[killerformula]

So we've got thread after thread about high gas prices. What can we do to save ourpocketbooks?

If anybody has tips on saving gasoline, list them in this tread. One comon, very effective measure is to reduce your speed on the highway. In michigan, speed limits are 70mph, and most people drive 70-80. Most cars, however, get greatest fuel economy at 55-65mph. For example, my mother's car is a civic. When I drive it (btw 70 and 80) I get maybe 30 mpg. She reports driving about 55-60 and gets 40-44 mpg, which is more than a 25% increase.

Its not only economically sound, but I think as gas prices are going up we all need to do our part to cut back as much as possible on our usage, especially as supply drops. Every gallon you save is a gallon less being used. Period.

ANy other tips?

K

[k-star]

Get out of the drive thru line at the bank, mc donalds etc,,, and shut the car off and go inside.....

Keith

[CrashFarmer2]

Buy one of these or something similar.


My 94 gets 45 mpg. My son will start driving it to school next week.
My wife will start driving our 96 4-door to work next week, I will have the engine in it by Saturday.
I just put the 95, pictured above, in storage. It has a noise in the transmission. I suppose I should tear it apart and see what all the racket is. I was going to sell it but with the way gas prices are going it is worth fixing for our own use.
If I lived in the city I would be riding a bus.

[BarryK]

Killer is right about speed.

Last week going to FL I kept the cruise at 79 and i have one of those MPG things that averages every 100 miles. 16.6 going.

Coming back Sunday kept cruise at 85 and got 16.2.

Also, check air pressure. This new boat calls for 32lbs but it rides mushy and thats what the manufacture wants is a nice soft ride.
Today I jacked all the tires up to 38 lbs and we will go from there.
May need to be 40 or 44 but we will figure it out with handling and gas millage.

[RCastle]

Make sure your air filter is clean
Adjust your tire pressure.
Change plugs,or make sure the gap is correct
Consolidate trips. Go to the bank,drycleaners,etc. in one trip,instead of 4 or 5.
Cruise control while on the Interstates.



DO NOT DRAFT behind tractor/trailers on the road.You are reducing their mileage because you are a cheap ***hole. That is costing them more money because of the drag you are adding to them,even though you are not hooked to us,it messes with our mileage!!! Not to mention it is dangerous. If a truck slams on his brakes suddenley because of a traffic jam or obstacle in the road.You may find out what an ICC bumper will do to your car or face.

[schnitz]

Trade your Chevy (or Ford etc..) for a Schwinn, or use those things above your feet and under your brain as daily transportation. After being cut off today on my way home from work, I may also advocate 'jacking the car of the next moron to test your reaction time. Only if it would get better milage than your present ride....

In a while, Chet.



BTW, no morons were 'jacked prior to my typing this.... LOL!

[johnsongrass1]

Originally Posted by RCastle

Make sure your air filter is clean
Adjust your tire pressure.
Change plugs,or make sure the gap is correct
Consolidate trips. Go to the bank,drycleaners,etc. in one trip,instead of 4 or 5.
Cruise control while on the Interstates.



DO NOT DRAFT behind tractor/trailers on the road.You are reducing their mileage because you are a cheap ***hole. That is costing them more money because of the drag you are adding to them,even though you are not hooked to us,it messes with our mileage!!! Not to mention it is dangerous. If a truck slams on his brakes suddenley because of a traffic jam or obstacle in the road.You may find out what an ICC bumper will do to your car or face.

You can safely go to 40 pounds on tires. That realy cut's rolling resistance as well as full syn. fluids.

I don't know about the cruise control, It might keep you from doing 80 but it can't compensate for hills till the engine is under a load and using more gas. A driver see's the hill coming and can get a decent run at it without placing the engine under a load. I havent had that since...ummm...

Drafting is dangerous, and doesn't really save you anything anyway. The affects are marginal at best. You gotta be within a three feet of a bumper to tell a difference.

[78novaman]

Consolidate trips, try to run your errands on the way to/from work.
Make sure your car is tuned up.
Slowly stop or start.
If it's a stick, shift as soon as possible without bogging the engine.
Take out any excess weight that isn't necessary to haul around in the car.
Try not to drive during rush hour so you can keep a constant speed.


