Fuel Saving Tips
some backing up is required for your brakes
if you have drum type brakes in the back, you need to back up sometimes. The rear drum brake shoes need adjustment to tighten them to the drum as they wear. This is automatically done by braking in reverse. If you 'never' back up due to these tips on Fuelly, your back brakes will get looser and looser because they never adjust tighter. This only applies to drum brakes, if you have all disc brakes this does not apply.
posted by Idahoser on October 12, 2011
this tip works for 87% of voting Fuelly members.
Use the A/C button
Sometimes, when it's scorching hot, AC is a must. But if you have manual climate control or an A/C off button, you can be selective as to when your A/C compressor engages. Both in the city and on the highways, turn the A/C on when you're slowing down, and turn it off when you're accelerating. Instead of energy going to the brakes, it'll run your A/C without using any extra fuel. In a manual, keep the car in gear and your RPMs up while slowing down with the A/C on.
posted by davidrools on October 9, 2011
this tip works for 39% of voting Fuelly members.
Neutral down a hill
When going down a long hill put your car in neutral and let it coast down the hill.
posted by chrisw2k5 on October 4, 2011
this tip works for 5% of voting Fuelly members.
The 'forgotten' servicable items
People often service motors very regularly, but forget about the other parts of the overall machine. Paying attention to other areas- bearings, gearbox/ transaxle oil, diff oil, power steering fluid, as well as making sure earths around the engine, battery and battery terminals are all in good condition and clean will add up. Each area may only increase power or economy by a fraction of a percent, but the overall machine benefits when all areas are well maintained.
posted by bradcad on October 1, 2011
this tip works for 95% of voting Fuelly members.
Avoid filling up with ethanol (E85)
Ethanol has less BTU's than gasoline. While it is a renewable energy source, you'll use much more fuel. 10%-40% more fuel (depending on your driving). Some gas companies add ethanol to regular gasoline (up to 10%) Usually higher octane fuels (premium) contain no ethanol. http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/news/ethanol/test-results-e85-vs-gasoline/index.htm
posted by angelocardoc on September 28, 2011
this tip works for 80% of voting Fuelly members.
Use a different Oil
If you do your own oil changes than you can select any oil you want. Some national stores as well allow you to select synthetic oil. Some synthetics are shown to increase MPG from 3-15% at different RPM ranges, reduce emissions, reduce wear, and give more HP/Tor. Also using oil rated with 20(100c) after the W can increase MPG. If you manual tells you to use specific oil, I would stick to it to keep warranty or research more to become more informed outside of warranty.
posted by emsrower on September 23, 2011
this tip works for 16% of voting Fuelly members.
Smallish motorcycles and MPG
Driving a small 125cc at hwy speeds(60mph)is stressing the motor, and eating up gas. My recent fillup with cruising 45-50 got me 77 mpg. City riding only for this little bike is the best for MPG
posted by koolbreeze on September 18, 2011
this tip works for 57% of voting Fuelly members.
Travel At Night!
Got a long trip ahead of you? Consider traveling by night. There is less traffic, therefore less chances of traffic impedance allowing you to keep a constant speed rather than slow down and speed up several times (very helpful if traveling through areas that might experience heavy commutes during the morning or afternoon). Not only that, but the cool air will allow you to travel without having to use the air conditioner or rolling down the windows in the summer.
posted by phlygirl86 on September 15, 2011
this tip works for 96% of voting Fuelly members.
Don't fill your tank up all the way
By doing this, you carry around extra weight in your car. Fill up as much as you need for a few days, and watch the market trends. If the price is going up, buy some extra, but not too much. If the price is going down, use only what you need until the price goes back up.
posted by TotallyCRZ on September 3, 2011
this tip works for 6% of voting Fuelly members.
