How to Reduce Your Fuel Consumption by 10 to 20 Percent

America we have seen the fuel crisis approaching from as early 1973 Arab oil embargo, which shut down our supply and created long lines at gasoline stations across the nation. In the years to follow we have seen oil prices fluctuate dramatically both up and down, but always trending steadily upward from a nationwide average of $0.75 per gallon following the embargo to $3.20 per gallon today....and rising.

Most of us would prefer to blame our government: the President, the Congress, the Washington bureaucrats in charge, but sooner or later we will realize that no help for this problem is forthcoming from Washington. The only relief most of will get from rising fuel costs will come from our own efforts to use fuel more efficiently and reduce our overall fuel consumption. This is true both for individuals and for our nation.

An obvious place to begin our individual efforts to conserve fuel is to implement ways we can reduce our consumption of gasoline. While the most obvious action we take to reduce gasoline consumption is to drive less there are many actions we as individuals can take (in addition to driving less) to reduce our consumption of gasoline.

First, let's assume with gasoline prices approaching $3.50 per gallon (and predicted to reach $4.00 by summer) that people are cutting back on driving by eliminating unnecessary trips and combining errands that require driving.

What else can be done?

The following is a list of actions some have taken to improve fuel economy for the miles still driven. Some of these are small fuel savers, while others can contribute significant savings. Just how much an individual can reduce his/her fuel consumption through the implementation of these suggestions depends on the size and horsepower of the car involved, driving habits and even driving terrain, but relative to the number of actions taken an estimated fuel savings of 10-20% could be achieved.

Automobile maintenance plays a significant role in fuel consumption. When fuel prices were low most of us were not concerned with engine efficiency. We were more concerned with avoiding or delaying the cost of 'non-essential' maintenance items. That attitude today may well be 'pound wise and penny foolish' as wasted fuel can quickly exceed the cost savings gained from delayed or avoided maintenance.

Automobile Maintenance Fuel Savers:

Engine Tune Up - Most cars require an engine tune-up every 30,000 miles, but some newer cars can go much longer. It is important to tune a car's engine at the mileage specified in the owner's manual. During a scheduled engine tune-up the functioning of several engine and emission control devices can be checked and if necessary adjusted maximize engine performance and fuel economy.

The performance of many engine components and control devices, which can have a significant effect on gasoline consumption, are not easily monitored by the car owner, but can be analyzed quickly using computer diagnostics in conjunction with a tune-up. These include:

Positive Crankcase Ventilation Valve (PCV) - The PCV valve plays a vital role in ensuring crankcase gases are exhausted. Clogged PCV valves can create engine sludge and rough engine performance and over time dramatically effect fuel efficiency. The PCV valve should be replaced at tune-up or more frequently in instances in which oil is not changed every 3 - 4,000 miles.

Exhaust Gas Re-circulation (ERG) valves - The ERG valve re-circulates unburned hydrocarbons back into the cylinder ensuring more efficient burning of fuels which would otherwise be wasted. When clogged fuel efficiency can drop significantly. Valves found defective should be replaced at tune-up.

Fuel Filters - While many of the newest cars claim to have 'permanent' fuel filters these can and with the tendency to buy cheap, lower detergent, and possibly contaminated fuels, do become clogged and must be replaced to ensure fuel economy. Non-permanent fuel filters need to be replaced every 12 months.

Spark Plugs - With technology improvements and the use of unleaded gasoline the more expensive spark plugs can be used up to 100,000 miles. However, even the best spark plug can become fouled and fail when engine malfunctions force excess oil into a cylinder. One fouled plug can dramatically affect engine performance and fuel economy. Replace defective plugs at tune-up.

Spark Plug Wires - A cracked or broken spark plug wire will create a short circuit, which prevents even the best spark plug from firing. One spark plug failing to fire can reduce fuel mileage from 12 to 16 percent. Defective plug wires are difficult to detect, but can be easily isolated and if defective replaced at tune-up.

