The second set
of ways to save fuel is called fuel savings. First, keep your tank between one
quarter and three quarters full. Filling to the top on a large vehicle can add
ten gallons more fuel which transmits to 60 pounds of extra weight. Running the
tank below one quarter puts extra strain on the electric fuel pump which
demands more current, and also in winter present the opportunity for
condensation to form in the tank and result in a gas line freeze up.
Buy quality fuel. No two fuels are the same, and while 'discount'
brand fuel may save you a few cents/ Gal, it can contain a higher percentage of
ethanol, which burns at a faster rate. Compare the mileage between fuel
companies and see what is best for your car.
Use synthetic oil in your car to save an
average of five percent of gas. Remember to change it according to your
vehicle manufacturers recommendations for any oil. Extending oil change
intervals can be harmful to the life of your engine and the fuel-saving
benefits are lost, as oil gets dirty. If you can't use synthetic, choose the
lightest oil possible, 5W-30 rather than 15W-50. If you do not use synthetic
oil, consider a synthetic oil additive which can reduce engine friction.
Try to avoid using the air conditioner in
stop-and-go city driving as it causes the engine to work hard and consume more
fuel. However, studies show that at highway speeds cars get somewhat
better mileage with the AC on and the windows rolled up. The drag caused by
rolled down windows at high speed reduces fuel efficiency more than the AC.
If you're trying to find a direct way to
control the amount of gas you are using, monitor how hard your engine is
working is key. A/C, acceleration, and speed all, of course, affect work
but these are not direct indicators. If your car is equipped with a tachometer,
try monitoring the RPMs (or revolutions per minute) your engine is running at.
It's like monitoring your pulse to find out how hard your heart is working. You
will find that there are RPM ranges which are ideal for your car and others that
are not. If you find the engine is running at above 3000 RPMs, it's possible
you're accelerating at an unnecessarily a low gear. So, ease off the pedal and
let the engine build up a higher speed at a lower RPM. The lower average RPM you travel the lower
your work and this directly determines your gas mileage.
We
will cover the third group, driving habits, next week as there are many ways
driving habits affect fuel mileage. As far as trip planning, keep lists of
needs that will require a trip and try to accomplish multiple objectives with
each. This will not increase your fuel mileage (the number of miles your car
moves for each gallon of gas), but it will help you drive less (which, in turn,
means you use less gas).
Plan your route carefully. Take the route
with the fewest stops and turns and least traffic. Take highways in preference
to city streets when possible. Also, maintain
a log over time of how many miles you go (the main odometer) and how much gas
you put in (from the gas pump, including fractions). This can tell you if your
mileage drops and that there may be a problem with your vehicle.
