Tips on getting better gas mileage!!!

**noodlesoup** · 08-04-2007, 10:08 PM

I have become a hypermiler (someone who tries to get the most miles per gallon out of their car) in recent months, and these are the best ways I have found to improve fuel economy:

1. Inflate all tires to within 5 pounds of maximum recommended pressure.

As long as your tire stays below its max pressure (listed on the side of the tire) it is at no risk to have a blowout.

A harder tire also provides much better handling and braking

2. Replace defective gas caps

A gas cap not only prevents fuel from evaporating, it also creates a vacuum in your fuel system, which maximizes performance and efficiency. It can make up to a 5-10 mpg difference!

3. Buy gas at night or in the morning, and on Wednesdays

A gas pumps measures by volume, not weight, so warm gas will have less density, meaning you get less for your money. Gas prices are also cheapest on Wed.

**Domestic Gal** · 08-04-2007, 10:30 PM

Thanks good to know this stuff.

**amecoy75002** · 08-04-2007, 10:41 PM

Thanks for the tips.

**Bethany** · 08-04-2007, 10:57 PM

I'm a hyper miler, too.
Here are some tips. Coast to a stop. Do not do a quick step on the gas, but a more gradual one. Coast down hills. Stay within the speedlimit. Look ahead, if you see a stop sign or a light that will turn red before you hit it, ease up on the gas. Back into parking spots, so that you can just drive right out (you use more gas when you first start your car up.) Park on an incline and coast out of the spot.

**sdrjeolsen** · 08-05-2007, 12:34 AM

thanks for the tips.

**Edna_E** · 08-06-2007, 05:12 PM

Great info! I knew about the inflation, but not the other 2 tips. Thanks.

**FrugalMomof3** · 08-06-2007, 07:49 PM

Cool, thanks for the tips

**noodlesoup** · 08-06-2007, 08:01 PM

Just for more detail,

TIRES - You should air up your tire after driving during the day, so you can know its hot air pressure. There is around a 5-10 PSI difference btw cold and hot tire temp. Also remember to deflate it some as the weather warms up, and to inflate it as the weather gets cooler.

Smaller and thinner tires can be inflated higher than larger ones, keep this in mind when buying tires

GAS CAPS- When removing gas cap after a couple of days, you should hear a hissing sound that last a few seconds. If you don't it is defective and not making the fuel system air tight

**emily_hope** · 08-06-2007, 08:09 PM

Thanks for the tips.

3. Buy gas at night or in the morning, and on Wednesdays

I really didn't know this one. I buy my gas on Mondays at lunch time. I'm gettin ripped off!

**Jaded** · 08-06-2007, 08:23 PM

Wow! Cool! I didn't know about the filling at night thing. I usually do, but I definitely will now.

I leave for work 5 minutes earlier than usual, and drive the speed limit all the way there. 45 in the city, 55 on the highway, and you wouldn't believe how much it's helped my gas mileage.

I heard once that actually using your a/c on newer cars, as opposed to driving with the windows down, saves you gas, because newer cars are built to be aerodynamic and putting the windows down put more drag on the car.

Also, if you enclose the bed of your truck with something like a lid or a plastic cover, there is less wind drag, thus better gas mileage. Plus, you have a dry place to put stuff when it rains! If you can't do that, one of those rubber mesh tailgates decreases drag a lot.

ALSO I read that washing and waxing your car makes air glide over it more smoothly, thus less drag.

**noodlesoup** · 08-06-2007, 09:13 PM

I think the A/C vs windows down argument is really based on what type of car one owns.

If it has a large engine (V6+) it is probably better to use the A/C, while someone whose car has a small engine are better off with the windows down because A/C takes a much larger percent of a small engine's power verse a larger one.

Personally, I miss all the manual cooling features on old cars, like the small corner windows which let air in at a fast speed without creating drag