Fuel Efficient Driving

Being an eco-friendly driver means more than just having the right kind of car. Though we all want a Prius – Right? Magnetic gray? Deeply tinted windows?? Yeh, exactly – we might be stuck with a Buick Skylark (with two bad tires and a crack in the windshield).

What can you do to make your junker more fuel efficient while you save for the future Mr. or Mrs. My New(er) Car?? Plenty.

The great people over at FuelEconomy.gov give the following driving tips for getting more from your gas mileage:

1. Drive Like a Sane Person.

I’ll be the first to admit it. It’s fun to be a crazy driver. When I was a kid, I drove my car all the way to Mexico (from Iowa!) in a weekend, going about 90 mpg the whole way there and back. Okay, it might have been a “long” weekend. My point is that accelerating fast feels really good, but it takes a big chunk out of your gas mileage. You can lose over 30% of your fuel efficiency with fast acceleration or braking, so try and look at it like chocolate drizzled ice cream. Don’t make it the main course.

Instead, try to be an even driver 90% of the time, and the other 10% – when the perfect weather and open road is demanding you cut lose for a minute – you can have that road snack you’ve been waiting for.

2. Stick With 60

Huh?! Yes, I know. Most speed limits on the Big Dogs reach into the 70s or higher, but studies show every 5 mpg you go over 60 make a big difference on fuel efficiency. Remember, this isn’t just about your pocket book but what you’re putting into the environment. Besides, there’s a certain streak of rebellion in cruising the Interstate at 60, arm out the window and radio up loud, while soccer moms and power ties grit their teeth and have to go around.

3. Get the Junk out the Trunk

If you have a smaller car or truck, this tip is for you. Try to keep your car as light as possible by keeping it clear of clutter, and moving heavy items as soon as their loaded. Every 100 lbs you carry takes your mpg down by 2%.

4. Idle Cars are the Oil Companies’ Play Things

When you’re sitting in the drive with your engine running, you are getting ZERO miles per gallon. You’re also expelling toxins into our air for no reason. But, you say, my grannie told me … idling wastes less gas than restarting! Grannie may have been correct when Model As were still on the road, but today it’s just not so.

Those crazy cats over at Mechanical Engineering ran tests to debunk or prove this age old myth. This was their finding:

“Restarting uses approximately the same amount of gasoline as idling for 6 seconds with the A/C on.”

5. CRUISE

No, not Tom Cruise. No matter what he has to say, he can’t make your car run on sunshine and rainbows. No, we’re taking Cruise Control, and hopefully your car has one. If not, try your best to maintain a constant speed. It’ll boost your fuel efficiency.

6. Use that D inside a circle thingey

Using overdrive, especially on those days when you’re enjoying your high-speed snacks, helps the engine run slower and save on fuel while still going fast. There are times to switch it off – on steep hills, when you’re attempting to pass on the highway, or when you’re driving in certain conditions like snow.

It really doesn’t matter if you’ve got a Sierra or a Tundra, an Echo or a Insight, your driving habits will change how much bang you get for your buck — and how your driving needs affect the Earth. These tips can help.