Gassing Up

Does it seem like every time you pass a gas station, the price of a gallon of fuel has gone up? There is not much you can do to lower gas prices, but there are things you can do to use less of it.

The first is to slow down. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds over 60 miles per hour. Each 5 miles per hour you drive over 60 is like paying an extra 10 cents a gallon for gasoline. Rapid braking and acceleration also take a lot of fuel. Using cruise control and overdrive gears and avoiding excessive idling (where you get zero miles per gallon) will also improve fuel efficiency.

Second, keep you car in good running condition. Driving a car that is out of tune can reduce gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, according to the Department of Energy. A faulty oxygen sensor can increase gas consumption by as much as 40 percent. Replacing a clogged air filter will improve gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Keeping tires inflated to their proper air pressure saves gas, helps them last longer and is safer.

Carrying an extra 100 pounds in the trunk or back increases fuel consumption by up to 2 percent. Roof carriers can also reduce gas mileage by as much as 5 percent. Planning your trips and carpooling when possible will also reduce gas consumption.

If you’re in the market for a new car, add fuel economy to your list of considerations. Choosing a car that gets 30 miles per gallon rather than 20 will save you $2,500 over five years (assuming a gas price of $2 per gallon and 15,000 miles driven per year). The Environmental Protection Agency provides mileage estimates for new and used cars dating from 1985 and lists the most fuel efficient vehicles in each class at www.fueleconomy.gov. While hybrid and electric cars are the most efficient, not all the models on the agency’s list are as exotic. The most fuel efficient mid-size station wagon in 2004, for example, is a Ford Focus and the most fuel efficient sport utility vehicle is the two-wheel drive Toyota RAV 4.

If everyone purchased one of the most fuel-efficient vehicles in each class, fuel economy would be 12 percent higher. Americans would save more than 13 billion gallons of gas a year and produce 157 fewer tons of greenhouse gases, a contributor to climate change, according to the Alliance to Save Energy, a coalition of business and consumer groups.

Don’t just fume about rising gas prices, take steps to use less of it.