FUEL ECONOMY TIPS

 JERRY WALKER ON  “ TIPS FOR IMPROVING FUEL ECONOMY “ Premium- vs. Regular-Grade Gasoline .The recommended gasoline for most cars is regular unleaded.Using a higher-octane gasoline than recommended by the owner’s manual does not improve performance or fuel efficiency; it only costs more money. Check your owner’s manual to determine the lowest grade of fuel you can use.Keep Your Car in Shape Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune can improve gas mileage by about 4%. Repairing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve fuel economy by much more!  Replacing a clogged air filter can significantly improve gas mileage. Keeping tires inflated to the recommended pressure and using the recommended grade of motor oil can improve fuel economy by up to 5%. The manufacturer’s recommended  tire pressure can be found on the tire information placard and/or vehicle certification label located on the vehicle door edge, door post, glove-box door, or inside the trunk lid.  Plan and Combine Trips A warmed-up engine is more fuel efficient than a cold one.  Many short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warmed up and efficient.  Note:  Letting your car idle to warm-up doesn’t help your fuel economy, it actually uses more fuel and creates more  pollution. For more tips and more information about gasoline pricing, visit www.fueleconomy.gov.  Drive More Efficiently Aggressive driving (speeding and rapid acceleration and braking) can lower your gas mileage by as much as 33% at highway speeds and 5% around town.  Observe the speed limit—each 5 miles per hour (mph) you drive over 60 mph can reduce your fuel economy by 10%. Avoid idling—idling gets 0 miles per gallon.