Driving Green and SAVE yourself money!
With the price of fuel currently hovering at $4.00 or more a gallon everyone wants to save money at the pump. You can save up to $1.50 a gallon just by adjusting your driving habits and keeping your car maintained in good working condition. If you keep your cars engine properly tuned, clean and change your air filters regularly, and make sure your tires are properly inflated you can save up to 15% of your gas mileage. By doing this you’ll also be driving green because you’ll be saving energy use for future generations.
Your driving habits are probably the single biggest factor in how much fuel you use. Here’s a list of tips that will save you money.
1) Drive 5 – 10 mph below the speed limit on the freeway. I know this is the exact opposite of what we all want to do but you can get up to 20% better mileage if you slow down. The faster you go the more fuel you consume.
2) Use the cruise control when ever possible. It keeps you at a constant speed and only accelerates when your engine needs it.
3) Reduce the weight in your car. The heavier your car is the more your engine has to work to accelerate. Are you carrying around junk in the trunk? Store it in your garage and save money.
4) Don’t jackrabbit at red and green lights when you are driving in town. Stopping gradually for red lights and gradually accelerating from green lights lets the engine work at a lower pace, saving you money.
5) Combine trips when you travel to do errands. It take a little planning but it is easy to schedule Doctor appointments, oil changes, running to the post office, etc, all in one trip.
6) Don’t idle your car unless neccesary. If your waiting to pick pick someone up or at the curb talking on your cell phone turn your engine off. Its more efficient to stop and restart you car than to idle for a long period of time.
7) Use your AC wisely. The AC makes your engine work harder so you should roll the windows down when traveling at lower speeds on town. On the freeway its more efficient to roll the windows up and use the AC because of the drag with the windows open.
Don’t park in direct sunlight, if possible. Gas evaporates faster in direct sunlight than when you are parked in a shady spot.
9) Don’t overfill your tank. It winds up leaking out of your gas tank and on the ground.
10) If possible, Walk! How many times do you take the kids a few blocks to a friends house? Or drive 1/4 mile to the local store to pick up one thing? The best way to save fuel is not to use any!
Driving green as it’s called WILL save you money AND help the environment.