Driving the Best
Fact
Your driving style has an enormous impact on your vehicle’s fuel economy. By “hypermiling,” or making skillful changes in the way you drive so as to conserve fuel, you can get 35 percent better fuel mileage out of your current vehicle, no new purchase necessary. It can be tough to slow down and mellow out, but it pays back in big savings on fuel consumption.
Get Started
- Observe the speed limit. Every 5 mph over 60 you go is equivalent to $0.24 per gallon more in gas.
- Remove excess weight from your car. An addition 100 pounds can decrease your fuel efficiency by 2 percent.
- Don’t shoot off the starting line. When you stick your pedal to the medal, you are pushing your engine to its maximum and burning up fuel much more quickly than if you were to gradually speed up.
Become a Pro
- Pay closer attention as you drive. Last-minute stops or speeding up only to halt at a red light means more fuel burned as you accelerate again. Most drivers apply their brakes between 10 and 25 percent more times than necessary.
- Support stores as close to your home as possible and carpool with others.
- Attend a driving clinic. Fuel-efficient driving techniques are commonly discussed, and clinics are sometimes offered by experienced members.
As of June 17th 2011 we have upgraded our comment system to use Facebook comments.
The below comments are closed and are listed for historical purposes.
Paul Drescher
posted on January 5th, 2012 at 6:02 pm
Debbie Doss
posted on January 5th, 2012 at 9:16 pm
Lannie Loeks
posted on January 6th, 2012 at 3:45 pm