Fuel Economy 

By: Drew Palmer    (Edited: 11/3/2008)

  

With the economy seeming to be on the fence of a recession, becoming a wise-spender or savvy-saver is crucial.  One thing that comes to the minds of consumers is how to squeeze every cent out of the fuel that has been put into their vehicles fuel tank.  Here are some things to consider:

 

Driving More Effectively: Aggressive driving and heavy throttle are an immediate fuel economy killer.  Even though you may feel like you are getting there faster, it has been shown that it can reduce your gas mileage by 33 percent on the highway.  This also includes speed.  Research shows that practically ever 5-miles you go over 60 MPH is essentially you paying an additional $0.24 per gallon of gas.  The best fuel economy for highway driving is around 55 m.p.h.

Remove Excessive Weight: Keeping heavily weighted items in your vehicle that does not need to be there will take away from your MPG average.  Every hundred pounds reduces fuel economy by about 2%.  It is not a lot, but when added up over time it can be significant.

Keep Your Vehicle Maintained: Always staying on top of your vehicles scheduled maintenance has always been critical to a properly and well performing vehicle.  Not only is it critical for fuel economy reasons, but also for safety reasons.  Staying on track and up to date on engine oil changes, air filter replacements, and keeping tires properly inflated will save you money!  If you have a serious emissions failure, for example, a faulty oxygen sensor, it can rob you of up to 40 percent on fuel mileage.  Getting your vehicle tuned-up is also something to look into if you are over the scheduled mileage by your vehicle manufacturer or owner’s manual.

Planning Ahead: It is always a good idea to try and combine trips to conserve fuel.  Carpooling is also an excellent way to reduce emissions and fuel consumption.  When traveling, remember that roof racks and cargo carriers cause a reduction in airflow and can decrease your fuel economy.  Also, the coolers and luggage racks that go in front of Sport Utility Vehicles and Trucks can cause your engine to overheat due to the reduction and restriction of airflow to the radiator and engine cooling components.

More Fuel Efficient Vehicle: If all else fails and you are tired of your current gas-guzzler, there are multiple of options in today's market place that will suffice your needs when it comes to fuel-efficient vehicles.  Huge savings come from switching to a fuel-friendly vehicle: the difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and a car that gets 30 MPG is at about $870/annually (15,000 miles with fuel costing $3.48)!  That calculates to over $4,000 in savings over a 5-year period.

 

 

 

 

Duffy's Repair Service is highly qualified to answer your needs of getting the most fuel economy out of your vehicle!  Come in and let us take a look at your vehicle to suggest the proper actions that should be taken to get your vehicle running like it should while saving you money on the road!

 

 

Data Source: www.fueleconomy.gov