The Green Room

Drive down your gas costs this Memorial Day weekend

Did you know that your GPS device and certain smartphone apps can give you real-time gas mileage tips, and point you to the cheapest nearby gas station? How about the fact that every extra pound of luggage decreases your fuel economy, as does driving faster than 60 miles per hour? Learn these gas-saving secrets and more from this video, as well as six other videos on fuel efficiency from the Alliance to Save Energy.

Here are a few more tips:

• Avoid aggressive driving. Speeding, rapid acceleration and rapid braking can lower gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.
• Avoid excessive idling. Idling can waste a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner use. But it only takes a few seconds’ worth of fuel to restart your engine, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
• Combine errands into one trip. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
• Beat the traffic. When possible, drive during off-peak hours to avoid stop-and-go or bumper-to-bumper traffic conditions, thereby reducing gas costs, time and stress.
• Keep tires inflated. Properly inflated tires can improve mileage by up to 3.3%. Conversely, under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 psi drop in pressure in all four tires. In addition, proper inflation improves tire longevity and driving safety. Find the proper tire pressure for your vehicle on a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb, in the glove box, and/or in your owner’s manual.

This chart shows how much you can save from each fuel efficiency tip. These suggestions can also improve your driving, increase the life of your tires, and help you beat traffic.

May 24, 2012 Miriam Berg Leave a comment