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Author Topic: What is your best gas savings idea? Post a Reply Back to Topics
wshokie12

Champion Author
Winston-Salem

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Message Posted: Nov 20, 2012 12:46:42 AM

What are your ideas?
REPLIES (newest first)
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forestghost07
Sophomore Author Miami

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Message Posted: May 18, 2013 1:16:35 AM

ride a bike!
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streetirsx
Veteran Author North Dakota

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Message Posted: May 17, 2013 9:47:55 PM

Adding a few hypermilling techniques has added 10+ MPG to my drive
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Z12
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: May 17, 2013 8:42:59 PM

Drive the speed limit
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Houckster
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: May 16, 2013 10:14:52 AM

Plan errands route to include as many right turns as possible to reduce idling and do those errands during light traffic times, usually right after rush hour traffic is over.

[Edited by: Houckster at 5/16/2013 10:17:35 AM EST]
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dontuknowOH
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: May 16, 2013 6:09:24 AM

If your coolant system gets grimed up using a cross-flow type radiator >(tank part on each side) often the bottom tubes can stop up, then reducing flow capacity. When that happens during Summer, the electric fans run more constant and pull more energy loads at the alternator reducing mileage especially when A/C is turned on.

The extra run time of the E..fans try to make up for the capacity loss of the plugged tubes out of circulation at the bottom of the radiator on poorly maintained cooling systems can cause more fuel consumption during warm weather.
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suchont
Veteran Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: May 16, 2013 1:49:07 AM

#5 reduce unnecessary weight - so go on diet!
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suchont
Veteran Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: May 16, 2013 1:47:56 AM

#4 keep your engine tune
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suchont
Veteran Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: May 16, 2013 1:47:33 AM

#3 keep your tire properly inflated
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suchont
Veteran Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: May 16, 2013 1:46:42 AM

#2 buy the best MPG cars - that would usually be hybrid or all electric
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suchont
Veteran Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: May 16, 2013 1:45:42 AM

And the #1 idea to save gas while driving is. . . . . . avoid braking

it turn your kinetic and potential energy into heat.
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LKnight598
All-Star Author South Carolina

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Message Posted: May 16, 2013 12:10:30 AM

Slow down!
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mybigtruck
Sophomore Author San Jose

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Message Posted: May 14, 2013 3:45:31 AM

Always plan trips with a tailwind. Always drive downhill. Get some volunteers to push your car across town while you steer.

On a more serious note, drafting behind a big rig works. My EGT's in my diesel run about 40degrees cooler steady state going down straight freeway when I draft about 50ft behind versus driving solo.
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Marc56
Sophomore Author Asheville

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Message Posted: Apr 3, 2013 8:00:08 AM

Slow down.
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going up
Champion Author St. Louis

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Message Posted: Apr 3, 2013 7:48:54 AM

Walk
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steve3356
Rookie Author Fort Worth

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Message Posted: Apr 2, 2013 9:48:54 PM

Get a bike
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PassmyGas
Veteran Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Apr 2, 2013 6:41:34 PM

Take the foot off the gas!
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chuckl95453
Veteran Author California

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Message Posted: Apr 2, 2013 11:14:10 AM

stay home.
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sks1586
All-Star Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Apr 1, 2013 9:42:31 PM

New Learned Wisdom from reading the posts - The most common fuel waster is driving with one or more low inflated tires.
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Apr 1, 2013 1:45:32 PM

drive the posted speed
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Apr 1, 2013 1:45:08 PM

Drive slow
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IAMCANADIAN73
Champion Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Apr 1, 2013 1:45:07 PM

Drive slow
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chipote
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Apr 1, 2013 10:59:41 AM

Don't speed
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jes
Champion Author Pennsylvania

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Message Posted: Apr 1, 2013 5:01:22 AM

Slow down.
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cheapmonkee
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Mar 31, 2013 11:28:35 PM

Do not tailgate. That way you will not need to brake as much.
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Z12
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Mar 31, 2013 10:02:34 PM

Drive the speed limit
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5p33df73ak
Sophomore Author Gary

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Message Posted: Mar 31, 2013 9:57:25 PM

Don't Press on the gas
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streetirsx
Veteran Author North Dakota

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Message Posted: Mar 31, 2013 6:26:21 PM

Anticipate road conditions, combine trips to reduce the amount of driving and avoid idling
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GLM4205
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Mar 31, 2013 2:57:45 PM

Keep your tires inflated properly, clean your air cleaner regularly.
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Jef4ers
Rookie Author Dayton

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Message Posted: Mar 28, 2013 1:00:03 PM

Winter has an effect on mileage MA64. A drop such as yours usually points to an O2 sensor failing and or the 'cat' becoming restricted.
With the price of fuel, a certified dealer scan and a combustion chamber/injector cleaning may help.

Get the car running to specs., then there are a couple of other things that will make a difference in economy.

