Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Living Well with the Carrie Connection

Driving a vehicle with good fuel economy will save you money every time you fill up. But what if you drive a gas guzzler? Is there any way to save money at the pump? The U.S. Department of Energy says "Yes." Here are a few of their suggestions.

Drive the speed limit. Driving at 70 miles an hour rather than 75 can save the average driver as much as $5 an hour. It will also keep you from having to pay for a speeding ticket.

Use your cruise control on highway trips. In most cases this practice will reduce fuel consumption.

Avoid unnecessary idling. Most cars no longer require being "warmed up."

Use your overdrive gear during highway driving. This decreases your car's engine speed and reduces both fuel consumption and engine wear.

Avoid extreme acceleration. Hard acceleration will cause your engine to enter a less efficient "fuel enrichment mode" of operation.

Keep your tires properly inflated. Look for the manufacturer's label showing the correct tire pressure for your tires. When a psi range is listed, use the higher number to maximize fuel efficiency. Tires lose about one psi per month and one psi for each 10 degree drop in temperature. One tire under-inflated by two psi will result in one percent increase in fuel consumption. In addition be sure that your wheels are properly aligned and your brakes properly adjusted to minimize rolling resistance.

Keep your car's air filter clean. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10% increase in fuel consumption.

Keep your engine tuned. A poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10% to 20%, depending on the car's condition.

Regardless of whether your car is the most fuel efficient of its class or a model that drinks gas, following these suggestions will save you money at the pump.