> by Sean Tucker
> According to the mileage book in my glovebox, I averaged about 21 miles
> per gallon in May. So far in June, I'm at 26.
>
> New, more fuel-efficient, car?
>
> Nope, I'm commuting in the same old Volvo S60 that has seen better days.
> Same dent in the right rear door. Same old Cheerios wedged under the
> child safety seat in back. (Yeah, I know. I'll get to it, Honey).
> So how did I do it? I'm trying to learn to drive more efficiently, and
> little by little, it's working. With a few simple changes, you can easily
> squeeze more gas mileage out of the car you're already driving.
>
> A Note on the Calculations:
>
> Your mileage will vary. Governments and automakers estimate fuel mileage
> savings by percentage -- do x and you'll get five percent better fuel
> mileage. I wanted to know what they meant in real dollars, so I used the
> average mileage Americans actually got from their cars in 2007 (22.4 mpg,
> according to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics) and boosted it by
> the percentage each tip should gain. I've assumed you spend 55 percent of
> the time driving in the city and 45 percent driving on the highway. I
> borrowed those assumptions from the formula EPA uses to calculate the
> mileage of new cars.
>
> Using the average price of a gallon of gas as of June 12 ($4.05,
> according to AAA) and assuming you drive 15,000 miles a year (according to
> EPA estimates), I calculated what each tip would save in a year. The
> numbers aren't a perfect prediction -- I have no idea what you drive, or
> what's in your trunk -- but they do provide an interesting perspective.
> Here are ten easy ways to put the math to the test and put some more cash
> in your wallet.
>
> 1. Get that "Check Engine" Light Checked Out:
>
> Possible Savings: Off the charts
>
> A faulty oxygen sensor -- a fairly common cause of those unexplained
> "check engine" lights -- can actually cost you up to 40 percent of your
> engine's performance. If the light's on, make the appointment now. It
> could pay for itself very quickly.
>
> 2. Check Your Tire Pressure:
>
> Possible Savings 133.9 gallons/year ($542/yr)
>
> According to some government estimates, the average driver could boost
> their fuel efficiency by 25 percent just by keeping their tires inflated.
> That's often a free, or cheap, repair. On my way to work, I pass two gas
> stations with air compressors I can use for free, and three -- apparently
> owned by cheapskates -- that take quarters.
>
> 3. Change Your Air Filter:
>
> Possible Savings 60.9 gallons/yr ($247/yr)
>
> Gas is half of the combustion equation. Air is the other half. A clogged
> air filter can rob 10 percent of your engine's efficiency. A new air
> filter can get that 10 percent back -- usually for under $15.
>
> 4. Drive 60 on the Highway, Not 75:
>
> Possible Savings: 57.8 gallons/year ($234/yr)
>
> On the highway, stay close to the speed limit, and keep your speed as
> constant as traffic allows. Most cars reach optimal gas mileage at about
> 60 miles per hour. Speeding up increases wind resistance against the car,
> making the engine work harder and burn more gas. According to the EPA,
> each 5 mph over 60 that you drive decreases fuel efficiency by up to seven
> percent.
>
> 5. Turn Off the A/C:
>
> Possible Savings 31.9 gallons/yr ($129/yr)
>
> Some air conditioners rob an engine up to five percent of its fuel
> economy. There is some controversy about this one -- many newer cars are
> able to compensate for the energy used by an air conditioner and don't
> suffer the same penalty for keeping cool.
>
> 6. Get Your Engine Tuned:
>
> Possible Savings 25.8 gallons/year ($104/yr)
>
> Most of us can boost our mpg by four percent with a simple tune-up.
>
>
> 7. Drive Calmly in the City
>
> Possible Savings: 17.9 gallons/yr ($73/yr)
>
> There's a red light up ahead. You're going to stop when you get to it.
> Do you keep your foot on the gas until it's time to brake for the light?
> Most of us do, but that doesn't necessarily make sense. The Environmental
> Protection Agency estimates that accelerating rapidly and braking hard can
> reduce your car's fuel efficiency by as much as five percent. And that may
> be a low estimate. Look at it this way -- are you willing to spend money
> to stop at that light sooner?
> 8. Lose Weight:
>
> Possible Savings 13.1 gallons/yr for each 100 pounds you remove ($104/yr)
>
> Government estimates say that an extra 100 pounds in your car can reduce
> fuel efficiency by up to two percent. And that's an average -- the
> smaller the car, the more extra weight makes the engine work harder.
>
> So, empty the trunk. In winter, don't just scrape the windshield, scrape
> the entire car -- snow and ice add to the weight of your car.
>
> 9. Lose the Roof Rack
>
> Possible Savings 13.1 gallons/year ($53/yr)
>
> Wind resistance is the enemy of fuel efficiency. Do you have a roof rack?
> Every time you drive, it's making your car fight wind resistance, and burn
> fuel. Most of the time, that's money you're spending to carry an empty
> roof rack. Get a two percent boost by taking the thing off.
>
> 10. Change Your Oil on Time
>
> Possible Savings 6.6 gallons/year ($27/yr)
>
> After 3,000 miles, changing your oil (using the recommended grade) gives
> you back one percent of your car's mpg rating.
>
> How Much Can You Save?
>
> If you follow the tips above, that's $1,514 less you could spend on gas in
> the next year. Though it's a rough estimate, it shows you what small
> changes in your habits -- most of which you can make for free -- could do
> for your wallet.
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