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Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gasoline. It can lower your gasoline mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than money.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 5-33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.07-$0.49/gallon
Gasoline mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.10 per gallon for gasoline. Observing the speed limit is also safer.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 7-23%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.10-$0.34/gallon
Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gasoline at idle than cars with smaller engines.
Using cruise control on the highway helps maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gasoline.
When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gasoline and reduces engine wear.
Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can impove its gasoline mileage by an average of 4.1%, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it's done. If your car has a faulty oxygen sensor, your gas mileage may improve as much as 40%.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 4-40%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.06-$0.60/gallon
Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gasoline mileage by as much as 10%. Your car's air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gasoline, it will protect your engine.
Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 10%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: up to $0.15/gallon
You can improve your gasoline mileage by around 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Underinflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4% for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 3%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: up to $0.05/gallon
You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2% by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W- 30 can lower your gasoline mileage by 1-2%. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gasoline mileage by 1-1.5%. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
Fuel Economy Benefit: 1-2%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.03/gallon