More fuel saving tips
1) Take advantage of the "sweet spot". On level ground the maximum efficiency of a little car is in 5th gear or Overdrive between 40 and 50 MPH. If you can pick a route that allows for this and, if you treat the throttle with a feather touch for adjustments, the engine will sip just a tiny amount of fuel.
2) Take advantage of DFCO (Deceleration Fuel Cutoff). Most cars built within the past 10 years have this feature which completely shuts off the fuel to the engine when you completely take your foot off the gas (except when idling) - No fuel is consumed when engine braking. A good time to take advantage of this is when approaching a stop light - begin decelerating sooner and the light just might turn green before you have to stop. Highway off ramps and hills are also good opportunities. Use engine braking instead of your friction brakes and save fuel.
3) Find the lightest gas pedal position needed to maintain speed. When driving a steady speed you can usually back off a tiny bit without slowing down, and increase your miles per gallon up to 10%. It helps to have a readout of your throttle position sensor to do this. This is "TPS" on the ScanGauge discussed later in this article. If you allow your speed to sag a few MPH while climbing a hill, you'll save enough to make a difference. On a hilly, winding country road, it helps to take your foot off the gas just before you reach the top of a hill and let momentum take you over and gravity take you down the other side
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4) Plan your route based on known conditions. If you live in a highly congested area try taking the access roads or parallel avenues instead of taking the main road itself. If possible, adjust the time of your commute to take advantage of better traffic conditions. |
5) Use monitoring tools such as a ScanGauge II. The ScanGauge is a trip computer, set of electronic gauges, and trouble code reader. It plugs into the electrical socket located under the steering wheel and sits on top of your steering column. It's the best thing you can use to teach yourself how to drive for fuel economy. It will show when a tiny bit of finesse with the gas pedal makes a difference. It will help you develop better habits. Mine paid for itself in fuel savings over a few months. |
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6) Using synthetic oil allows the engine to operate with less friction. However, it is debatable whether or not the increased cost of synthetics is worth the small gain in fuel economy while the engine is still under warrenty. Once out of warrenty, you may be able to extend the oil change interval to recoup the cost. Doing so has a definite green benefit!
7) Drafting: You may be tempted to pull in directly behind a semi-tractor trailer rig. The closer you are to the truck, the less safe it is, but the greater the fuel savings. - Just remember that there is a human of unpredictable temperament driving the truck, so it may be less safe than you may think. Keep a 2-second distance. If you've ever stood at the shoulder of a busy interstate, you'll know the stiff breeze the traffic creates. Get behind a group of cars and take advantage of it.
8) Ridge Riding: In rainy weather, ride the center and white line edges to reduce some of the drag caused by the tires flinging water into the air. In most cases during rain, the center crown or ridge will have the least depth of water to plow though as will the right or left edges of your lane. You can see the changing depths ahead and steer as conditions change/allow. Ridge riding is also a way to make yourself more visible to those behind you, serving as advance warning that there's someone driving more slowly up ahead.
9) Get a motorcycle. |
