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10 June 2008

More tips ...

For saving money while driving

The current average price for gas is close to $3.00 per gallon here in the United States. Arguments aside about whether this is really that bad compared to the global market, it's still more than I want to pay.


Along that line, I've written some tips to help you increase the miles per gallon of your car. These actually work—I increased my average gas mileage from 19 miles per gallon to 25 miles per gallon just by following the tips below.

I should note that these aren't just random guesses at what might help. I have a 2000 Chrysler Town & Country mini-van that has a digital display showing you in real-time your miles per gallon. As I'm driving, I can see second by second how my miles per gallon are changing. It keeps a running log of these numbers and has a second display to show you your average miles per gallon. I have tested each of these tips independently to see if they help or not. (Yes, I'm a big nerd and actually do this kind of statistical analysis for fun. Then again, I'm now getting 25 miles per gallon in a six-year-old mini-van. Who's laughing now?)

Okay, here you go...

* Don't accelerate quickly. - I used to be a relatively aggressive driver. I would speed up quickly from stops, accelerate into the fast line quickly on the freeway, and so forth. If you accelerate gradually, though, it can really help your miles per gallon. Your car won't be working as hard. You'll be a safer driver to boot.

* Let your car brake itself. - I wasn't so bad with this one, but I used to often wait until I was somewhat near a stop before braking down to a halt. Anticipate stops ahead of you and just let off the accelerator, letting the car slow itself down.

(More via MBoffin.com)

06:23 Posted in Money, Transportation, Travel | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this | Tags: money, gas, travel, cars, brakes, speeding

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