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Secrets for Driving ‘Green’ this Summer

By Chris

More and more people are interested in driving green. Take the time this summer to research the many simple and effective ways you can increase your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. Fuel efficiency not only saves money, but also helps reduce the negative effects of fuel consumption on the environment.

Fuel efficiency driving techniques

According to the Department of Energy (DOE), there are many simple ways a driver can improve his or her vehicle’s fuel efficiency. The most notable is to avoid aggressive driving.

Aggressive driving not only increases the chance of collision and injury, but also reduces fuel efficiency by 33% on the highway and by 5% in the city. Aggressive driving occurs when one vehicle rapidly accelerates and brakes and in between that drives at excessive speeds. Adhering to the following suggestions by the DOE maximizes your vehicle’s effectiveness:

• Follow the speed limit:  Typically, a vehicle’s fuel efficiency begins to decrease once a driver reaches 60 MPH (miles per hour). A general rule of thumb is that every five MPH over 60 MPH costs an additional $.20 a gallon.
• Avoid idling:  An idle vehicle receives zero miles per gallon. Larger vehicles like SUVs use more fuel than smaller vehicles do when idling. However, regardless of the size of your vehicle, it is still wise to turn off the engine whenever possible.
• Use cruise control:  For long periods of driving, turn on the cruise control. Cruise control not only reduces the possibility of receiving a speeding ticket, it also helps maintain an engine’s efficiency by avoiding additional acceleration.
• Use overdrive gears:  Newer vehicle models generally possess an overdrive gear. This gear reduces engine speed, which increases fuel efficiency as well as reduces engine wear.
• Remove excess weight:  The heavier your car is, the more fuel you need to operate it. Each hundred pounds of excess weight can reduce your fuel economy by 2%. This translates into losing $.04-$.07 a gallon.

Proper maintenance

Maintaining your vehicle is essential to ensuring it receives the best possible fuel efficiency. When driving green, the most common ways to ensure that your vehicle operates at its optimal level is to:

• Properly tune the engine: Repairing an improperly tuned engine can help improve fuel efficiency by up to 4% depending on the specific repair. Major problems such as repairing a malfunctioning oxygen sensor can improve efficiency by up to 40% according to the DOE.
• Check and replace air filters:  Air filters prevent unwanted deposits from reaching the engine. Replacing a dirty air filter can help improve fuel efficiency by up to 10%. To ensure your air filter works properly, check and replace it as recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.
• Maintain proper tire pressure:  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 66 million vehicles have underinflated tires. This, in turn, wastes millions of gallons of fuel and costs drivers billions of dollars a year. Each vehicle should possess a tire gauge so that drivers can easily perform routine tire pressure checks. Tires underinflated by one psi (pounds per square inch) can reduce fuel efficiency by 4%.
• Use the recommended oil grade:  Using the manufacturer-recommended oil grade could improve gas mileage by 1-2%. It is also wise to consider using an energy-conserving oil to help reduce engine friction.

Consider alternative vehicles

If you are in the market for a new vehicle, consider the financial and environmental benefits of a fuel-efficient vehicle such as a hybrid car. Hybrid vehicles use both an electric motor and gasoline-based engine to enable the vehicle to maximize fuel efficiency. Hybrid cars typically receive upwards of 40 miles to the gallon. While the hybrid sticker price is higher than traditional gasoline-based vehicles, the savings in fuel costs you get over a period of years will more than compensate for the initial price.

7/9/2009

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