Date: Wed, 12 Jul 2000 09:20:02 -0500
Reply-To: "Keese, Brian W" <bkeese@indiana.edu>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Keese, Brian W" <bkeese@indiana.edu>
Subject: Fuel economy
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
I found the following article in this month's MapQuest.com newsletter.
Mostly old news, but might be interesting to some of us...
Brian Keese
84 Westy "The Ark"
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Don't Be Fuelish: Six Easy Steps to Save Gas
The skyrocketing price of gasoline has forced every American driver to focus
on fuel economy. Suddenly, with gas selling for $2 or more a gallon, economy
matters again.
But there is some good news: You can economize without rushing out and
buying one of those new-fangled hybrid electric cars or making a major dent
in your lifestyle. Squeezing more miles out of a gallon of gasoline isn't
rocket science. Here are six simple tips for fuel-efficient motoring.
1. SLOW DOWN JUST A BIT
When gasoline prices spiked in the early 1970s, America switched to a
55-mile-an-hour speed limit. No one wants to go back to that particular slow
lane, but you'd be surprised how much you can save by easing off on the
accelerator and driving 65 instead of 70 miles an hour. For each hour you
drive 65, experts say you'll save at least $5. If you drive a sport-utility
vehicle or a pick-up truck, your hourly savings will be more than $10.
2. FILL 'ER UP WITH REGULAR
Why pay for higher-octane gas if the only difference it makes is to your
wallet? Most vehicles on the road today are specifically designed to operate
on fuel with a "regular" octane rating of 87. Pumping mid-grade or premium
gas with higher octane levels can cost as much as 20 cents a gallon more and
it won't improve your car's performance.
3. DRIVE SMARTER
Your vehicle's overdrive gears are specifically designed for optimum highway
driving. Switch to overdrive and you'll reduce your engine speed, which
reduces both fuel consumption and engine wear without sacrificing speed.
Another highway fuel saver is cruise control. Using cruise control helps you
maintain a constant speed and reduces fuel consumption.
4. TUNE UP AND SAVE
Studies have shown that a poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption
by as much as 20 percent. Following your car's recommended maintenance
schedule--it's listed in your owner's manuals--will save fuel and increase
your vehicle's performance. And, be sure to keep your tires properly
inflated; under-inflated tires cause a 6 percent rise in fuel consumption.
(Tires lose about a pound of pressure per square inch every month and about
a pound for every 10-degree drop in temperature.) A clogged oil filter can
also reduce your car's fuel efficiency by as much as an 10 percent, so
remember to change it in accordance with the manufacturer's recommendations.
5. CUT DOWN THE DRAG
"Warming up the car" is an American tradition. It's also unnecessary for
most modern vehicles and wastes fuel. Take those snow tires off, too.
They're great for traction in winter, but miserable for fuel economy in the
summer and fall. Avoid carrying unneeded items in your trunk. Every hundred
pounds of excess weight reduces fuel economy by 2 percent. Then move the
stuff you'd load on your roof rack into the space you've created in the
trunk. A fully loaded roof rack is an aerodynamic drag and knocks another 5
percent off your fuel economy.
6. MANAGE YOUR TRAVEL BETTER
You know this one, you just forgot. Several short trips taken from a cold
start can use twice as much fuel as a longer, multi-purpose excursion
covering the same distance. Make a list of what you need to do and then cut
down the number of single-purpose errands you run.
