Fuel Saving Tips
speed does matter
Contrary to what some have said on this FAQ, speed does matter (not just RPMs). Why? Wind resistance. Wind resistance increases as a cube of your speed. According to government statistics, there is a fuel economy difference of 17%-25% between driving at 55mph and at 70mph. Sources: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/vehiclesandfuels/facts/favorites/fcvt_fotw222.html http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.shtml
posted by xeyedjack on September 1, 2008
this tip works for 97% of voting Fuelly members.
The Brake Effect
Vehicles with rear drum brakes have automatic adjusters that, overtime, can get dirty and stop working properly. The front brakes then have to work harder which can cause them to drag. Dragging brakes will cause fuel mileage to decrease.
posted by robarnt on August 30, 2008
this tip works for 42% of voting Fuelly members.
Remove Roof Racks
If you can remove your roof rack, do so if you're not going to be using it, even for a week. The extra wind resistance reduces your MPG.
posted by bruzie on August 27, 2008
this tip works for 88% of voting Fuelly members.
What to watch out for
If a tanker truck is filling the fuel stations underground tanks, go to the next fuel station. When the underground tanks are being filled, the contents are being stirred, increasing the risk of getting sediments and water into your tank instead of gas.
posted by ShoWtiMe on August 26, 2008
this tip works for 76% of voting Fuelly members.
New Tires? Look for LRR rated.
If you are replacing your tires anytime soon you should look for tires that are designated as Low Rolling Resistance (LRR). LRR can help improve your fuel economy by 2-4%. Be advised though, LRR tires may be hard to find. Look for Michelin MXV4+ or Goodyear Viva2.
posted by modysy on August 25, 2008
this tip works for 64% of voting Fuelly members.
Walk a little
I often see people driving round shopping precinct car parks looking for an empty spot as close as possible to the shop. If it's not raining and you don't have a disability, park a little further away.. Often you will find that the short walk after parking the car a little further away will be less than the time spent looking for the closest spot, you will burn less fuel, and burn a few more calories, which can't be a bad thing, and the car park is often less crowded, meaning you're less likely to ding your car.. This way you're a winner, which ever way you look at it.
posted by SwissJon on August 25, 2008
this tip works for 97% of voting Fuelly members.
Use Gas Tracking Sites to Spot Gas Deals
Sites like gasbuddy.com depend on their users to submit current gas prices to the main site for everyone to see. It's a good idea to compare prices before ever having to leave your house.
posted by Nettle on August 24, 2008
this tip works for 78% of voting Fuelly members.
Inflate More Than You Think
You can safely inflate your tires, in most cases, to a higher pressure. For example, my minivan manual says to inflate to 35psi, but the max pressure on the tire sidewall is 44 psi. I find I can run at 40psi without making the ride too harsh, and I've picked up a couple of MPG. Your mileage (and comfort level) may vary. Never exceed the cold inflation pressure embossed on your tire sidewall.
posted by b3n on August 23, 2008
this tip works for 61% of voting Fuelly members.
Fuel Map - Buy gas cheap
Plan your trip or just your regular drive home by finding the cheapest fuel. Try: http://www.gasbuddy.com/ (US + Canada) Gas Buddy can be added to Google maps or you can find a map of your area right on the site. The nation wide heat map is also cool. If your putting lots of effort into saving 1-2 mpg or a few $ per tank you may as well be buying the cheapest fuel. On my route in Boston prices vary from 3.69 to 3.53, that difference alone is worth $3.20 a tank. Thats practically a free gallon of fuel and nearly the same as squeezing an extra 1 mpg out of my vehicle.
posted by randomic on August 22, 2008
this tip works for 88% of voting Fuelly members.
Modern cars warm up faster
Modern lubricants flow well in cold weather, and do their job better than their previous formulas. Modern engines are also made to much tighter tolerances. Fuel injection has eliminated the choke and the need for a warm manifold. You'll get better mileage if you only warm up the car for 30 seconds or so. The car will warm up faster with gentle driving for 5-10 minutes than it would idling for the same amount of time. Gentle driving will also warm up your brakes, preventing warped rotors, etc. that can be caused by an abrupt stop with cold brakes.
posted by chuckbalog on August 17, 2008
this tip works for 94% of voting Fuelly members.
