Practicing the following fuel efficient driving techniques can improve fuel economy more than 10%:

  • Observing the Speed Limit

    In highway driving, over 50% of the energy required to move your car down the road goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag (pushing air out of the way). As you drive faster, aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance increase. As a result, at speeds above 55 miles per hour, fuel economy decreases rapidly.

    By driving 55 miles per hour instead of 65, you’ll save gas. Of course it will take you longer to get to your destination, but for each extra hour you spend driving you’ll save $5.00. Owners of larger trucks and sport utility vehicles may save as much as $10.00 for each extra hour spent driving.

    Staying within the speed limit is not only a matter of safety and obeying the law, it can also save you money!

  • Over-Drive Gears

    Over-drive gears improve the fuel economy of your car during highway driving. When you use over-drive gearing your car’s engine speed decreases. This reduces both fuel consumption and engine wear.

  • Using Cruise Control

    Using cruise control on highway trips can help you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will reduce your fuel consumption.

  • Anticipating Traffic Situations

    In city driving, nearly 50% of the energy needed to power your car goes to acceleration. Unnecessary braking wastes that energy.

    Avoid extreme acceleration except in emergency situations. Hard acceleration causes your engine to enter a less efficient “fuel enrichment mode” of operation.

    If you anticipate traffic conditions ahead of you and don’t tailgate, you can avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration, and improve your fuel economy by 5-10 %. This defensive driving strategy is not only safer, it will also reduce wear on your tires and brakes and save you money.

  • Avoiding Unnecessary Idling

    Warming up your car isn’t necessary for most cars today unless you live in a cold climate and you want to get your heater going before you get in the car. No matter how efficient your car is, unnecessary idling wastes fuel, costs you money, and pollutes the air.

  • Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
    Your tires are designed to operate at peak efficiency only when they are inflated to the proper air pressure. You can read the maximum inflated tire pressure on the sidewall of the tire. By adhering to these recommendations your car will not only get better tire wear, but you will get better fuel mileage because you’ll have less rolling resistance.

Tony Iorio is the webmaster and publisher of InsiderCarSecrets.com, a web site that helps people save money, time and aggravation when buying a car. All of the information, tips and secrets found on this web site have been gleaned from his 37 years of successful, experience working in car dealerships as a Service Manager, a Body Shop Manager, a Car Salesman, a Finance Manager and as a Sales Manager. He has also owned and successfully operated an independent body shop and a used car dealership. For additional automotive related tips visit Car Care Tips

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