10 ECO-DRIVING TIPS FOR EVERYONE
Below are a few tips to help drivers conserve fuel
and save money at the pump, while at the same time helping the environment and
improving traffic safety.
- Slow down and watch speed – Drive 55 miles per hour instead of 65 to save
fuel. EPA estimates a 10-15 percent improvement in fuel economy by following
this tip. Also, aim for a constant speed. Pumping the accelerator sends
more fuel into the engine. Using cruise control whenever possible on the
highway helps maintain speeds and conserve fuel.
- Accelerate and brake smoothly – Accelerating smoothly from a stop and braking
softly conserves fuel. Fast starts, weaving in and out of traffic and hard
braking wastes fuel and wears out some of the car components, such as
brakes and tires, more quickly. Maintain a safe distance between vehicles
and anticipate traffic conditions to allow for more time to brake and
accelerate gradually.
- No idling – Today’s engines don’t need a warm up. Start the car immediately
and gently drive away. Don’t leave your car idling. Prolonged idling
increases emissions and wastes fuel. Turn the engine off in non-traffic
situations, such as at bank and fast food drive-up windows, when idling
more than 30 seconds.
- Check your tires – Keep tires properly inflated to the recommended
tire pressure. This alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by 3-4
percent. Under-inflated tires increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel
economy. They also wear more rapidly. Check the vehicle’s door-post
sticker for minimum cold tire inflation pressure.
- Be kind to your vehicle – Maintain proper engine tune-up to keep vehicles
running efficiently. Keep the wheels aligned. Wheels that are fighting
each other waste fuel. Replace air filters as recommended. Use a fuel with
good detergent additives to keep the vehicle engine clean and performing
efficiently. Always consult the Owner’s Manual for proper maintenance.
- Travel light – Avoid piling a lot of luggage on the roof rack. The added frontal
area reduces aerodynamics and will hurt fuel economy, reducing it by as
much as 5 percent. Remove excess weight from the vehicle. Unnecessary
weight, such as unneeded items in the trunk, makes the engine work harder
and consumes more fuel.
- Minimize use of heater and air conditioning – Use heating and air conditioning selectively to
reduce the load on the engine. Decreasing your usage of the air
conditioner when temperatures are above 80 degrees can help you save 10-15
percent of fuel. Use the vent setting as much as possible. Park in the
shade to keep car cool and reduce the need for air conditioning.
- Close windows at high speeds – Don’t drive with the windows open unless your
keep your speed under 50 mph.
Driving with the windows open at highway speeds increases
aerodynamic drag on the vehicle and lowers fuel economy.
- Choose the right oil – Use good quality oils with the viscosity grade
recommended in the owner guide. Ford recommends SAE 5W-20 oil for most
cars and trucks to provide the best fuel economy. Only oils “certified for
gasoline engines” by the American Petroleum Institute (API) with the
starburst symbol should be used.
- Consolidate trips – Plan ahead to consolidate your trips. This will
enable you to bypass congested routes, lead to less idling, fewer
start-ups and less stop-and-go traffic. Whenever feasible, share a ride
and/or carpool.
For
additional information on how to save on gas, visit the Driving Skills for Life
website and click on the “Eco-driving” module.