Tips to Save Fuel This Summer

Don’t let today’s high gas prices keep you at home this summer or prevent you from driving to the beach. Nationwide, the average price for a gallon of unleaded gas is currently more than $3.80 – that’s about a dollar more than last year at this time.

Those gas expenditures can add up.

“The average U.S. household will spend about $3,500 to power its vehicles this year – $800 more than last year," said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. "This means almost 7% of an average household's income is used paying for gasoline."

Paying thosands of dollars per year in gas can put a burden on many Americans. But simple fuel efficiency measures can keep more dollars in your pocket and even extend the life of your vehicle.

Smart Vehicle Maintenance

• Tune up. Fixing a car that’s out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4%, which adds up to savings of about $75 per year. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40%!
• Keep tires properly inflated to improve mileage by up to 3%, which means you can save $55 per year. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 psi drop in pressure in all four tires. In addition, proper inflation improves tire longevity – and your safety while driving. DOE cautions not to go by the maximum pressure printed on the tire’s sidewall, but to find the proper tire pressure for your own vehicle on a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb or in the glove box, as well as in your owner’s manual.
• Use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil or risk lowering your gas mileage by 1-2%, which could cost up to $35 per year. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can depress mileage by 1-2%; and using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower mileage by 1-1.5%. Look for the phrase “Energy Conserving” on the American Petroleum Institute performance symbol to ensure that the oil contains friction-reducing additives.
• Get the junk out of the trunk. Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle. An extra 100 poundsin your vehicle’s trunk could reduce your mileage by up to 2% and cost around $35 per year. Enjoy golfing outside this summer or bringing chairs to the beach, but remember to take out the excess before driving around.
• Avoid a loaded roof rack. It can decrease your fuel economy by 5%, which adds up to about $90 per year.

Smart Driving

• Avoid aggressive driving. Speeding, rapid acceleration and rapid braking can lower gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds, which could cost about $900 per year. Even aggressive driving around town could lower gas mileage by 5% and costs around $90 per year.
• Avoid speeding. Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60 miles per hour. Each 5 mph over 60 is like paying an additional 24 cents per gallon for gas.
• Avoid idling.  Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than cars with smaller engines.
• Use cruise control on the highway to maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, save gas and money.
• Engage the overdrive gear.  With overdrive gearing, your car’s engine speed goes down, saving gas and reducing engine wear.
• Plan your trips. Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
• Beat the traffic. When possible, drive during off-peak hours to avoid stop-and-go or bumper-to-bumper traffic conditions, thereby reducing both gas costs and stress. 

Smart Commuting

• Consider alternatives to driving.  Sharing driving duties with fellow commuters through carpools and ride-share programs can cut your weekly fuel costs in half and save wear on your car. Many urban areas allow vehicles with multiple passengers to use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, which are typically less congested, further improving your fuel economy.
• Consider using public transit if it is available and convenient for you. The American Public Transportation Association has links to information about public transportation in your state.

Find additional tips and resources on the Alliance’s Living Efficiently website and on DOE’s fuel economy website.