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Properly Inflate Tires. When tires aren't inflated properly it's like driving with the parking brake on and this can waste a mile or two per gallon. By maintaining the correct air pressure, you can realize a 10 percent improvement in fuel economy. Check your owner's manual for the proper air pressure for your vehicle's tires. (source: American Automobile Association (www.aaa.com)) |
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Purchase the Correct Octane Fuel. Check the owner's manual for the correct octane level for a vehicle's engine. Less than 5 percent of the cars on the road require the use of premium fuel, yet more than 20 percent of all the fuel sold in the United States is premium. (source: American Automobile Association (www.aaa.com)) |
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Slow Down. Gradually stepping on the gas and gently applying the brakes is more fuel-efficient than sudden stops and gunning the acceleration. Also reduce your highway speed and use cruise control when able. |
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Improve Your Vehicle's Aerodynamics. Improve vehicle aerodynamics by removing ski and bike racks when not in use as well as rooftop cargo carriers, keeping the vehicle washed and waxed, and rolling up the windows. Also check the vehicle gas cap. Damaged, loose or missing gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year. (source: Car Care Council (www.carcare.org)) |
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Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil You can improve your gas mileage by 1–2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1–2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1–1.5 percent. Your fuel economy benefit will be 1–2% with an equivalent gasoline savings of $0.03–$0.06/gallon. (source: fueleconomy.org) |
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Avoid idling your vehicle. If you expect to be stopped in your vehicle for an extended period of time, turn
the engine off. Consider going into a establishment instead of going through the
drive-up. Limit warming up your vehicle in the winter. |
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Limit carrying unnecessary items in your trunk. Gas mileage decreases as extra weight is added. Items placed on the roof racks
create drag. Consider putting the items inside the car or trunk instead. |
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Avoid high speeds. You can improve your gas mileage about 15 percent by driving at 55 mph rather than 65 mph. Use your air conditioning only when necessary. Roll down the windows or open the air vents to keep your car comfortable on not-so-hot days. (source: Consumer Federation of America)) |
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Use overdrive. If your car is equipped with overdrive gearing (on 5-speed manual transmissions and 4-speed automatic transmissions), be sure to make use of the overdrive gear as soon as your speed is high enough. If you have a manual transmission, the lower the shift speed, the better the fuel economy. Your owner's manual will give you further information. (source: Consumer Federation of America) |
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Don't forget to get tune-ups and regular maintenance check-ups for your vehicle. One of the best ways to gain fuel economy is to get regular tune-ups. This will
help improve gas mileage as well as ensure the maximum performance of your vehicle. Your maintenance schedule can be found in your owner's manual. Avoid fuel economy problems caused by worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, low transmission fluid, or the transmission going into high gear as recommended by your vehicle's manufacturer. |
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