Welcome to Circle & Square Domestic & Import Auto Care!

22 Tips for Improving Your
Gas Mileage

With today's high gas prices, it's worth taking a few minutes out of your day to make minor modifications to improve your gas mileage. These 22 tips will reduce the amount of gas you use while driving your vehicle.

• Keep your tires properly inflated, and check them frequently. ¹
• Keep your front suspension and steering in proper alignment.
• Use the thinnest viscosity oil that your car's manufacturer recommends (5W-30 for most new cars).
• Keep your engine in proper mechanical condition.
• Keep your engine in tune and make sure the air and fuel filters are clean.
• Make sure your brakes are not dragging.
• Repair body damage. That crunched front fender adds aerodynamic drag.
• Don't use premium fuel if your car does not require it (check your owner's manual). Using it is an unnecessary expense.
• Don't waste your money on those late night "as-seen-on-TV" products that are supposed to increase your mileage.
• Avoid excessive warm-up time. Modern engines do not require it.
• Don't idle your engine for long periods. Turn off your engine when you leave the car or have to wait a long time. ²
• Avoid jackrabbit starts.
• Keep your speed at 55 mph, or less, whenever possible. ³
• For newer vehicles with aerodynamic designs, close the windows and turn on the air conditioning when driving down the freeway.
• For older cars with inefficient air condition compressors, use the ventilation system and close the windows, temperature permitting.
• Anticipate merging traffic and stoplights — decelerate and accelerate smoothly.
• Plan your trips wisely. If you need to go several places, plan a route that allows you to run most, or all, of your errands in one outing.
• Empty the trunk! Extra weight will weigh down your car unnecessarily. ⁴
• Remove roof racks when not in use.
• Carpool whenever possible or practical.
• Listen to radio reports for alternate routes around congested areas.
• Drive in the highest gear possible (without lugging the engine).
• Try to keep your speed constant. Use cruise control when on long stretches of road.

References
1-According to the US Department of Energy, nearly 4 million gallons of gas could be saved nationwide each day for every one pound per square inch of tire under-inflation, compared to the mileage if all vehicle tires were kept inflated to the manufacturer's recommended pressure.
2-The US Department of Energy estimates that for 145 million passenger vehicles idling 5 minutes per day, approximately 4 million gallons of gasoline are consumed without going anywhere.
3-According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, a vehicle loses about 1% in fuel economy for every one mile per hour above 55 mph that it is driven. A passenger car that averages 30 miles per gallon at 55 mph could typically get 28.5 mpg at 60 mph, 27 mpg at 65 mph and 25.5 mpg at 70 mph. Remember, however, that for different speeds, the changes in fuel economy will vary by vehicle model.
4-Each 100 pounds of needless weight will cost up to one-half mile per gallon, on the average.

There's also a great article on MSNBC news you might want to check out. "Is your car running on empty?" was taken from a March 18, 2003 "Today" show spot.