hot air intake
Hot air is less dense. If the intake air is hotter, the engine computer will sense the intake temperature and squirt in less gas to keep the proper air to fuel ratio. During the winter months, it may be profitable for you to duct the air intake to a warm spot under the hood such as behind the radiator or next to the exhaust manifold. Some of the hot-rodders will install what is known as a 'cold air intake' or some times a 'ram air' system, to increase power. Cold (and therefore, dense) air allows more gas to be used at the same air to fuel ratio, and will produce more power! Therefore, using a "hot air" intake will reduce power, but increase milage. Try setting one up this coming winter, and your winter milage will not be so bad. It will probably not be as good as summer milage, but better than nothing. If you are fording water :D or are unsure about all that plumbing before the air filter box, or your car is under warranty, you *really* *really* should know what you are doing. I have no idea how this will help or hurt with a turbo engine especially with an i/c (maybe insulate that with cardboard?) but if you are willing to try, share your results!
posted by nutmeg on August 25, 2011
this tip works for 28% of voting Fuelly members.
the brakes are evil
These tips have all been mentioned before, but this is a new way of thinking about it. If you drive a normal, non-hybrid car, every time you step on the brakes you are turning useful forward momentum into wasted energy (heat)! Shifting down is cheating as you are just using your engine as an air compressor instead of friction brakes. If you tailgate the car in front, when he turns off the highway you will have to use the brakes much more, and turn more momentum into heat, than if you had left enough distance to just coast until he turns, and have to accelerate less. If you crest a hill at or over the speed limit, you will have to ride the brakes on the way down and use your gas dollars to heat up your brake discs and pads, versus slowing down naturally on the way up and accelerating on the way down. Go to your rollercoaster park and observe the train's speed as it goes up and down the hills. I try and keep (in a 55mph state route for example) to go about 45-50mph over the peaks, and 60 mph through the valleys. Depending on how steep the hills are!) If you know you will be turning off or coming up to a red light start slowing down early. Again, this has been said before. But be courteous! Always use your turn signal and be reasonable if the road is a double yellow stripe or rush hour. Honestly, isn't keeping your sanity, and fellow motorists happy, more important than saving half a cent of gas? If you drive a hybrid, coasting and light to moderate use of the brakes will recharge the battery. But most hybrids can only charge a certain amount (at least the prius, which I am moderately familiar with) so If you use the brakes heavy or at low speed it still works the friction brakes!
posted by nutmeg on August 25, 2011
this tip works for 84% of voting Fuelly members.
Fuel Trip Distance
Mentioned previously re-set your Trip meter each trip, most newer vehicles have Trip A & Trip B, Re-set the highest reading each fuel up, if you can't write the trip reading it is easy to compare the 2 when you get somewhere to borrow a biro or home
posted by jacrabbit on August 24, 2011
this tip works for 64% of voting Fuelly members.
No pen needed!
Pretty much all receipts are now printed on thermal paper or carbonless paper that is so sensitive, it also reacts to the frictional heat generated by simply scoring it with your finger nail. That means, you can just scribble the odometer reading on the receipt with your fingernail or key. No pen needed!
posted by gory on August 22, 2011
this tip works for 86% of voting Fuelly members.
Fill-up with ethanol-free gas
It has been proven with several sources that using any kind of ethanol gas decreases your gas mileage. MPG-O-MATIC did this with a buick and ran 28mpg and did the same course with E85 gas and only got 23mpg. Most gas stations will advertised their gas as ethanol free if it is. Around here (Atlantic Canada) Shell and Petro-Canada and 2 of the biggest brands that carry it.
posted by MatrixDom on August 20, 2011
this tip works for 81% of voting Fuelly members.
Taking off
Accelerate slowly to the speed you need to go. Jackrabbit starts hurt MPGs more than anything!
posted by ZoomZoomFan on August 15, 2011
this tip works for 30% of voting Fuelly members.
Get in top gear for best fuel efficiency
Your vehicle runs most efficiently when in its top gear. The slower your speed in top gear, the lower the engine speed (RPMs), reducing the amount of fuel consumed. Accelerate gently, smoothly, and maintain top gear at speed as much as possible. Try to eliminate or reduce the amount of downshifting from the transmission if an automatic. Not only does this save you fuel, but also puts less wear and tear on your engine and transmission.
posted by palebeachbum on August 12, 2011
this tip works for 56% of voting Fuelly members.
