10 Tips That Can Increase Your Fuel Economy

Simple Adjustments Can Increase Fuel Economy Considerably:
There are many tips for improving your fuel economy. For the most part, improving fuel economy isn't much more difficult than making small adjustments to your daily driving habits. When you make changes to your habits, you will experience lower fuel costs and you can also improve the life of your vehicle. Here are ten easy ways to improve your fuel economy.

Tip #1
An easy and almost free way to improve your car's fuel economy is to keep your tires inflated. The only time inflating your cars will cost money is if you have to put a quarter in the air machine at the gas station. Of course, a quarter is nothing compared to your fuel savings. You can save 4% of your fuel costs if you just keep your tires inflated.

Tip #2
Use the proper grade motor oil and you will experience a 1-2% savings on your fuel economy. Certain motor oils contain friction-reducing additives. Look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to ensure that the motor oil you purchase contains these additives. This will also help to increase your fuel economy.

Tip #3
If you are carrying unnecessary baggage in your trunk, remove it and you should see your fuel economy increase. It takes fuel to haul extra weight, and if you don't need whatever is in your trunk it's just like throwing money away.

Tip #4
When gas prices are $2.44 per gallon, every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an extra 24 cents per gallon for gasoline. This figure increases as gas prices increase, so speeding can wreak havoc on your fuel economy. If you obey speed limits and take your time getting from point A to point B you can save a lot of money.

Tip #5
Don't allow your car to idle. Many hybrid vehicles have an auto-stop feature which shuts the car's gasoline engine off when the car is idling. This is because idling uses gas, even though you aren't moving. If you are stuck by a train or long light, shut your car off.

Tip #6
Combine your errands, and you might find your fuel economy will increase. This is because a car uses more fuel when the engine is cold. If you run your errands at one time, your engine will already be warmed up. This will help increase your fuel economy.

Tip #7
Ever pay attention to how you drive on the highway? Do you speed up and slow down constantly? Speeding up and slowing down makes it so you use more gas. Use your car's cruise control feature and you will find that your speed will stay constant. This should help you increase your fuel economy.

Tip #8
When on the highway, use your car's overdrive feature. Overdrive reduces your engine's speed, which decreases the amount of fuel your engine uses. This will help you increase your fuel economy.

Tip #9
Avoid aggressive driving and you will increase your fuel economy. Jack-rabbit starts, speeding, and sudden braking all wear hard on your vehicle. In addition, your engine will use more gas due to your aggressive habits. Stay calm while driving and you should notice your fuel economy improving.

Tip #10
Purchase a new hybrid vehicle and you will see a huge difference in your fuel economy. This option is best for those who have old gas guzzlers and have tried other fuel saving ideas without much result. A hybrid car is designed with fuel economy in mind. Some hybrid vehicles get over 40 mpg in the city, which is over double the fuel economy of many SUVs on the market.

Improving your fuel economy is one way to help the economy and reduce your share of carbon foot print. Making small changes in the way you drive and what you do on a daily basis can add up to significant savings which results in a safer planet.