One of the leading causes of decreased fuel economy is neglected maintenance. This costs consumers millions of dollars in wasted fuel. Here are a few examples.
Changing a few driving habits can help you see an increase in fuel economy as well:
- Avoid quick or "jack rabbit" starts and stops.
- Sitting idle gets zero miles per gallon. Turn the vehicle off if you've been sitting for more than a minute.
- Drive the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 65-70 mph. Each mph driven over 70 can cost you 10 cents per gallon.
- Cruise control helps you drive the speed limit and keeps the acceleration smooth and prevents nervous surging.
- Avoid carrying unneeded heavy items in your trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by 1-2%.
Click here for a FULL SIZE PDF of our Fuel Saving Tips Sheet.
