Fuel Saving Tips
Use Block shifting / Skip shifting (manual)
Simply put, Block or Skip shifting works in a car with manual transmission. Instead of starting off (from standstill) in first gear and climbing through the gears sequentially, start off your vehicle (from standstill) in second gear and skip a (couple) gears on the way up. So, with skip/block shifting, your gear shift sequeunce would be something like this: N-2-3-5. Or like this: N-1-3-5. Disclaimer: Don't do this if your vehicle is loaded to its full capacity. Dont do this if you think it would jeopardize your safety or that of others. If the engine labours or "knocks" shift to appropriate lower gear.
posted by getkaizer on July 14, 2011
this tip works for 34% of voting Fuelly members.
Park in the shade
It minimizes fuel evaporation on hot days.
posted by getkaizer on July 14, 2011
this tip works for 29% of voting Fuelly members.
Switch off accessories.
Before you completely kill the engine after your commute, remember to switch off all accessories including the aircon, the music system, lights. This way, when you ignite the engine at the next drive cycle, you will not unnecessarily overload the engine to power all the accessories that were not switched off. Depending on your driving frequency, this can all add up to quite a sizeable amount of savings over the life cycle of the car.
posted by getkaizer on July 14, 2011
this tip works for 53% of voting Fuelly members.
Use "Impulse" on long drives.
Note: The following driving style is not advisable in city traffic or highly congested highways. When you are going inter-state or on the highway, and suppose you choose to drive at about 50 MPH, you should "Impulse" your drive. What is impulse? Simple: Accelerate up to about 53-55 MPH and then lift your foot off the gas pedal. Shift the transmission to neutral (if manual transmission). Let the vehicle coast along down to about 30 MPH. Repeat.
posted by getkaizer on July 14, 2011
this tip works for 4% of voting Fuelly members.
"Jump" in bumper to bumper traffic.
When there's bumper to bumper traffic, let the vehicle in front of you move at least 3/4 the length of your car ahead of you before you move forward to fill the gap.
posted by getkaizer on July 14, 2011
this tip works for 88% of voting Fuelly members.
Track your fuel consumption.
One of the most important things to do is to actually track your fuel consumption. A simple note at the back of the fuel receipt is enough. And now there's fuelly!!
posted by getkaizer on July 14, 2011
this tip works for 92% of voting Fuelly members.
Maintain your Engine
Remember to get your throttle body/choke cleaned out every 30,000 miles or so. Carbon deposits build up in the throttle body, decreasing the amount of available air/recycled gas which creates poor idle and poor performance over time. A bottle of cleaner is usually under $4 and 30 minutes of your time. Also, synthetic oil helps out. If possible, switch to all synthetic 0W-##. The W stands for winter, not weight, and given the majority of drivers who drive in normally warm environments, the 0W-## will help for easier start ups since the oil is so thin. (You can save yearly of $20-$40. I know it ain't much, but squeezing every penny from your car while not hurting its performance is no brainer).
posted by SarsMan on July 7, 2011
this tip works for 33% of voting Fuelly members.
Downshift instead of using brakes
When approaching a stop light, down shift rather than using the brakes. Try to time it so you only need the brakes to bleed off the last 5-10MPH. As a result, you end up coasting to a stop, saving your brakes and use less gas quickly accelerating & slowing down. Most modern cars will disable the fuel pump if there isn't demand from the accelerator, so it is similar to shifting into neutral, but you get some "braking" from the engine torque. If the light turns before you arrive, you're already moving and in the right gear to accelerate out of there, without any sudden disruption to your travel speed.
posted by nielsm on June 13, 2011
this tip works for 65% of voting Fuelly members.
Turn Off The Radio!!!
I find I get the best mileage "listening" to my motor. That way I can squeeze the most mpg out of it by "listening" to my acceleration, coasting, RPM's, etc. I get a better feel and connection with how the engine runs and wheels roll on the road. You will find that if you want the best mileage out of that tank, then listen to your motor... Turn Off The Radio!!!
posted by sko110569 on June 11, 2011
this tip works for 45% of voting Fuelly members.
