Tip of the Month

May 2010

Gas Saving Tips

It’s always a good idea to practice energy-wise driving techniques. The following are common tips on how to save gas and money.

Observe the speed limit- Aggressive driving (speeding and rapid acceleration) wastes gas. These driving habits can lower your mileage by 33% at highway speeds. Gas mileage rapidly decreases at speeds above 60 mph. As you drive faster, the aerodynamic drag and rolling resistance increase. Consequently, for each 5 mph you drive over 60 you are effectively paying an additional $0.20 per gallon (based on gas at $3.00 per gallon).

Use your cruise control on the highway- Your cruise control helps you maintain a constant speed resulting in a reduction in your fuel consumption.

Avoid unnecessary idling- No matter how efficient your car is, unnecessary idling wastes fuel costs you money and pollutes the air. If you are waiting in a drive-up for more than just a few minutes, turn off your engine. Most cars today do not need to be warmed up. Leaving your car idling is especially hard on your car in the hot summer months.

Maintain your tires- One of the easiest things you can do to improve fuel economy is to be sure your tires are properly inflated. Under inflated tires increase your fuel consumption and they wear faster.

Perhaps it is time to consider purchasing a more fuel-efficient vehicle. Click here for more information on Service 1 Federal Credit Union’s auto loans.