Get an OBDII compatible computer
Cars built after ~1996 have a port (OBD II) for accessing the sensor data from your car. The Scanguage II is recommended.(http://www.scangauge.com/) "Trip computer: Maximum Speed, Average Speed, Maximum Coolant Temperature, Maximum RPM, Driving Time, Driving Distance, Fuel Used, Trip Fuel Economy, Distance to Empty, Time to Empty, Fuel to Empty A digital gauge: Fuel Economy, Fuel Rate, Battery Voltage, Coolant Temperature, Intake Air Temperature, Engine Speed (RPM), Vehicle speed (MPH), Manifold Pressure (not available on some vehicles), Engine Load, Throttle Position, Ignition Timing, Open/Closed Loop And scan tool: Reads Trouble Codes, Reads conditions that set the Trouble Code, Clears Trouble Codes, Turns off the "Check Engine" light, Tells you when vehicle is "Ready" to pass OBDII testing."
posted by Taera on August 14, 2008
this tip works for 90% of voting Fuelly members.
Is your alingment right???
If your cars wheels and tires are not aligned right this can cause a decrease in your MPG. If even the front Toe is out .10 degrees for 7500miles that tire has gone sideways for 25% of that time. Think about it is it more efficent to drive straight or sideways. allthough sideways might be more fun...:)
posted by pynikal on August 12, 2008
this tip works for 96% of voting Fuelly members.
Keep Tire Pressure High
Low tire pressure means more rolling resistance, which means more fuel consumption to move the car. Not to mention driving on under-inflated tires puts the driver at risk to tire blowouts and/or accidents, especially when turning. Check the inside of the driver door for a sticker that lists the suggested tire pressure and make sure all your tires at at that pressure. Don't forget to adjust your pressure if you're carrying a load, such as for a road trip or something.
posted by justinperkins on August 12, 2008
this tip works for 89% of voting Fuelly members.
Take it easy on the gas pedal
Instead of gunning it once the light changes to green, give it an easy acceleration. It isn't a race and revving that tach up when accelerating just uses up more gas. I try to keep mine around 2500 max when accelerating. Sure, people behind me may think I'm 150 yrs old. But, its not only saving me gas but them too! :)
posted by engineerdude on August 12, 2008
this tip works for 90% of voting Fuelly members.
Cruise control is your friend!
Use the cruise control where ever possible - make sure you don't use it in traffic, it is dangerous and don't use it in hilly regions. Also drive slow and passive. Aggressive starts from traffic light stops don't help you get anywhere much faster, but saves a lot of fuel.
posted by mrgoofy on August 11, 2008
this tip works for 44% of voting Fuelly members.
Use a higher gear
If you have a standard shift like I do (that's the real way to drive!), stick it in a higher gear whenever possible. Shifting to a higher gear lowers your RPMs so your car doesn't have to work as hard to keep the same speed. Don't stay in third if you're going 35... put it in fourth already. Or accelerate a bit more and you'll be cruising in fifth. Excellent.
posted by katiej88 on August 10, 2008
this tip works for 86% of voting Fuelly members.
50/50 Rule
As the television show Mythbusters has proven—when traveling under 50 MPH it is more fuel-efficient to leave your windows down and your AC off. When traveling over 50 MPH it is more fuel-efficient to have your AC on and your Windows up.
posted by TikiTantrum on August 10, 2008
this tip works for 89% of voting Fuelly members.
Don't Peel Out
If your in an automatic vehicle, take a few seconds between letting off the brakes and hitting the gas, because when you let off the brakes your car will start moving on its own, therefore saving gas because it takes more gas to get a car moving than it does to speed it up.
posted by pier27z on August 10, 2008
this tip works for 46% of voting Fuelly members.
Why charge a red light?
Look ahead, if you see a light is red just coast. You're not getting through the intersection until the light turns green anyway so why rush? You save the gas you didn't use to speed the car up to charge the red light, AND improve the chance that the light will turn green while you're still rolling. If you're still rolling when traffic moves you've saved the gas you would have used to get to that speed too! Also, less accelerating and braking will make for a more comfortable ride for your passengers.
posted by hudson on August 9, 2008
this tip works for 98% of voting Fuelly members.
fuel saving tips
If your vehicle has cross rails on the roof that never get used try taking them off to decrease wind resistance. I've found the best economical speed for my HIghlander is just below 50mph when the transmission just shifts into 5th and the RPM drops to 1500. The real-time mpg graph indicates over 30 mpg at this point. Cruise control on rolling hills can waste gas as the vehicle will shift down a lot trying to hold the set speed. It's better to use a gentle foot on the accelerator and try not to force a downshift.
posted by toycannon on August 9, 2008
this tip works for 91% of voting Fuelly members.