Watch for trailing brakes
It is possible for brakes to fail to release fully if the mechanism gets gunged up. This might not be immediately noticeable, and can be intermittent, but sufficient to knock your MPGs off. Things to watch out for: One wheel showing getting dirtier than others showing increased brake dust. One wheel being hotter than the others following a long trip Squeaking/squealing when moving which stops when you apply the brakes.
posted by jostlehim on June 8, 2011
this tip works for 100% of voting Fuelly members.
New ignition coil / huge difference!
Most folks are unaware that a cars ignition coil can lose as much as 50% of its power in the first 3-5 years of use. If you have a vehicle with a single coil (as opposed to a car with individual coils for each cylinder) that’s over 3 yrs. old consider replacing it with a new OEM coil or a “high energy” type coil, you may realize as much as a 3 to 5 MPG increase BTW, if you replace your coil with a “high energy” type coil you will probably need to re-gap your spark plugs as well for optimum results.
posted by kemper on May 29, 2011
this tip works for 25% of voting Fuelly members.
Eco driving
Find a good radio station for that extended driving time!
posted by AvensisDad on May 26, 2011
this tip works for 61% of voting Fuelly members.
Hang back and smooth out
In stop-start traffic queues hang back a little from the vehicle in front. If judged carefully it is possible to coast along at a constant speed while the vehicle in front is yoyoing from twice your speed to stopped just ahead of you. As well as saving fuel and wear and tear on your own vehicle you'll be doing everyone behind you a favour as well.
posted by onimoD on May 24, 2011
this tip works for 92% of voting Fuelly members.
Half service intervals
I half my service intervals for air fuel and oil filters and oil. So I do it every 6000 not 12000 miles it's cheap enough to do and I believe it helps keep up my MPG.
posted by mooey65 on May 22, 2011
this tip works for 8% of voting Fuelly members.
Use your stats at Fuelly
Don't just use the avg fuel economy reading on the site. The best way to monitor your car is to see the full graph of fuel economy over a long period of time. If you notice some tendency for higher fuel consumption in the mid or long run, you can take decisions and or have your car checked. If you are trying things to get better fuel mileage, make the change and try it out consistently for varios fuelups (at least three or four) and then check against the past. Don't just use one fuelup as a measure as even if you are careful to fill up to the same level, it's still not precise enough to guarantee you a good reading.
posted by schmiedel on May 18, 2011
this tip works for 96% of voting Fuelly members.
Don't accelerate hard with a cold engine
A cold engine has much of the oil still in the pan, not recirculating through the engine. Don't accelerate hard until the car has been driven a few miles, all the moving parts are lubricated and all the seals properly warmed.
posted by djohnston on May 18, 2011
this tip works for 91% of voting Fuelly members.
Try to Find E0
Pure 100% gas, not 10% alcohol blend, is best for mpgs.
posted by N8 on May 17, 2011
this tip works for 79% of voting Fuelly members.
Buy "LRR" Tires Next Time Around
Tire manufacturers have been meeting the demand for tires which are designed to give improved mpg over standard tires by producing new tires with a "low rolling resistance" rating. Some claim mpg improvement of 5% to 7%. Certainly your choice of tires can impact your mpg, just look for the "LRR" rating next time you buy tires. Do some research and shop around.
posted by jsinton on May 15, 2011
this tip works for 67% of voting Fuelly members.
No pen needed for odometer readings
I pick up my receipt that is automatically printed at the pump. The type of paper that is used (same type from almost all modern stores) can be written on with the pressure from a fingernail. Works sort of like a carbon copy. The writing will be lighter than a pen, but is still quite visible. I never bother with a pen any more.
posted by gory on May 15, 2011
this tip works for 74% of voting Fuelly members.
Diesel owners - Clean your injectors
Use a decent injector cleaner on your diesel engine. 200 miles after putting it in, my MPG increased by 8% average, tested on the same trip daily using cruise control.
posted by TangerineTractor on May 12, 2011
this tip works for 100% of voting Fuelly members.
