singleparentwealth.com

We’re single with one paycheck. We’re parents who need to drive our kids all over the place. Many of us use our cars to commute to work. These high gas prices can really throw our monthly budgets out of whack. So here are some tips on how to squeeze a little more mileage out of that very expensive tank of gas.

Drive at 55 mph

This particular tip can save you the most. If you’re the impatient type, this may be a bit of a challenge but driving 55 mph instead of higher speeds will save you money. When you increase your speed from 55 to 65 mph, your car’s fuel economy can drop around 5 mpg. According to Consumer Reports a Toyota Camry getting 40 mpg driving 55, got only 35 mpg when it sped up to 65 mph. Increasing your speed from 65 to 75 mph could cost you another 5 mpg. This is due to aerodynamic drag. Simply put, the faster you go the harder it is to push your car through the air, therefore you use more fuel.

Avoid Quick Starts and Stops

Try to avoid hitting the gas too fast when you’re coming off of a red light. The same is true for the opposite. Try to avoid braking too fast. These quick stops and starts can reduce your mileage by 2 to 3 mpg. Also once you get up to speed, try to keep your speed consistent. Smoothly accelerating, cornering, and braking will also extend the life of your car’s engine, transmission, brakes, and tires.

Reduce Unnecessary Drag

At highway speeds, more than 50 percent of your car’s engine power is used just in the process of overcoming aerodynamic drag. Don’t make matters worse by carrying things on your roof rack if it can be avoided. Even driving with empty roof racks on your car reduces its fuel economy somewhat.

Does Your Car Really Need Premium Fuel?

If your car says regular fuel is fine, don’t buy premium thinking it will make your car run better. It won’t. Most cars are designed to run just fine on regular gasoline. Even many cars that say use premium gas will run just fine on regular. Consumer Reports said that it found that the differences were negligible during normal driving. To find out if your car really needs premium gas, check your owner’s manual.

Minimize Starting From a Cold Engine

Engines run most efficiently when they’re warm. So help it stay warm by grouping as many of your errands together as you can. Starting your engine from cold each time can reduce fuel economy by almost 4 mpg. Engines also produce more pollution and wear faster when they’re cold.

Keep Your Tires Inflated Properly

If your tires are underinflated by 10 psi, you could expect around 1 mpg loss when you are doing highway driving. More importantly though, underinflated tires wear faster. Your car’s handling and braking are less effective. And they run much hotter, which increases your chances of a blow out. Check your car’s tire pressure least once a month with a tire gauge. The owner’s manual explains how to do it.

Avoid Idling for Long Periods

You are basically getting zero miles per gallon when your car is in idle. A big Buick with a V8 engine ate up about an eight of a gallon of gas sitting in idle for 10 minutes. Smaller cars would obviously use up less, but over time all of your idling adds up. If you expect to sit for more than a minute, turn off your engine.

I hope these tips help. Happy driving!