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FocusFree
Veteran Author Ottawa

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Message Posted: Mar 28, 2013 12:03:28 AM

It may seem counter-intuitive, but avoid braking; which translates in to driving smoothly
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giwan
Veteran Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 10:37:18 PM

The speed limit has nothing to do with saving gas
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Z12
Champion Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 8:55:12 PM

Drive the speed limit
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pawnkingfour
All-Star Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 8:38:09 PM

There are so many different ideas, errr, answers given. But most of them are really funny. Most of them are jokes, right? :)
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davisadm
All-Star Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Mar 27, 2013 1:04:43 PM

Walk!
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Jayburt
All-Star Author Toledo

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Message Posted: Mar 25, 2013 1:54:09 PM

Keep your tires inflated properly, clean your air cleaner regularly, use a high quality synthetic oil.
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MA64NANA
Rookie Author Flint

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Message Posted: Mar 25, 2013 12:48:09 PM

Yes, I do drive a Caddy, it's a 2003 DeVille with just over 100,000 miles. Not whining about gas prices, just wanting to do the best I can. Seldom go anywhere anyway...late 60's/disabled. Winter in Michigan, for some reason it shows that my air pressure in tires is down. Also, have wheel chair in trunk that weighs about 90 pounds...think that affects gas mileage? Used to get 20 around town/31 highway. Now barely 16 around town. Any suggestions cheerfully received.
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dontuknowOH
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Mar 25, 2013 12:10:07 PM

Try leaving 30 minutes earlier, set 3 of your household clocks 10 minutes fast, start putting your car keys in the same place hung up safely, hang them under the kitchen table maybe, handy unnoticed from view.

Remember to get that Hurry Demon off your back when you check the rearview mirror, before starting the engine. Remember how much you paid last time at the pump, Remember how Grouchy you were for that 10 minutes after....LOLuck !
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fmttu
Sophomore Author Texas

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Message Posted: Mar 24, 2013 9:44:15 PM

Don't race to a red light. Try to slow down enough (or speed up slightly) to drive through green lights. The lost momentum of stopping for red lights kills your mileage. I also draft behind large trucks on the highway. I stay far enough behind so as not to tailgate, but close enough that I can feel the buffeting of the air. My in-dash economy gauge immediately shows a 3-5 mpg improvement.
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OceanArcher
Champion Author Mississippi

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Message Posted: Mar 23, 2013 11:17:31 AM

Ahhhh -- forgot one other gas saving tip ... bum a ride with your neighbor or your work-buddy
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pedritico
Rookie Author Miami

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Message Posted: Mar 23, 2013 9:44:21 AM

-not pass the throttle above 2000 rpm or 60 mph
-keep tire pressure at psi specified in the tire sidewall,not in the door sticker.
-keep away of agressive driving
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dontuknowOH
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2013 11:43:55 PM

The most common fuel waster is driving with one or more low inflated tires. Any tire running low costs at all speeds, city/highway, up hill or down hill, loaded or not.

If a tire is on the low range and then the daily temps drop, that worsens the drag/fuel costs increase even more to drive. Anytime you plan to drive much distance,5 mile or more look at your tires first, use a good gauge, keep it handy..... Write a T.. on your mirror with a felt pen(reminder).
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metsghia
Rookie Author Jacksonville

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2013 9:17:16 PM

Slow down, correct tire pressure, drive a steady speed. Don't let your car idle needlessly. The largest gas savings measure is to walk if your destination is within reason or ride a bike.
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speedy700
Veteran Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2013 9:06:38 PM

Slow down if you want to improve your fuel economy. Nothing else you can do will help as much. Big difference in mileage between 65 MPH and 80 MPH.
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dontuknowOH
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2013 1:14:43 PM

If vehicle engines can cool themselves by design on hot days when daily temps reach 90-100 F degrees, then for Winter with daily temps ranging 10 to 40 F degrees plus wind blasts even lowering those effects further in some areas > It's understandable that the same engines will then have difficulty getting the same efficiency fuel wise.

So redesigning the engine compartment to keep the cold Winter drastic temps from entering under-hood areas as they do now. Instead just what surrounding temps are much better for the engines to get more efficiency during Winter?

That comparison seems logical as it now stands. Simply better control of enhanced Winter > vehicle under-hood operating temperatures (quicker warming methods) by eliminating the tremendous moving cold chill air blasts entering the E.. compartment during warm-up, restarting, etc.Done !
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davisadm
All-Star Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2013 11:40:40 AM

Don't stomp on the gas pedal
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dgsteven
All-Star Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Mar 22, 2013 4:12:56 AM

turnn off the AIR CON
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okeerob
Rookie Author Florida

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Message Posted: Nov 29, 2012 6:03:15 PM

It never fails to amzae me that a lot of drivers who talk about poor fuel economy drive like they're going to a fire. On the interstate I see Prius drivers (presumably they bought the car in the first place for good fuel economy) racing down the highway at 75 and 80 mph. On the interstate with the speed limit at 70 mph, I drive in the 65-68 mph range and consistently get 47-48 mpg with my Prius. Now if the traffic is heavy, I will increase to the mid-70s in order not to be a hazard to others by impeding the flow of traffic. Try it and you'll be surprised at the difference in your mileage just by cutting back 5-8 mph (even on state and local roads) when conditions permit. At higher speeds most of the fuel consumed is used to overcome wind resistance.

Also, read the traffic lights and coast long distances when you have the red, resisting braking. And give up those jack-rabbit starts. That's how achieve about at 50 mph average with my Prius. I love the car.
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dontuknowOH
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Nov 29, 2012 3:14:37 PM

Shop on warmer days,less temp changes to vehicle doing so,engines perform better as far as fuel ecomomy staying hot normal(Winter season)even Fall/Spring daily temps affect mileage > engine shut-offs > restarts...

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Skyjunky
Veteran Author Portland

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Message Posted: Nov 29, 2012 1:05:09 PM

NO ETHANOL GAS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Snowchoux
Champion Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Nov 29, 2012 10:23:13 AM

group your travel destinations together.
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