More Gas Saving Tips

by: Kenneth M Flegel


With the prices of gasoline going higher and higher, it’s not unusual for all of us to search out some fuel saving techniques most of the ones I have found are simple for any one to apply to their every day driving.

1. Always try to drive the speed limit. Did you know that for every 5 mph you travel over 60 mph, you are decreasing your fuel economy by 6%.

2. Try not to let your car sit idling for any length of time. According to Fueleconomy.gov the average driver will waste 17% of its gas by simply sitting in idle. So this means for every 10 gallons you purchase, 1.7 gallons are used to keep the engine running while you sit in park.

3. Keep your sunroof or windows closed. I really enjoy the sunroof on my car and it is alright to have it open if you are taking a leisurely drive around town and only traveling about 25 mph because the amount of drag will not be noticeable to your fuel consumption. But the amount of drag placed on your vehicle at highway speeds (55 mph or more), an open sunroof may reduce your fuel economy by 5%. Same thing will apply to your windows being open but they do not have quite as much impact as the sunroof. Avoid buying cars with spoilers on them or having one put on your car simply to “trick it out”. The basic function of a spoiler is to add downforce to your car to help improve handling at high speeds, so naturally having a spoiler will hurt your fuel economy. This also applies to roof racks and any type of carrier on the top of your car.

4. Remove any excess weight you have on your vehicle. Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

5. When highway driving try to use your cruise control. Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save on your fuel consumption.

6. When driving up hill accelerate before you reach the incline. Think ahead when approaching hills. If you accelerate, do it before you reach the hill, not while you're on it. This will also increase your mpg.

7. Avoid driving on gravel or rough roads if at all possible. Dirt or gravel roads can rob you of up to 30% of your gas mileage.

8. Try to stay away from curving or winding roads. Compare traveling distance differences - remember that corners, curves and lane jumping require extra gas. The shortest distance between two points is always straight

9. Try to park your car so you can leave in a forward position. Avoiding reverse gear maneuvers will save on your fuel mileage.

10. There are many good fuel additives out there and we have done extensive research on them to view a list of our findings

contact us at.
brendalarsen@sasktel.net

or call Ken Flegel or Brenda Larsen
at (306)545-4535 or (306)501-7424.


About The Author

Ken Flegel works as a certified electronic technician , part time mechanic, and purchaser for the local school board. One of his responsibilities is the purchasing of the fuel for all the board’s vehicles therefore giving him extensive knowledge in fuel quality, condition, and price.