In addition to these mechanical fixes, a few changes to your driving habits can make a huge difference. AutoMD.com recommends lowering your average speed, as each 5 miles you drive over 60 miles per hour is like paying an additional 24 cents per gallon — and be sure to steer clear of rapid acceleration and braking, which can increase fuel burn by as much as 40 percent. Engine idling is another gas waster, so be sure never to let the engine idle for more than 30 seconds and don’t forget to remove any excess weight from your trunk. Finally, if you can, turn off the air conditioning and only use air that comes in through your ventilator, do it for maximum efficiency; for really hot summer days, use air conditioning on the highway, but turn it off and roll down those windows for driving around the neighborhood or in city traffic.
– Ray Cox is a senior ASE certified technician with AutoMD.com, an online automotive-repair service owned by US Auto Parts Network. For more information on these and other auto repairs, visit AutoMD.com.
