Habits that will increase your car's fuel efficiency
If you drive a gasoline vehicle--either a hybrid or a more conventional car--you can use driving and maintenance strategies to reduce your fuel consumption. Here are NESEA’s suggestions for effective ways to reduce your personal use of fuel, and establishing a fuel economy intelligence.
I. From the driver’s seat.
-Know what your engine is doing, keep an eye on the tachometer, and try to minimize the fluctuation of your vehicle’s RPMs.
TRY TO:
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1.Drive at a steady moderate speed. Use overdrive as much as possible and cruise control whenever it will minimize the fluctuation of your vehicle's RPMs.
2.Resist the temptation to travel faster than 65 mph.
3.Drive with the air vents open, AC off, and windows closed.
TRY TO AVOID:
1.Driving haphazardly with numerous abrupt stops and quick starts.
2.Increasing the load on the engine by extended use of items that require additional energy input from the alternator, especially options such as heated seats and fog lights.
3.Speeding. Traveling at 55 mph rather than 65 mph has a substantial effect on the amount of wind resistance generated and thus, the gas that you are burning.
4.Traveling on the highway with your windows down.
5. Idling for more than 45 seconds. Turning off and restarting your automobile will burn less gas than idling at a drive-up window or in a parking lot.
II. Planning
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-Recognize the detrimental effects of aerodynamic drag on gas mileage.
-Organize your trips to minimize the distance traveled.
TRY TO:
1.Pack lightly and do not carry objects on top of the automobile. Any excess weight will decrease the fuel efficiency, but weight outside of the car will also restrict of airflow around the vehicle.
2.Organize all of your errands into one trip. This will not only decrease your total distanced traveled, but restarting an automobile on a warm engine uses less gas and emits less air pollution than cold engine start ups.
TRY TO AVOID:
1.Leaving heavy items in your trunk for extended periods of time.
2.Cold engine start-ups associated with taking separate trips to do errands.
3.Attaching items to the outside of your vehicle, on the antenna, or roof rack.
III. Maintenance
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-Know the internal components that lead to increased fuel efficiency
TRY TO:
1.Get regular tune-ups to ensure that your filters and spark plugs are functioning properly so as to minimize potential damage to your catalytic converter and oxygen sensor.
2.Use the recommended motor oil only. Using alternative motor oil will likely decrease your gas mileage!
3.Ensure that all of your tires are properly inflated. Less pressure means more of the tire will be on the road, which means increased frictional resistance and decreased fuel efficiency.
TRY TO AVOID:
1.Neglecting your tire pressure
2.Ignoring the check engine light indicator. The On-Board Diagnostic system (on cars manufactured after 1996) may pick up something as minor as a spark plug misfire. Although it may seem as though your vehicle is running smoothly, this can lead to much more expensive damage if you continue to drive on it.
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3.Topping off your gas tank, especially in warm weather. Gas expands with heat, and this will cause evaporation of gasoline into the atmosphere. Therefore, some of the gas that you purchase at the pump will not be used by the engine, decreasing your gas mileage.
Data, results, and conclusions from our own experimentation:
 Data Set (*.pdf)
Overview of Experiment (*.pdf)
Additional data sets and graphs on fuel consumption from Robert Strattan
Data Set Accessory Load (*.pdf)
Data Set 1-5% Grade Elevation (*.pdf)
Data Set Tailwind/Headwind (*.pdf)
Chart 1 Fuel Consumption vs. Headwind (*.pdf)
Chart 2 Fuel Consumption vs. Accessory Load (*.pdf)
Chart 3 Fuel Consumption vs. Elevation (*.pdf)
Additional Resources
Canadian Natural Resources Office of Energy Efficiency
-Excellent comparison of fuel consuming options versus fuel saving options with interactive visuals to illustrate the different aspects of the automobile related to fuel efficiency.
- You can determine your annual fuel consumption, annual fuel costs, and CO2 emission with the "Fuel Consumption and Emissions Calculator"
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
-Provides fuel economy benefits for different gas mileage tips and equivalent gasoline savings
-Free downloads of Fuel Economy Guide 1978-2003 are available. It is an excellent resource for comparing different vehicles and choosing the most efficient vehicle that meets your needs.
-Fuel economy datasets are available.
Gas Mileage Tips
-Basic tips to raise your awareness of the gas mileage that you are getting and the gas mileage you could be getting.
This information was provided by Eben Cross.
The
Green Car Club is organized by
The Northeast Sustainable Energy Association
50 Miles Street, Greenfield, MA 01301
nesea@nesea.org
413-774-6051
Copyright © 2002 by NESEA. All rights reserved.
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