Keep Your Distance
When driving in heavy stop-and-go traffic, keep your distance from the driver in front of you and minimize your braking and accelerating. You might make a few other drivers impatient, but the fuel savings (And brake pad savings) will be worth it. Remember, every time you press you brakes you are effectively wasting gas.
posted by chiss22 on August 12, 2011
this tip works for 97% of voting Fuelly members.
Premature oil breakdown?
How can you tell if you need to change your oil even before your odometer tells you to do so? When you check your oil naturally you look to see if it is dirty but oil can look clean and still need to be changed. Fuel or moisture content in the oil will break down oil prematurely without really changing in color. First off smell the oil, if it smells burnt or smells like gasoline it has been contaminated and it's lubricating value may have been compromised. Finally rub the oil between your index finger and your thumb. If it feels gritty or you can feel your fingers the oil has lost its lubricating value and should be changed. You will get better fuel economy and prolong engine life.
posted by starwarrior on August 12, 2011
this tip works for 64% of voting Fuelly members.
Enjoy your drive
Remember the days when it was just fun to get in the car, take in the sights and drive. The only difference now is you do it every day. Take it easy and enjoy the ride. You not only will get better mileage, you ride will last longer and you will live longer.
posted by starwarrior on August 12, 2011
this tip works for 96% of voting Fuelly members.
Tire Pressure...
Make sure you check your tire pressure regularly. It will save you a little at the pumps, and it will ensure that your tires get the most life out of them...that is the biggest savings if this tip...you can get considerably more life out of your tires if they wear evenly. And on a bike, it can have a major effect on the handling...check your tire pressure when you fill your tank... Later.
posted by madjak30 on August 12, 2011
this tip works for 94% of voting Fuelly members.
Keep Your Options Open
Fuelly has an excellent stat that makes this site very powerful in that it gives you avg price/gallon right on your vehicle page. I know that I'm very bad at playing the "buy low" game at the gas station--it always seems that when I need gas, that's when the prices are the highest for the week--and I'm forced to pay what they have because they got it, and I need it. So what I plan to do is do a quick check on Fuelly before I head out to see what my avg price/gallon is, and if I happen to be going by a gas station that has a lower price, I stop in and fill up. The goal here is to keep that average price/gallon low, and when you still have gas in your car, you still have options. Not necessarily a tip to lower your gas milage, but maybe this might help your pocket book over the long run. A good suggestion also if you have a smart phone is the "gas buddy" app to give you gas station prices in your area--so you don't have to make a special trip.
posted by KetGuy on August 10, 2011
this tip works for 57% of voting Fuelly members.
neutral downhill
In conjunction with the tip "Slack your speed" I find it useful to put my car in neutral whenever going downhill. even on the slightest downgrades you will actually find yourself going faster than if you had left your car in gear. I drive 25 miles to work and find that I have 1 4 mile section where I'm in neutral at 800rpm and 4 more section I can coast a mile with no foot on the gas. All the while you engine is saving 1000 to 3000 rpm for every minute you can keep it in neutral.
posted by audicoupe on August 9, 2011
this tip works for 18% of voting Fuelly members.
Loose the spare
My spare tire was stored under the floor of my van years of salt, sand blasting from road dust and water had deteriorated the rim greatly. I found myself hauling a 20lb tire that i could never use. I have roadside assistance with my phone, so i took it out. I know this wont work for everyone in all situations, but if you would "never" put on a spare and just have a tire replaced just remove it and get that free tow with the roadside assist next time.
posted by revweasel on July 31, 2011
this tip works for 16% of voting Fuelly members.
Pull through parking spots
Instead of pulling into a supermarket parking spot and stopping at the line, or reversing into one, find an empty area and pull through the first spot and into the second. This way you'll be facing the aisle as if you had reversed, except you never have to reverse. Because you don't have to back into or out of the parking spot, you'll have saved all the fuel that otherwise would have been consumed during those careful 30-or-so seconds. Plus, it's just easier and more efficient. You might only save 30 seconds of fuel, but think about how many times you visit these parking lots - especially on days you're out shopping. The time and fuel savings are quite satisfying.
posted by KeefRacer on July 29, 2011
this tip works for 48% of voting Fuelly members.
