Buying a hybrid is not the only way to conserve fuel, reduce
emissions, and save money at the gas pump.
Here are some effective ways to reduce the
amount of fuel your car consumes:
1. Drive gently. Accelerate gradually
and drive smoothly. Anticipate stops to avoid sudden
braking.
2. Observe posted speed limits. Driving at
55 mph will get about 15% better fuel economy than going 65
mph.
3. Use cruise control whenever possible. When used properly, it smooths out driver input, helps maintain an
even speed and allows the driver to take a long look at the road,
rather than reacting to every change in the surrounding
traffic.
4. Avoid excessive idling. Idling uses
more fuel than turning the engine off and then restarting it
again. Park and walk into the drive restaurant or bank.
5. Use windows & A/C wisely. If possible, keep the air conditioner off in slow city traffic. On
the highway, however, keep the windows closed and the AC on
low. Open windows will impede aerodynamics and hurt fuel
economy.
6. Consolidate trips. Combine your errands
into one trip and organize your stops.
7. Keep up with maintenance. A well
maintained vehicle operates at peak efficiency- and will last
longer, too.
8. Remove excess weight. Clean out the trunk
and remove any unneeded items that only add weight to your
vehicle. The EPA says every 100 pounds of unnecessary weight
could reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 2%
9. Monitor tires. Under inflated tires
or poorly aligned wheels waste fuel by forcing the engine to work
harder.
Before you
leave on your road trip, have us perform our "road trip"
inspection. We'll check all tires, including the spare, brakes,
all the fluids, battery, lighting, wipers, ignition components,
suspension and steering, exhaust, belts and hoses. You can be
confident we'll get you to your destination safely and on time! 