Fuel Injectors - Perhaps the single most important engine component in determining how efficiently fuel is burned is the fuel ejector. A clogged or malfunctioning fuel injector can lead to very inefficient burning and can cause engine mis-fires. With today's high fuel costs many car owners are using cheaper fuels. These fuels have fewer detergents and burn leaving dirty deposits on injectors, clogging them. The failure of an injector to even inject fuel not only wastes fuel, but also can damage engines. To maximoze fuel economy fuel injectors should be cleaned every 30-40,000 miles, and more often if driving is primarily around town in stop and go traffic.

Air Filters - Changing engine air filters is perhaps one of the simplest and yet most neglected owner maintenance item. To avoid a clogged filter and cutting off clean airflow into the engine (which causes excessive fuel burning) air filters should be routinely changed every 12,000 miles.

Tire Inflation - Under inflated tires can have a significantly reduce fuel milage. Studies have shown that inflating tires as much as 5 pounds over the recommended pressure can have a positive effect on gas mileage with no added safety risk.

How Changing Driving Habits can improve Gas mileage

Maintain the Speed Limit - Excess speed is the number one factor in wasting fuel. Studies have shown that by reducing speed from 75 MPH to 60 MPH can reduce fuel consumption by 15%. Similar, tough less dramatic savings can be had at lower speeds.

Slow Acceleration - Jack Rabbit starts do little to get one to a given location faster, but have a significant effect on fuel economy. Accelerate moderately, add speed gradually for best fuel economy.

Use Cruise Control - Cruise control eliminates the natural tendency of drivers to accelerate quickly and then slow or brake as speed become excessive. The controlled maintenance of a constant speed can save fuel during highway driving.

Control Excess Idling - Significant quantities of fuel are wasted as automobiles sit idling at traffic lights, drive up windows, waiting to pick up passengers, or just warming up on a cold winter day. Studies have shown that it takes less fuel to stop an re-start an engine once idle time exceeds 20 seconds. It is important to note that idle time is the equivalent of 0 MPG.

While turning off the engine is not always practical savings can result from avoiding drive through windows at fast food restaurants and banks. Go inside for service.

In many cities the time spent idling at traffic lights can be much reduced by making use of stop lights which are timed to turn green when drivers drive at the posted speed limit between lights. Many drivers fail to notice this as they race form one light to the next and then.....sit at idle.

Reduce Electrical Loads - Heavy electrical loads, such as air conditioning, place a demand on the an automobile's alternator, which in turn requires added engine power and affects fuel economy. Use air conditioning when necessary, but be aware its' use reduces fuel economy. You can reduce this effect by driving with windows down for the first few minutes to exhaust hot air prior to turning on the A/C.

Also be aware many new cars have automatic temperature control which uses the air conditioner to control cabin temperature and ventilation all year long. You can turn off this automatic control and use manual vents to prevent A/C function in winter.

Eliminate Excess Weight - in recent years car manufacturers have learned that reducing vehicle weight provides the best opportunity for improving fuel mileage. Studies show that for every 100 pounds removed fuel economy increases by 1-2%. This is also true in your own car. Remove any excess baggage including toolboxes, toys, jump seats, cases of water, groceries, etc.

Another weight consideration is fuel in the car's tank. Depending on the size of your car or SUV a fuel tank of gas can add as much as 250 pounds to the weight of your vehicle (or 2.5% reduction in fuel economy). Consider only filling you tank half full for around town driving. This has a secondary advantage as well. One government study found that when fuel tanks were completely filled the fuel would (on hot days) expand and having nowhere to go would flow back through the overflow tube and drain onto the ground.

Do I need to go there? - And finally before you rush off to the store on the other side of town to save $5.00 on a sale item...consider the fuel cost of that 17 mile drive. Can you justify the cost of two gallons at $3.50 per gallon?

Hopefully some of these practices will help you save fuel. As was stated earlier it is possible that practicing most of the above can provide a fuel savings of 10-20 %.

Just imagine if America could achieve that result.