Fuel Station Myth
The myth states that if there is a station that is being restocked by a tanker truck, the delivery of the fuel to the underground tanks will cause sediment that is supposedly in the tanks to be stirred up and be delivered to the fuel tank in your car. Here is some logical thinking to make sense of this. Underground fuel tanks used for storage at a fueling station are typically made of fiberglass to prevent dissolving or reaction with the container. A container that can store gasoline in a stable state means that no particles will be formed in the tank, therefore no sediment is created. When fuel is drawn out of the tank, it's pumped from the bottom - so if there is sediment in the tank, waiting for it to settle is worse. Gasoline is also filtered in many locations. One of the most obvious places is at the fuel pump. Inside the pump are filters built in to prevent any sort of contaminants form entering your tank. It is also filtered again in your car, your fuel line has a filter built into it. Gasoline is delivered in a sealed system. If you've ever watched a tanker deliver fuel, you would see that the hoses are directly clamped to the truck and the tank. This is to keep contaminants out, and fuel vapor in. Also, think of it in a business sense. Sediment in the bottom of a tank means that less fuel can be stored in it. Less product means less money coming in, and more money going out for more frequent deliveries. It would be in the owner's best interest to not have sediment in the tank to make more money. I hope this helps remove any worries that you may have about seeing a tanker delivering some gasoline at your favorite station.
posted by smiller on July 28, 2011
this tip works for 86% of voting Fuelly members.
Do not exceed 110-114km/hour
Save fuel and get better mileage with your truck (I have an FJ cruiser) by staying below the 115km bar when driving on highways.
posted by dod on July 26, 2011
this tip works for 82% of voting Fuelly members.
Don't coast!!!
Contrary to popular myth, coasting will not save fuel. This is particularly true with more modern cars. When you "coast" i.e. with your foot on the clutch or in neutral, the ECU continues to inject fuel at a sufficient rate to allow the engine to idle, usually around 800-1000rpm. However, by just removing your foot from the accelerator the ECU no longer needs to inject fuel as the drivetrain continues to rotate the engine stopping it from stalling. So, just plan ahead and make use of "engine braking" instead of coasting. This will also save wear and tear on your clutch and brakes!
posted by G16VBX on July 18, 2011
this tip works for 51% of voting Fuelly members.
another tyre tip
Monitor how your tyres are wearing. Most manufacturers recommend tyre pressures which give a softer and more comfortable ride ; as sure sign of this is tyres wearing on the edges but not in the middle. I run my tyres at the maximum recommended pressure to minimise the rolling resistance and even out the tyre wear. This is at the cost of ride quality but only to a very small degree.I also have more than 1 pressure gauge so that I can cross check between them every now and then.I have checked my gauges against a calibrated source and found that my most accurate gauge is the oldest. Most of the modern gauges seem to read a bit high; the worst being a gauge which was given out with a motorcycle magazine as a freebee. It definitely pays to know what your pressures really are and to remember that pressure does vary with ambient temperature.Check pressures regularly.
posted by commuter on July 17, 2011
this tip works for 60% of voting Fuelly members.
Get to the top as soon as possible.
In manual transmission vehicles, try and get to the highest gear ("top") as soon as it is able and safe to do so. Disclaimer: You should only do this when you have the opportunity to drive at speed.
posted by getkaizer on July 14, 2011
this tip works for 74% of voting Fuelly members.
Use Block shifting / Skip shifting (manual)
Simply put, Block or Skip shifting works in a car with manual transmission. Instead of starting off (from standstill) in first gear and climbing through the gears sequentially, start off your vehicle (from standstill) in second gear and skip a (couple) gears on the way up. So, with skip/block shifting, your gear shift sequeunce would be something like this: N-2-3-5. Or like this: N-1-3-5. Disclaimer: Don't do this if your vehicle is loaded to its full capacity. Dont do this if you think it would jeopardize your safety or that of others. If the engine labours or "knocks" shift to appropriate lower gear.
posted by getkaizer on July 14, 2011
this tip works for 34% of voting Fuelly members.