Superior Coasting
When approaching red lights etc, don't coast. Simply remove your feet from the pedals. You should be in gear, with the clutch engaged. In this situation, in modern (fuel-injected) cars, no petrol is injected. So, you're slowing down (without wear to your brakes), and using no fuel. Downchange as neccessary. Coasting still uses fuel, since the engine is at idle. Unless the engine was switched off whilst coasting, which is dangerous, as most cars now rely on the engine for power steering, power brakes, etc.
posted by amusingduck on May 11, 2011
this tip works for 67% of voting Fuelly members.
Cruise Control
If you have it, use it, if not, it can be added as an aftermarket kit. I added one to my truck about ten years ago, it cut the cost of driving from Dallas to Amarillo down by 10%. Enough to pay for itself in one round trip. Keeping a steady speed manually is nearly impossible over a long drive. We've all had the issue, some cell phone talker passes you, then 5 minutes later, they're in front of you, doing 10mph less and you have to pass them...just to watch them realize that they're going too slow, and they pass you again. It's an irritating cycle, and it's costing them money.
posted by jbavousett on May 10, 2011
this tip works for 83% of voting Fuelly members.
Replace Your PCV Valve
Especially in older cars, your positive crankcase ventilation valve will get dirty and gummed up, which can cause cause excessive fuel usage. Fortunately, the pcv valve is easy to replace and very cheap to buy for almost any car. You can test your old one by taking it off, cleaning it out with some carburetor cleaner, and blowing (or sucking, depending on the end.) If it makes a nice solid seal, then it's still good and can be reused.
posted by jsinton on May 6, 2011
this tip works for 84% of voting Fuelly members.
Fuel economy feedback
Acquire an aftermarket electronic fuel economy gauge such as a "Scangauge II", or an "Ultragauge". These devices can show you your instantaneous fuel economy and teach you to drive in a manner that conserves fuel. They also can display the error codes that cause the 'Check Engine' light to accumulate. they give you the ability to turn off the 'Check Engine' light once the error has been fixed.
posted by JimG on May 3, 2011
this tip works for 90% of voting Fuelly members.
Avoid defrost
Your defrost mode on your climate controls typically utilize the Air Conditioning compressor to ensure the air used is nice and dry. If your windows arent foggy, dont use that function...its the same effect as running your A/C.
posted by Gr8Scott on April 29, 2011
this tip works for 54% of voting Fuelly members.
Change your FUEL
If you drive a Petrol (or gas to our American cousins) car, consider converting to LPG or Autogas for your fuel. expensive at first I know but, you then drive at between 50-70% of the equivalent Petrol costs!
posted by beeza410 on April 27, 2011
this tip works for 7% of voting Fuelly members.
Close Your Windows
In today's computer engineered and aerodynamic cars, you get better fuel efficiency if you keep your sunroof and windows closed. Don't turn on your A/C but instead, if you can, just turn your heat all the way down, and run your fan, you will get cool air from the outside.
posted by jbat66 on April 23, 2011
this tip works for 83% of voting Fuelly members.
Drive like a train
Accelerate once and moderately, drive constant (no more 80km/h), push brake once and moderately.
posted by rz55153 on April 19, 2011
this tip works for 45% of voting Fuelly members.
Ride the Bus!
Few drivers are aware that by not driving your vehicle and taking public transit you will not burn any fuel at all!
posted by JettaVdubber on April 14, 2011
this tip works for 20% of voting Fuelly members.
Keep between 40 and 60 to save gas.
Use a bit of gas to get to 40 mph fairly fast to get your vehicle into its highest gear. Then keep your foot OFF the gas as much as possible, though try to stay over 40. The higher the gear the slower the engine, using less gas per mile. Speeds much higher than 60 though start requiring more gas, as wind resistance multiplies with increasing speed. Also, coasting at any speed saves a lot of gas. Let it accelerate going downhill and decelerate going uphill when possible to keep the foot off the gas. Turning off the engine at long red lights (warm engine) saves too, as long as you watch for the yellow light for the other direction so you can restart just before your green. Inflating tires 2 - 4 psi (cold) ABOVE what it says on the door sill sticker saves gas and handles better. Under inflation sucks gas. And "Low-Rolling-Resistance" tires really do save 5% or so, though their design may compromise other things like handling.
posted by 3snakes on April 7, 2011
this tip works for 82% of voting Fuelly members.
