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  • 7 Steps to Better MPG


    Gas is getting more and more costly and if you have a long commute or if you just like to drive the gas bill can become a burden.

    Luckily there is simple ways to lower your gas bill and I’ll list seven that are simple to do and does not require you to invest money in a new automobile or snake oil add-on kits. I’ll show you seven ways that are widely acquirable and simple to do.

    1. MAINTAIN PROPER TIRE PRESSURE

    Driving with tires not properly inflated increases the rolling resistance of your tires and spoils your fuel mileage. It also can make a tire overheat and blow.

    Inflate your tires at least to the maximum granted by the car’s instruction manual, and check the pressure at least once a month using a reliable pressure gauge.

    Many hypermilers inflate their tires more than that, to the maximum pressure printed on the sidewalls of the tires themselves. This is often as much as 60 percent more than what the automobile manufacturer advocates and it will give additional gas savings due to lesser rolling resistance.

    The cost is a harder and less comfortable ride. And I can’t advocate you outright to do this, even if it’s safe, as there is a possibility of uneven tire wear in some conditions.

    2. DETACH SKI BOXES, ROOF RACKS AND TRAILERS

    If you thought it’s too much of a hassle to remove the roof demolition or ski box when it’s not needed, think again! It’s the same thing if you drive a pick-up truck without a truckbed cover or if you tow an empty trailer with no purpose.

    Anything added or tied to the outside of the automobile spoils the aerodynamics resulting in a reduction in fuel economy. Always remove roof racks, bicycle holders, ski boxes and trailers when not needed.

    3. SHUT OFF THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT

    Even if some  argue that the air conditioning unit does not affect fuel economy, it actually uses lots of energy. That energy is taken stright from your tank and from your gas mileage. If at all possible, turn it off completely. If that’s too uncomfortable set it to a higher temperature as that will  use less fuel.

    TIP: Park the automobile in the shadow, have the doors open for a minute before leaving, drive at night if going for a longer trip in hot weather.

    Just remember, driving at high speed with the windows open is even worse for the fuel economy than using the A/C.

    4. ENHANCE YOUR DRIVING 

    The way you drive is one of the biggest factors affecting your fuel economy. Keep your top speed below 60MPH or 100KM/H, refrain breaking by letting the automobile roll to a stop when you’re not in the way for other traffic and do not near the pedal to the metal when accelerating.

    5. WALK

    Usually if you’re not going many miles, travel or biking is a good alternative, and it’s significantly more economic than using the car. You’ll not only save fuel but also the wear and tear on the automobile that can cost as much as the fuel itself.

    6. FIX ANY FUEL LEAKS

    Obviously if you have a fuel leak you will spill your hard attained gas on the ground costing you money and polluting the environment. Plug all fuel leaks asap.

    TIP: If your gas cap is missing or broken and you live in a hot environment, especially if you park in the sun and the automobile gets really hot, a lot of gas will evaporate and escape through the missing or broken cap into the air. The loss can be sizable and the gas vapors will harm the envirnment.

    7. CAR POOL

    Sharing the automobile on the regular commute can feel like a clean amount of hassle compared to going by yourself but then you’ll save more using this arrangement than using any of the others (except for travel of course).

    Joining with just one other mortal to use the same automobile for your commute will save you half your monthly commuting cost.

    ADDITIONAL FUEL SAVING IDEAS

    Those tips are among the easiest, most readily available, low cost ways you can save barrels of gas. And you don’t have to purchase any new gadgets to do it.

    There are many additional ways to save fuel. You can get a more fuel efficient automobile (hybrid, diesel, smaller vehicle), improve your driving style, make adjustments to your automobiles aerodynamics, use low rolling resistance tires, plan your driving, plan for extreme weather and much more that this article is too short to cover.

    There’s also many ways to NOT save gas, like installing one of those fuel saving gadgets advertised everywhere. They take your hard attained cash but the majority will barely improve your mileage.

    To keep track of your actual gas mileage you can use a handy online mpg calculator or your automobiles gas mileage display if it has one.

     

    Simon Byholm runs the free gas mileage calculator at MilesGallon.com, where you can find automotive calculators and tips on how to improve your fuel economy. Simon has a B.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering, owns a 15 acer hobby farm and is a chesty owner of a diesel powered car.


    Article from articlesbase.com

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    Published on February 8, 2011 · Filed under: Windows 7; Tagged as: ,
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