EcoInsomniac

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Saving fuel a few years ago wasn’t something most people thought about on a day to day basis.  There just wasn’t enough reason for them to think about it, but today with all of our environmental concerns and the insane gas prices the general public has suddenly been caught with a need for better fuel economy.  Here are some great tips for saving money and the environment by lowering your fuel consumption:

Remove unneeded weight from the car.  If you use your car for storage like some of my friends do you could better your vehicles fuel economy by 1-2% for every 100 pounds you remove.

Drive more calmly.  If you tend to drive aggressively you’re burning a hole in your wallet and could be lowering your fuel economy by up to 33% just by stomping on the gas pedal or brake pedal too much.

Turn your car off.  If you are going to be stopped for longer then 30 seconds just shut your car off.  It is terribly in efficient for your engine to run while you’re sitting still.  I’ve found this tip to be particularly helpful when it comes to saving gas.

Check your tire pressure.  Your vehicles fuel efficiency drops by about 1% for every 2 psi your tires are low.  Check the inside of your driver door or your cars repair manual for the manufacturer suggested tire pressure for your car.  This tip can save you a lot of money with just a little bit of time and a couple quarters.

Replace vehicles dirty air intake filters.  A dirty intake filter can cut your fuel efficiency by a whopping 10%.  Engines need clean intake filters to ensure the engine an optimal fuel to air ratio with the least amount of effort.

Keep your vehicle maintained.  If your vehicle has a “service engine soon” or “check engine” light on the dash you need to take it to a mechanic to see what the problem is.  Most Autozone and some other auto parts retail stores will scan your vehicle for free to let you know the problem so you’re better equipped when going to a mechanic for a repair.  Also, do your manufacturer suggested annual or mileage based maintenance.

Carpool. This is pretty self explanitory, but if you can team up with your friends, family or co-workers and take turns doing the driving to work or to run errands.

By paying attention to the health of your car and watching the way you drive you can really cut down on your gas usage.  These tips will not only help you do your part for the environment, but in these tough times of crazy high gas prizes in America and overseas they should save you a decent money.

If you’re looking to purchase a new car soon pay close attention to the MPG rating and the pollution output that is hidden somewhere on the window sticker.  Be sure to come online and do a bit of research to find actual MPG numbers for the model car you’re interested in.

Do you have any tips or tricks that you use lowering your fuel usage that I didn’t list? We’d all love to hear them.

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