10 Ways to Get More Out of Your Tank

Here are 10 tips to significantly improve the fuel efficiency of your work vehicle!  Try these tips at home, and save your own pocketbook too!

 

Remember, each gallon of gas you save at work or home helps improve our air quality (which reduces health risks for you and your family), reduces greenhouse gas emissions, saves money, and reduces our dependence on foreign oil imports – What’s not to like?

  

Tip #1:  Drive Gently, Avoid Jack-Rabbit Starts and Sudden Stops
Think "steady and smooth" as you drive and take the long view of the road so you can brake easy.  A car consumes extra fuel when accelerating. Limiting the speed of acceleration can significantly increase fuel economy.  When driving in stop-and-go traffic, look ahead by two or more vehicles to enable you to accelerate and decelerate more gradually. By not driving aggressively, drivers can save up to 20 percent in fuel economy. Driving smoothly and anticipating stops to avoid sudden braking also maximizes fuel economy

 

Tip #2:  Drive at Moderate Speeds
Wind drag is a key source of reduced fuel mileage, causing an engine to work harder, thereby reducing fuel economy. On the highway, you can assume that with each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph your fuel economy drops by 5%. Therefore, when you drive 75 mph vs. 55 mph it’s like burning an extra gallon of fuel every 100 miles you drive.

 

Tip #3:  Don’t Let Your Vehicle Idle While You Wait
When a vehicle is idling, it is getting 0 mpg! It uses less fuel to turn the engine off while you wait and then restart the car, than to let it idle for 10 seconds.  When you leave your car running while you are waiting in line at the drive-thru, or as you wait for another employee at work or outside your kids' school, you are wasting fuel and adding to our Valley Smog.  On cold days, only let your car idle for 30 seconds to warm up before starting to drive.  The best way to warm up your car is to drive gently for a few minutes; this warms up all the parts of the car and is recommended by all major vehicle manufacturers and mechanics.   REMEMBER:  Salt Lake City has an ordinance prohibiting City vehicles from idling for more than 10 seconds when parked!

 

Tip #4:  Don’t Haul Around More Than You Need
The less weight a vehicle carries, the less fuel it will consume. Remove unnecessary items including from your truck bed or trunk. You can even leave those extra back seats at home!  Carrying around an extra 100 pounds of weight can reduce your fuel economy by up to 2%.
 

Tip #5:  Think Before You Vent(ilate)
Running your air conditioner causes your vehicle to consume more fuel, but driving with your windows rolled down can be even worse due to the increase of drag on the vehicle. If you are driving slowly, such as around town or in city traffic, then you will save fuel by leaving your windows open, if at all possible. For highway driving, roll up the windows and turn the air conditioning on.
 

Tip #6:  Use Cruise Control -- Selectively
Using cruise control can improve your gas mileage up to 14% by helping you smooth out the accelerator input, but only if you are driving on mostly flat roads. If you are driving in hilly terrain, using cruise control typically causes your vehicle to speed up faster (to maintain the preset speed) than it would if you were operating the accelerator yourself. Before you push that cruise control button, think about the terrain ahead.
 

Tip #7:  Combine Trips, and Plan Your Route
A little trip planning can make a big difference in fuel economy. When your engine is cold, it uses more fuel than when it is warm. Combining errands can improve your gas mileage because your engine will be warm for more of the trip. It might also mean you travel less total miles. According to the DOE, several short trips all begun with a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a single, longer trip that covers the same distance. Planning your route to minimize left turns is another good way to save fuel….  The United States Postal Service and UPS have both embraced trip planning to minimize left turns and other movements that will result in long waits (it’s that idling thing again!) 
 

Tip #8:  Follow the Recommended Vehicle Maintenance
A vehicle that is well maintained means it will operate with greater efficiency. This not only improves your overall vehicle performance, but it will improve your fuel economy as well. Fouled spark plugs, a dirty air filter or clogged fuel filter will all affect your fuel economy. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), replacing a clogged air filter can increase your mileage by 10 percent, while replacing an oxygen sensor could result in an improvement as high as 40 percent. Proper maintenance also means using the right octane gas and the recommended grade of motor oil. Using the recommended types for your vehicle will give you optimum fuel economy — and can save you money as well. Check your owner's manual for your vehicle's recommendations and have maintenance performed regularly by a dealer or reputable mechanic.
 

Tip #9:  Maintain Proper Tire Inflation
Under-inflated tires require more energy to roll and, consequently, more fuel is consumed. If you keep your tires inflated properly, you can improve your fuel economy by as much as 2.5%.The recommended tire pressure can be found in your owner's manual or on a sticker on the doorjamb of your car, not on the tire itself. Buy a tire-pressure gauge and check your tires monthly.
 

Tip #10:  Reduce Drag
Make your work and personal vehicle as aerodynamic as possible.  If you have a roof rack or roof carrier, install it on your vehicle only when absolutely necessary. Not only does the carrier add extra weight, but it also increases the aerodynamic drag on the vehicle, which further contributes to a loss of fuel economy.  Even keeping your vehicle clean and waxed can reduce drag and improve fuel economy!
 

Renee Zollinger

Environmental Manager 

Salt Lake City Corporation

451 S. State St. Room 145

PO Box 145467

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5467

(801) 535-7215  (office)

(801) 750-4390  (cell)