The best fuel economy is possible if you take simple steps to change bad driving habits.
We are all guilty of some habits that waste gasoline.
Over a period of time even small improvements in mpg can add up to significant fuel savings.
What simple changes can you make in your driving habits that will improve your fuel economy and save money?
A good starting point for improving gas economy is to know how many miles per gallon (mpg) each car you own is currently getting. The lower the mpg the more important it is to improve gas efficiency.
To determine how much of an improvement you have made, get in the habit of monitoring your miles per gallon (mpg). This can be calculated simply by dividing the miles driven between fill-ups by the gallons of gas purchased. Topping off each fill-up and averaging over several fill-ups gives a more accurate calculation.
There are two basic ways to improve gas mileage;
1) Make sure the vehicle is performing properly, and
2) Change your driving habits.
The mechanical condition of your vehicle can contribute to poor mpg.
Have you been putting off needed maintenance especially on older cars? Seriously consider the benefits that may be gained by correcting problems you have been putting off. A properly working car will always produce the best fuel economy.
Dirty fuel injectors, dragging brakes, inefficient or excessive use of the air conditioner, overheating, dirty air and fuel filters, etc. can cause minor or major loss of fuel efficiency.
Changing poor driving habits can also make significant improvement in fuel economy.
Some very simple examples of ways to save gas are:
1) Remove all excess weight from the vehicle. There is no need to carry items that you may use occasionally.
2) Reduce the number of trips by combining purposes.
3) Schedule trips to avoid traffic delays.
4) Schedule trips when it's cool to avoid turning on the air conditioner.
5) Turn off the engine when there will be a delay of more than 30 seconds.
6) Avoid jack rabbit starts and speeding.
7) Be more observant of driving patterns.
Consider changing brands of gas. Most gas today is basically the same except for additives. Some of the additives in one brand may be better or worse for a particular car. Always check mpg when you switch to a different brand.
It is wise to shop for low prices; however, do a quick calculation on the cost of driving several miles to save a few cents per gallon. It may actually be cheaper to pay the extra cost than to burn the fuel to drive the extra miles.
If you know of a station with less expensive gas that is only a few blocks out of your way, go for it. If it is several miles away, it may cost more to drive to it than what you save.
Being more aware of how our driving habits affect our mpg will reduce some of the waste we are generating. Making simple changes will result in gas savings.
One of the best methods I have found for improving my car's fuel efficiency is to add a fuel reformulator.
There have always been gas additives that were seldom used.
Now there are newer types of products formulated to not only improve fuel economy, but also to improve engine life and performance, and reduce polluting emissions.
Unlike with the old products, it is now smart to add fuel reformulators.
To read additional articles, news and information related to finding more methods, tips and ideas for achieving your car's best fuel efficiency, visit http://www.thebestfueleconomy.com.
Paul Wallace looks for simple ways to improve fuel economy. Learn one of best ways to reduce your gasoline bill and at the same time significantly reduce pollution caused by auto emissions by visiting his fuel economy website.
