Since the national average for gas prices has increased to around $4.00 per gallon, driver’s in the United States have developed a renewed interest in conserving energy in order to save money on the cost of fuel.
While consumers can do little about the price of gasoline, drivers can improve the miles per gallon of their gas guzzler or economy car by changing their driving habits, properly maintaining their vehicles and using a little common sense.
Improving the gas mileage of a car or truck requires a real commitment on the driver’s part. Since there is no one way to drastically decrease fuel consumption drivers need to combine several techniques if they hope to meet or exceed the EPA (Environmental Protection Agencies) mileage rating for their vehicle.
Excess weight – every 100 pounds of additional weight a car carries can decrease gas mileage by 1 to 2% and even more in smaller vehicles. The easiest way to reduce your vehicles unnecessary weight is to clean out your trunk but you may want to consider driving with less fuel in your gas tank. Recently commercial airlines have been accused of forcing pilots to fly with less fuel to reduce weight in order to decrease fuel consumption. If this practice can save the airlines money it can work for you.
Gasoline is less dense than water and weighs between 5.8 and 6.5 lbs depending on air temperature. Rather than filling your gas tank at the pump keep your tank half full and lose 45 to 65 pounds of excess weight. Never run your gas tank to low on fuel. The electric submersible fuel pump in your gas tank is cooled by the gas in your tank and driving with low fuel can shorten the lifespan of the fuel pump.
