driving (after a red light, after a stop sign, etc.), press the pedal down slowly. This was the technique I used to really increase my MPG.
4) Breathe in clean air AND save money by changing your air filter regularly. Your MPG can increase as much as 10% with a clean filter. Along with this, a regular tune-up will save you up to 8 cents per gallon (increasing your MPG by 4%).
5) Pump, pump, pump it up…and align! Keep your tires at the recommended inflation. If they aren’t there, you are
decreasing your MPG by almost 3%. Proper tire alignment can save you up to 20 cents per gallon (10% in efficiency)!
6) Don’t be a jerky-driver! Constant braking will absolutely increase your fuel consumption. Focus on not depressing the brake until it’s necessary. In the same vein, don’t depress the accelerator unnecessarily. Many times we speed up, because we are in a hurry, but because there are still cars/stop lights/stop signs in front of us, we don’t accomplish anything but decreasing our MPG. This can save about 35% in terms of fuel consumption!
7) Leave the bread basket at home. Apparently, cleanliness is next to godliness AND frugalness! Although it’s not much, the 1-2% of fuel efficiency you’ll gain by decreasing your load an extra 100 lbs will add up! I suggest getting that Marine off that car!
8) Thou shall not idle. Idling for more than 30 seconds at a time. Warming up your car, sitting at a stop light, or waiting for a friend can cost you 1 cent per gallon every 3 minutes.
9) Cruise and Overdrive: Using the cruise control can help keep your brake/accelerate pattern at bay, which will save gas. The overdrive feature slows down the speed of your engine, which will not only increase your MPG, but will reduce wear-and-tear on your engine!
10) Keep your gas cap free from cracks… and keep it on! The fumes that escape as a result of leaky or missing caps equates to a penny falling out of your wallet for every gallon you use.
Resources:
The Daily Green: 10 Ways to Save Money on Gas
U.S. Department of Energy: Driving More Efficiently
We bought our first Prius C yesterday because my hubby’s 30miles/day*5 days and my 85miles/day*3/4 days are killing us on gas. It’s only been a day and he is already obsessed with miles per gallon and tricks on how to drive efficiently. its like his new toy!!! We’ll see if we like it…if so we might possibly look into highlander hybrid for more of a spacious option!!!
Good for you for getting a Prius! I leased a Highlander and, because it is a lease, decided it was more cost-efficient to get the non-hybrid, although, I KNOW I would be so happy with the hybrid. 🙂