First, Simply Drive Safely
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.  Fuel Economy Benefit:  5–33% which equivalent in gasoline savings to $0.18–$1.19/gallon

Observe the Speed Limit  (New Information)  While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph.  You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.25 per gallon for gas.  Observing the speed limit is also safer.  Fuel Economy Benefit:  7-14% which is equivalent in gasoline savings to $0.25-$0.51/gallon

Remove Excess Weight  Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.  Fuel Economy Benefit:  1-2%/100 lbs which equals $0.04-$0.07/gallon.

Avoid Excessive Idling  Idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner (AC) use. Turn off your engine when your vehicle is parked. It only takes a few seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle. Turning your engine on and off excessively, however, may increase starter wear.  FUEL SAVINGS:  $0.01-$0.03/min with the AC off vs. $0.02-$0.04/min with the AC on.

Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

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Thank you for visiting Wooddale Automotive Specialists, Inc. in Woodbridge, VA. Count on our automotive repair technicians to keep your car, truck, suv, or van on the roads longer and safer.

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