Tips: Driving

Car Maintenance Checklist: Use the right grade of motor oil for your car. Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. Get regular tune-ups and maintenance checks. Replace clogged air filters. Check out www.fueleconomy.gov.

Transportation accounts for 67% of U.S. oil use—mainly in the form of gasoline. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to improve gas mileage.

Driving Tips

Idling gets you 0 miles per gallon. The best way to warm up a vehicle is to drive it. No more than 30 seconds of idling on winter days is needed. Anything more simply wastes fuel and increases emissions.
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration, and hard braking) wastes gas. It can lower your highway gas mileage 33% and city mileage 5%.
Avoid high speeds. Above 60 mph, gas mileage drops rapidly.
Clear out your car; extra weight decreases gas mileage by 1% to 2% for every 100 pounds.
Reduce drag by placing items inside the car or trunk rather than on roof racks. A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to buy a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5% or more.
Check into telecommuting, carpooling and public transit to cut mileage and car maintenance costs.