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- Avoid high speeds. Fuel efficiency decreases significantly at speeds over 55 miles per hour.
- Drive smoothly. Smooth driving saves gas and lowers vehicle emissions. If your car is equipped
with overdrive, you should use it at the appropriate speeds; if your car is equipped with cruise control, you should
use it.
- Avoid lengthy idling. Idling wastes gas. Don't start your car until you are ready to go and
keep winter warm-ups brief. Turn off the engine if you won't be moving for an extended period of time - for example,
if you are in stalled traffic or a long line at a drive-up window.
- Don't rev the engine. This wastes gas. Revving the engine can dump gas on the cylinder
walls which increases engine wear. Revving can also overheat the vehicle's catalytic converter, which makes it less
effective and can damage it.
- Minimize drag. Drag reduces fuel efficiency. Driving with windows open, using roof or rear
mounted racks and carrying heavy loads increase vehicle drag. Remove heavy items from your vehicle when you don't
need to carry them.
- Keep tires properly inflated. Underinflated tires decrease gas mileage and shorten tire life.
Most new cars have a label on the inside edge of the driver's door that lists the recommended tire pressures for different
speeds and loads. In some vehicles this may be on the door post, glove compartment door or fuel door. If you cannot
find the label, consult your manual.
- Check the pressure in all four tires every two weeks.
- Avoid rough roads and potholes. Because driving on rough surfaces is hard on tires and wheel alignment,
it can reduce fuel efficiency.
- Make fewer trips in your vehicle. Vehicle emissions and fuel consumption increase not just with
number of miles driven, but also with number of trips taken. Vehicles burn more gas and emit far more pollutants in
their first few minutes of operation because their emission control systems have not warmed up and reached peak efficiency.
To make fewer trips, you should consolidate errands and trips; try to drive during off-peak hours so that you can spend less
time on the road and avoid excessive stop-start driving; and, when possible, car pool or bike to your destination.
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