Fuel Economy - Saving Gasoline
So you want to use less gas in your car, but you aren't ready to buy a hybrid yet. What do you do?
There are a few simple steps that work and a lot of stuff that's just wishful thinking.
First, what really doesn't work:
Using higher-octane gasoline does not get you more miles per gallon unless your car's engine was built to use midgrade or premium gas. If you're thinking about trying this one, read your car's manual first. Yeesh, I sound like my father.
Opening the windows will not save you gas over using the air conditioner on the highway. In fact, the extra drag on the car from the open windows will make it use more gas. Admittedly, I have no idea if opening the windows while you're tooling around town at 25 miles per hour is a gas saver or not. You might have to do some experimenting on your own with that one next summer. UPDATE
Aftermarket stuff to boost fuel economy simply doesn't. According to the March/April 2006 AAA magazine, devices like "magnets, intake-air agitators, fuel energizers fuel additives, and lubricant additives . . . provide no significant gas-saving benefit." Which is good, because I would have no idea what any of those are or where to get them.
If you're thinking of turning off the engine instead of letting it idle, don't bother. Not unless you have to wait more than a couple of minutes. It happens, but not that often. Waiting for a long train, an accident to clear, or a bridge to go up and down are the only examples I can think of.
Now, don't bother writing to tell me that if you tailgate a semi, it will cut down on wind resistance. I don't care. I have enough on my conscience without adding to it by encouraging people to break the law--let alone die--to save a few pennies on gas.
Now, what actually works:
Gentle acceleration. Does anybody else remember those animated ads from the Jimmy Carter era saying that jackrabbit starts waste gas so "Don't be a leadfoot"--or am I dating myself? If you want to save gas, stop stomping on the accelerator and the brake. Go slowly and smoothly when speeding up, and do as much coasting to the stop sign as you can.
Proper tire inflation. Having your tires under-inflated does wonders for grabbing the road, I'm told. However, if you don't have to race in the Indy 500 anytime soon, fill 'em up to the appropriate psi. And drive a little more carefully around those corners.
Use a nearby gas station. Okay, explain to me how it makes sense to use gas to drive 10 miles in order to buy gas at 3 cents less per gallon. I just don't get that one. Plan to fill up when you're near a cheaper station. (Remember, the cheaper stations are not near the freeways.)
And, of course, the all-time best gas saver: Don't use the car. Take the bus downtown. Walk to the corner grocery store. Ride a bike a mile to the hardware store for nails. Combine errands while you are out so you spend less time to-ing and fro-ing behind the wheel.
And, at the very least, use your car instead of your SUV if you have a choice.
NEW: MORE ABOUT SAVING MONEY ON GASOLINE
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