Over the years, gas prices have dramatically increased in the United States. In Texas, the average price of gasoline for 2014 went up to $3.18 per gallon. Many people look for ways to save gas and cut down on how often they have to spend money to refill their gas tanks. Here are seven things you can do to increase your vehicle’s fuel economy.
Accelerate Slowly
When your vehicle is stopped, for example at a red light, and the light turns green, avoid accelerating quickly. A majority of the automatic vehicles today start moving very slowly when you let off the brake, use this to your advantage and slowly increase your departure.
Drive at a Consistent Speed
When driving, aim to maintain a constant speed. A handy tool to help you drive at a consistent speed is cruise control. This ensures you don’t accelerate too much or too often. This method works best when you are on the highway.
Remove Excess Weight
Avoid hauling around unnecessary heavy items. Whether it be firewood, tires or another item, your gas mileage can be reduced by 1%-2% per 100lbs of extra weight. This may seem like a little percentage, but by removing these items you could save a good amount of money over time.
Avoid Idling
If you are idling for more than 30 seconds you should plan on turning off your vehicle. Your vehicle uses more gas idling after 30 seconds than it does to turn off the engine and turn it back on whenever you need to go. Apart from gas mileage, doing this also helps reduce the amount of pollution your vehicle releases into the environment.
Properly Inflate Tires
Make sure your tires maintain proper inflation. According to Good Housekeeping, an under-inflation of 7.5 pounds causes a loss of 2.8% in fuel efficiency. By airing up your tires to the proper weight, you could save up to six cents per gallon of gas.
Plan Your Trip
Before heading out to a destination that you don’t really know how to get to, plan out your trip. Most people use online mapping services such as MapQuest. Doing this can help reduce excess or unneeded driving by finding the shortest route to take, additionally it will keep you from getting lost.
Turn Off the AC
According to the Ford Motor Company, when using your air conditioning in your vehicle while driving at lower speeds, your fuel economy drops by up to 15%. Instead of using the air conditioner, roll down the windows and enjoy the fresh air.