Shutting the car off instead of waiting in a drive thru isn't better. It takes as much fuel to start an engine as it does to let it idle for 5-10 mins or so.

[RCastle]

Cruise control will help. We have fuel useage meters on our trucks. I can hook a computer up to it and tell when cruise was on or when it was off.Plus see the mileage offset from cruise on/off. And that is in a truck that pulss thousands of lbs,compared to a car pulling around a conservative figure of 400 lbs total.Hills and such will change things,but they would do that more without cruise.You are more apt to push the accelerator down a little further to get up the hill a little quicker,thean you are to allow the engine to do the work and get the rpms up and pull itself uphill gradually.



I do not even have cruise in my SHO.It died and I have not figure it out as to why yet. I leave Saturday for Indy,glad it is all flat land from here.

[BarryK]

Castle,

99 times out of 100 when cruise dies its a hairline crack in the vacuum hose at the unit under the hood. Usually two short hoses.

[RCastle]

Originally Posted by 78novaman

Consolidate trips, try to run your errands on the way to/from work.
Make sure your car is tuned up.
Slowly stop or start.
If it's a stick, shift as soon as possible without bogging the engine.
Take out any excess weight that isn't necessary to haul around in the car.
Try not to drive during rush hour so you can keep a constant speed.


Shutting the car off instead of waiting in a drive thru isn't better. It takes as much fuel to start an engine as it does to let it idle for 5-10 mins or so.

The car will only use more gas at start up if it is carbed and you have to pump it to start it. Ideling for 5 minutes will use more fuel than required to start a properly tuned carbed engine or a EFI engine.
Peer down your carb at start up.If you crank the key and do not have to pump the throttle,you will barely notice the fuel required for startup.Especially if the engine is already warm,as it would be from driving somewhere and going in.Now sit there and watch the fuel droplets at idle for 5-10 minutes. More fuel will drip to keep it running. Of course this will not apply to the carbed car that you must give a shot of fuel to to get started.

[Ghetto Jet]

Going back and forth to school I usually run 80-90 which is a steady 3300-3600 rpms. That with my around town lead foot driving I get 23-25MPG. I'm going to try and keep my speed under 70, and I'll accelarate lightly, rather than my usuall 4000 rpm 1-2-3-4 shifting. I'm hoping for 28-29 mpg.

Lots of good tips so far, new air cleaner, up the tire pressure, and dare I switch the Honda over to AMSoil at 232,000 miles?


Guys Read THIS

Taken from the above article.

"When you're driving across town, in stop-and-go traffic," says Frank Hampshire, director of market research with the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association, or AASA, "it's more fuel efficient to drive with the air conditioning off, windows down."


Consumer Reports' auto-test department reports that the air conditioner reduces your car's fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent. So to achieve maximum fuel efficiency, motorists should avoid using the air conditioner at speeds below 40 mph and travel with their windows down, explains Gabe Shenhar, senior auto test engineer at Consumer Report's auto-test department.

"But as your speed increases to 45 mph, or highway speeds," says Jason Toews, co-founder of GasBuddy.com, "wind drag becomes an issue. Driving with the windows down increases the drag on your vehicle, resulting in decreased fuel economy by up to 10 percent. Drive at speeds over 55 mph with windows down and you'll decrease fuel economy by up to 20 percent or greater."

[spinn]

downtown chicago $4.99/ gal 92 octane. 3.49-3.89 for regular locally

i dont care who you are..... ouch!

--------------------------

would running a snorkel air cleaner with a opening the size of a nickle help mileage?

[Ghetto Jet]

I "only" paid $3.13 today for regular.

sorry, I'm not trying to turn this into another "I paid this much" thread.



I'm going to try and follow a big truck or SUV when I'm on the highway, let them move the air for me.

[redlightning]

Ghetto I would not recommend the switch to synthetic on your honda. I am going to ride my motorcycle to work,if I could figure out how to get my three kids on it also I would be set.