EXTENSION REPORT

Good, Better, Best: How to Improve Gas Mileage

Whether you are shopping for a new car or just trying to maintain the one you have, you can take some steps to get the best mileage out of your gas purchases. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC the nation’s consumer protection agency), and the Alliance to Save Energy, offers these tips to use fuel efficiently:

Keep your car properly tuned up to improve gas mileage by about 4 percent.  

Improve mileage by up to 40 percent by replacing a faulty oxygen sensor.

Keep tires properly inflated to improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent and to extend the life and ensure the safety of your tires.

Use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil to improve your gas mileage by another 1-2 percent.  Select motor oil with “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

Check and replace air filters regularly .  Replacing a clogged or dirty air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, and a clean filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine.

Curtail aggressive driving .  Speeding, rapid acceleration, and rapid braking all waste gas – and curb mileage by as much as 33 percent at highway speeds, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  Nix jack-rabbit starts, opting instead for slow acceleration from a dead stop.

In addition, speeding cuts fuel economy 7 to 23 percent, as gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 mph.  Each five mph you drive over 60 is like paying an extra 15 cents per gallon. Stay within posted speed limits. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour.

Remove excess weight from the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce a typical car’s fuel economy by up to two percent.

Avoid packing items on top of your car. A loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy by five percent.

When buying a new vehicle, think high gas mileage . Check out the DOE website, , and the ACEEE website, , for information on fuel-efficient vehicles.  Learn about current electric drive vehicles on the Electric Drive Transportation Association website, . 

Get a $2,000 federal tax deduction this year when you purchase a hybrid-electric car.  Next year, the deduction drops to $500.

When renting a car, ask for a model that gets better fuel economy .  Also, remember to fill up the tank before returning the car to the rental company, which always charges much higher gas prices – and sometimes an extra gas surcharge.

Avoid idling, which gets 0 mph .  Cars with larger engines typically waste even more gas at idling than cars with smaller engines.

Combine your errands into one trip and plan your routes carefully to drive fewer miles and use less fuel.

If available, use your vehicle’s overdrive gear when appropriate to reduce engine speed, save gas, and decrease engine wear.

Use cruise control to help cut fuel consumption by maintaining a steady speed during highway driving.

    If you own more than one vehicle , drive the one that gets better gas mileage whenever possible. 

At the Pump : Use the Octane Level You Need Your owner’s manual recommends the most effective octane level for your car. For most cars, the recommended gasoline is regular octane. In most cases, using a higher octane gas than the manufacturer recommends offers no benefit. Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of money.

Protect your health and your pocketbook by walking to your destination whenever possible.  You’ll lose weight, lower stress, save gas and money, and reduce pollution.

Pack lightly when traveling , and avoid carrying items on your vehicle’s roof.  An extra 100 pounds in the trunk cuts a typical car’s fuel economy 1-2 percent.

Carpool and use public transportation whenever possible.  And consider telecommuting if your employer allows it.

Find additional tips for saving fuel and money from the American Automobile Association at .

See Alliance gasoline-saving tips in Spanish at .

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a or to get , visit or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); Information for this article was gathered from the Federal Trade Commission and The Alliance to Save Energy a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security

Phone: 937-7176 or 943-5611, 928-0860, ext. 2222

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.