Cup of Coffee on Dashboard
Pretend you have a cup of hot coffee on the dashboard. Accelerate and decelerate in a manner that would not make the cup of coffee spill. That is the way you can improve your MPGs.
posted by pvertes on August 9, 2008
this tip works for 83% of voting Fuelly members.
Feel the Breeze
If it's a nice day outside, roll the windows down a little. Your A/C compressor eats away at your gas. In Texas, I noticed 7 mpg difference between the summer months and the spring/fall months as I was not using my AC during the fall or spring.
posted by JC on August 9, 2008
this tip works for 80% of voting Fuelly members.
Watch Your RPM's
Despite common belief speed is not really connected to MPG. The Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) of your car's engine is what really matters. If your car has a Tachometer watch your RPM's, keeping them low will use less fuel. Depending on the gearing of your transmission is what determines how fast you travel at a certain RPM.
posted by TikiTantrum on August 8, 2008
this tip works for 64% of voting Fuelly members.
Don't cut in line
While not a tip to directly effect your gas mileage, it'll help everyone behind you. When on the highway try not to switch lanes erratically. This is essentially what causes traffic. The person you cut off will break (maybe slam on their breaks!) causing the person behind them to break...a little harder, etc. The same goes for when you're sitting in traffic, it's best to sit in one lane, and minimize breaking by keeping a slow constant speed. Your car will appreciate it, and by virtue of keeping people behind you from stopping you'll do a little to alleviate the traffic jam.
posted by jjmatt33 on August 8, 2008
this tip works for 85% of voting Fuelly members.
Ease off the brakes
The moment you see a stop sign or red light (or a turn you have to make, etc.) take your foot off the gas (and put it in neutral if you've got a manual). Let your car roll to the stop. People behind you may get a little annoyed and speed by you just to come to a stop but don't worry about them, because if you time it right, you won't have to stop at all, the light will be green (thanks to the person who sped in front of you and is waiting at the light) and you can keep driving. Use this in moderation obviously, since there are some crazy drivers out there, and I'd rather you be safe, than save a few bucks at the pump :)
posted by jjmatt33 on August 8, 2008
this tip works for 77% of voting Fuelly members.
Accelerate a bit...sometimes
Though some people will tell you never to accelerate quickly, sometimes it's better to have a bit of a lead foot. Seriously. There are two main reasons for this. First: your engine likely operates at a higher efficiency (i.e. burns more fuel that would otherwise be wasted by your catalytic converter and just go out your exhaust) at around 80% acceleration. Second: Your car gets better MPG at higher speeds up to about 55-65 mph depending on your car. So as long as there aren't too many red lights ahead of you, it's best to get your car to the maximum legal speed as soon as possible.
posted by jjmatt33 on August 8, 2008
this tip works for 54% of voting Fuelly members.
Walk the line
Go inside rather than use the drivethrough. If you idle for more than 10 seconds, you're using more gas than needed for restarting your car.
posted by bonehead on August 8, 2008
this tip works for 91% of voting Fuelly members.
Coast...
Driving down a small hill? No need to hit the gas pedal. Just coast as long as you can while maintainign a safe speed.
posted by iamjoe on August 8, 2008
this tip works for 93% of voting Fuelly members.
Coast as much as possible
When it's safe, take your foot off the gas pedal completely and coast as much as possible. This is the equivalent of shutting off your engine, as you don't use any fuel at all when coasting.
posted by nmattus on August 8, 2008
this tip works for 85% of voting Fuelly members.
Pump You Up
Keep your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Low tires mean more surface area, and therefore more friction, which translates to higher fuel consumption. Check your tire pressure while your car is refueling. If you need more air, pump up while you are there!
posted by rickscully on August 7, 2008
this tip works for 96% of voting Fuelly members.
