Fuel Economy Tips

1.  Maintenance:  follow the auto manufacturer's recommended maintenance schedules and have the vehicle serviced as soon as possible if the Check Engine Light comes on.   For example, fuel economy can improve by 10% by replacing a clogged air filter, up to 40% for changing a fouled oxygen sensor.

2.  Tire pressure:  Fuel economy can improve by 3% if tires are kept properly inflated.

3.  Don't carry excess weight in your car:  taking 100 pounds out of the trunk can improve fuel economy by 1-2%.

4.  Don't Drive Aggressively: On the highway, every 5 mph you drive over 65 mph represents a 7-percent decrease in fuel economy.  Driving 62 mph vs. 75 mph will reduce fuel consumption by about 15%.   By anticipating traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20%.

6.  Use the Highest Gear Possible:  To improve your fuel economy, drive in the highest gear possible when you are cruising at a steady speed, such as on the highway.   Drivers of manual-transmission cars should shift early to keep the engine revolutions below 2000 rpm, but not lug the engine -- downshift if you need to accelerate.

7.  Use Cruise Control Selectively:  Using cruise control can improve gas mileage by helping maintain a steady speed, but only if you are driving on mostly flat roads, don't use in hilly areas, there the driver can modulate speed better than the cruise control.

8.  Keeping your car washed and waxed improves aerodynamics and improves fuel efficiency.

9.  Avoid Excessive Idling:  If you anticipate being stopped for more than 1 minute, shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time.

10.  Running your air conditioner does cause your vehicle to consume more fuel, but driving with your windows rolled down can be even worse due to the increase of drag on the vehicle. If you are driving slowly, such as around town or in city traffic, then you are better off leaving your windows open, if at all possible. For highway driving, roll up the windows and turn the air conditioning on.

11. Combine Trips:  When your engine is cold, it uses more fuel than when it is warm. Combining trips can improve your gas mileage because your engine will be warm for more of the trip and you tend to travel less total miles.

12.  Purchase a Fuel Efficient and Low Emission Vehicle:  Visit the NJDEP's Clean Vehicle site at: http://www.nj.gov/dep/cleanvehicles/   and the USEPA/USDOE site for fuel efficiencies: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/  before purchasing a new vehicle.