REDUCE RESISTANCE TO GET MORE MILES PER GALLON
Record-setting fuel prices are making everyone more aware of the need to be more cost conscious. But for businesses with mid-size fleets, soaring fuel costs have added significantly to operating expenses. As a result, companies must take a harder look at how they can increase efficiencies by reexamining routes and paying more attention to reducing fuel consumption through proper vehicle maintenance and operation.
Sometimes the simplest things can make a difference. And even saving just a few gallons of gasoline every week can add up to a substantial savings at the end of the year when multiplied by the number of vehicles in a company’s fleet.
In addition to maintaining recommended tire pressure, checking wheel alignment, having regular oil changes and driving sensibly, it can help to transport large items inside the vehicle instead of using roof-mounted racks, which can increase wind resistance and require more fuel.
Get more miles per gallon by remembering the following:
- Keep tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires create more rolling resistance on the road, which decreases gas mileage and shortens tire life due to improper wear. Since tire pressure changes with temperature, you should check and adjust pressure when the tire is cold and when the vehicle has been sitting for a couple hours. Because information printed on the tire’s sidewall may not be the optimum pressure for your vehicle or driving situation, the most accurate places to find out about proper tire pressure is on a label inside the driver’s door or in your vehicle’s owner manual.
- Check wheel alignment periodically. Misalignment can be caused by hitting potholes, curbs and bumps, worn steering or suspension components and deterioration from aging of suspension parts. Not only does misalignment increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel efficiency, it also causes additional wear and tear on tires. Wheel alignment should be checked every 12,000 miles or once a year, whichever comes first.
- Select the right oil for your engine. Using the correct viscosity oil is important because higher viscosity oils create greater resistance to the moving parts of the engine and require more gas. Changing oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles not only is a good maintenance policy, but it is also good for fuel efficiency. Extended oil change intervals cause engine sludge, which also decreases efficiency and fuel mileage.
- Adjust driving style to save gas. Smooth, steady acceleration from a stoplight or stop sign uses fuel more efficiently than quick “jack rabbit” starts. Drivers also can increase fuel efficiency by shifting to higher gears at the lowest practical speed for standard transmission and accelerating gently with an automatic transmission. If vehicles are equipped with overdrive and/or cruise control, these should be used when appropriate. Also, making sudden starts and stops, revving the engine and excessive idling significantly lowers gas mileage. And, according to a United States government Web site, www.fueleconomy.gov, “each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.15 per gallon for gas.”
- Remove excess weight. Using roof-mounted racks and keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones, increases rolling resistance. The U.S. government estimates that an extra 100 pounds in your vehicle can reduce your mpg by as much as 2 percent, based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle’s weight, which affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones. A good rule of thumb is, when possible, to carry large items inside the trunk or vehicle, and remove items when you don’t need to carry them.
The high price of gas is not likely to be coming down anytime soon and that means it is more important than ever to do all you can to help reduce fuel consumption, increase fuel efficiency and save money.