Ways To Save Gas And Increase Mileage

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In looking at the EPA mileage rating of any given vehicle, it sometimes seems as if the whole rating system itself is arbitrary and ambiguous. There's no real explanation as to why some of the ratings are very accurate and some others are as far from the actual mileage as you can get. Having said this, there are still ways to increase overall MPG regardless of the EPA mileage for a vehicle. Let's look at some of those methods and what they entail:

● Do not accelerate rapidly or brake suddenly: These 2 no-no's can reduces fuel economy by as much as 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent around town. EPA ratings do not account for this kind of excessive driving.

● Do not leave your engine idling for long periods: Doing this can decrease average FE. The EPA city test includes idling, but drivers that experience more idling experience lower MPG

● Do not drive at high speeds: High speed driving increases aerodynamic drag (wind resistance) and mechanical friction which reduces fuel economy. The EPA test accounts for aerodynamic drag up to highway speeds of 60 mph, but drivers often exceed this speed.

● Frequent Trips: Frequent Short Trips, especially in cold weather reduce fuel economy, since your engine doesn't operate efficiently until it is warmed up. In colder weather, it takes longer for your engine to warm, and on short trips, your vehicle operates a smaller percentage of time at the desired temperature.

Note: Letting your car idle to warm-up doesn't help your fuel economy, it actually uses more fuel and creates more pollution. Drive to your furthest destination first and then as you are heading home, stop at the closer destinations in order from furthest to closest as the car is warmed up for longer portions of your drive.

● Don't use Cargo racks: Cargo and/or racks on top of your vehicle (e.g., cargo boxes, canoes, etc.) increase aerodynamic drag and lower FE. Vehicles are not tested with additional cargo on the exterior.

● Do not tow unless absolutely necessary: Towing a trailer or carrying excessive weight does decrease fuel economy. Vehicles are assumed to carry three hundred pounds of passengers and cargo in the EPA test cycles.

● Run mechanical and electrical accessories minimally: Running mechanical and electrical accessories (e.g., air conditioner) decreases fuel economy. Operating the air conditioner on "Max" can reduce MPG by roughly 5-25) in fuel economy. In addition, the energy content of gasoline varies from season to season. Typical summer conventional gasoline contains about 1.7% more energy than typical winter conventional gasoline.

● Inherent Variations in Vehicles: Small variations in the way vehicles are manufactured and assembled can cause MPG variations among vehicles of the same make and model. Usually, differences are small, but a few drivers will see a marked deviation from the EPA estimates.

● Engine Break-In: New vehicles will not obtain their optimal fuel economy until the engine has broken in. This may take 3-5 thousand miles.

Hopefully, these techniques have shown some specific methods for achieving the best gas mileage possible for your vehicle but also give an overall "feel" for what it takes to maximize fuel economy and really drive to save gasoline.

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By: David White - has over 20 years experience in automotive engineering and technology. His latest automotive book,"Proven Techniques to Save Gas" is available at: www.savegas.sailawaymarketing.com

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