Drive Sensibly
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.1
Driver feedback devices can help you drive more efficiently. A recent study suggests that they can help the average driver improve fuel economy by about 3% and that those using them to save fuel can improve gas mileage by about 10%.
That’s like saving about $0.09 to $0.31 per gallon.
| Fuel Economy Benefit: | 5%–33% |
|---|---|
| Equivalent Gasoline Savings: |
$0.15–$1.01/gallon
|
Observe the Speed Limit
While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph.
You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.21 per gallon for gas.
Observing the speed limit is also safer.
| Fuel Economy Benefit: | 7%–14%* |
|---|---|
| Equivalent Gasoline Savings: |
$0.21–$0.43/gallon*
|
| * Average savings, assuming drivers are willing to slow down 5 to 10 mph and fuel costs $3.06 per gallon. | |
Avoid Hauling Cargo on the Roof
Hauling cargo on your roof increases aerodynamic drag (wind resistance) and lowers fuel economy.
A large, blunt roof-top cargo box, for example, can reduce fuel economy by around 2% to 8% in city driving, 6% to 17% on the highway, and 10% to 25% at Interstate speeds (65 mph to 75 mph).4
Rear-mount cargo boxes or trays reduce fuel economy by much less—only 1% or 2% in city driving and 1% to 5% on the highway.
If you need to use an external cargo container, removing it when it’s not in use will save fuel and money.
| $0.06–$0.52/gallon |
Remove Excess Weight
Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
| Fuel Economy Benefit: | 1%–2%/100 lbs |
|---|---|
| Equivalent Gasoline Savings: |
$0.03–$0.06/gallon
|
Avoid Excessive Idling
Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner (AC) use. Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked. It only takes a few seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle. Turning your engine on and off excessively, however, may increase starter wear.
If you’d like to promote idle reduction in your area, the Clean Cities IdleBox Toolkit can help you get started.
| Fuel Cost Savings: |
$0.01–$0.02/min. (AC off)
|
|---|---|
|
$0.02–$0.03/min. (AC on)
|
Use Cruise Control
Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.
Use Overdrive Gears
When you use overdrive gearing, your car’s engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.
Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned
Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4%, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.
Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%.
| Fuel Economy Benefit: | 4% |
|---|---|
| Equivalent Gasoline Savings: |
$0.12/gallon
|
Keep Tires Properly Inflated
You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is usually found on a sticker in the driver’s side door jamb or the glove box and in your owner’s manual. Do not use the maximum pressure printed on the tire’s sidewall.
| Fuel Economy Benefit: | Up to 3% |
|---|---|
| Equivalent Gasoline Savings: |
Up to $0.09/gallon
|
Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil
You can improve your gas mileage by 1%–2% 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%. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1%–1.5%. Also, look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
|
$0.03–$0.06/gallon
|
Replacing a Clogged Air Filter on Modern Cars Improves Performance but Not MPG
Replacing a clogged air filter on vehicles with fuel-injected, computer-controlled gasoline engines—such as those manufactured from the early 1980s to the present—or diesel engines does not improve fuel economy, but it can improve acceleration.
Replacing a clogged air filter on an older vehicle with a carbureted engine can improve both fuel economy and acceleration by a few percent under normal replacement conditions.
Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $3.06/gallon.