Driving Tips...To Save Energy and Money

For drivers, saving money falls into a few easy-to-understand areas: driving habits, consistently using the proper fuel and oil, and maintenance of your vehicle.

The Faster We Go...the More Money We Usually Spend

In the past, two-thirds of California drivers exceeded the 55 m.p.h. limit. Highway Patrol statistics showed that 15 percent of all motorists exceeded 65 m.p.h., when the speed limit was 55. Excessive speed can not only mean an expensive traffic ticket but could also cost you more in overall gasoline use.

The higher speed limits are apparently having little effect on increased fuel use in California. Caltrans "weigh-and-motion" data collected at various locations on California highways have detected very little increases in speed since the higher speed limits (65 mph and 70 mph in some areas) were implement in January 1996.

Fuel economy, however, can decrease as speeds go up. A rule of thumb, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, is that for every one mile per hour that you drive above 55 m.p.h., a vehicle loses about one percent in fuel economy. A passenger car that averages 30 miles per gallon at 55 m.p.h. could typically get 28.5 m.p.g. at 60 m.p.h., 27 m.p.g. at 65 m.p.h., and 25.5 m.p.g. at 70 m.p.h. Remember, however, that for different levels of speeds, the change in fuel economy will probably be different for different models and ages of vehicles.

Cut That Air-Conditioner and Close the Windows

One of the biggest uses of energy in our vehicle is running the air-conditioner. According to the U.S. EPA, using the vehicle air conditioner on a hot summer day could decrease mileage by as much as 21 percent.

If at all possible, use the flow-through ventilation on your car instead of the air conditioner.

If you're driving on the freeway, keep your windows rolled up. Opening a window creates wind drag and will lower your mileage. Again, use the car's flow-through ventilation.

Idling Equals Zero Miles Per Gallon!

Turn off your car engine if stopping more than 30 seconds. Restarting uses less gasoline. Idling for five minutes can waste 12 cents.

For 145 million passenger vehicles idling five minutes per day, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that approximately four million gallons of gasoline are consumed without going anywhere. Of course, drivers should not turn off their cars while in traffic jams, but they should consider cutting their engines if they are waiting in drive-in windows at banks, fast-food restaurants and other places. Better still, rather than using drive-through windows, park your car and go inside.

You should also not "warm-up" your vehicle longer than about 30 seconds. This wastes gasoline. So, start your car or truck, fasten your seat belt, check and adjust your mirrors, glance around you for traffic, and then drive off slowly and smoothly. By the time you've traveled a few miles, your vehicle should be up to operating temperatures, and you will have saved gasoline by not sitting and idling.

Good driving habits can save you money in the long run. Driving efficiently can save fuel costs without reducing your driving. Here are some other smart tips...

• Accelerate gently but steadily -- jack-rabbit starts can decrease mileage by up to 12 percent.

• Plan your trips so you won't get stuck in traffic jams, and listen to radio reports for alternate routes around congested areas.

• Use the cruise control -- it can save fuel by maintaining a steady speed.

Gasoline and Oil Selection

The octane of gasoline is not a measure of the "power" of the fuel. Many people think that by using the premium grades of unleaded that they will increase their performance. This is untrue. Octane is a measure of the anti-knock properties of the fuel.

Approximately 80 percent of today's vehicles are suited for regular unleaded gasoline, but only 70 percent of gasoline sales in the early 1990s were regular octane. So, check your vehicle's owner manual to find out what's right for your car. By using regular unleaded instead of mid-grade or premium unleaded you can save money.

It also takes more crude oil to refine a gallon of premium gasoline than to refine regular. The U.S. Department of Energy says that collectively, if all U.S. drivers were buying the correct octane of fuel, we could save more than one billion gallons of gasoline a year.

You should also not "top off" at the pump. Spilled gasoline adds to air pollution and wastes money. A vehicle fueled to the limit may expel gasoline on a hot day before it has been driven far enough to lower the fuel level. Such spilled fuel simply "vanishes into thin air."

The choice you make in engine oil can also effect fuel economy. Your owner's manual will recommend the type of oil to use under specific conditions, based on lowest temperatures expected for the period the oil is in the engine.

And a reminder...when you change your oil, make sure all used oil is taken to an oil recycling center. Ask your service station attendant or call the California Integrated Waste Management Board in Sacramento or your local county waste management department for the nearest location. You can also visit the Environmental Hotline at http://www.1800cleanup.org/, which will give you specific recycling information based on your ZIP code. You can also reach them by phone at 1-800-clean-up.

Tire Care and Vehicle Maintenance

If your car is properly maintained, you could save money every time you hit the roads. The simplest measure is to make sure your tires are inflated properly. In addition to wasting energy, under-inflation dramatically shortens the life of a tire, causes it to run hot, and creates a safety hazard.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, nearly four million gallons of gasoline could be saved nationwide each day for every one pound per square inch (psi) of under-inflation, compared to the mileage if all vehicle tires were kept inflated to the manufacturer's recommended pressure.

Check the tires' pressure when the tires are cold, usually after the car sits for three or more hours. If you've driven on the tires, they are warmed up from friction and the air inside has expanded. The recommended pressure can be found on the side of the tire. Usually the pressure will be two digits followed by the letters "psi."

Make sure your car is properly tuned, spark plugs are firing right, and oil and air filters are clean. Old, dirty oil and clogged filters are a sure way to rob your engine of efficiency and can cause an increase in air pollution.

Finally, travel light. Luggage racks increase vehicle drag, and too much weight in the trunk can cut your mileage. On the average, each 100 pounds of needless weight will cost up to one-half mile per gallon. Pack only what you'll need if you're going on a trip . . . 24 changes of clothes and six pairs of shoes for a three-day vacation is over-kill . . . and probably over-dressed. Get rid of that 200-pound tool box that you lug around "just in case." Or -- just maybe -- leave the kids at home with the grand parents.

Driving Tips Available

The U.S. Department of Energy has a publication that can offer additional gasoline-saving tips. Write the U.S. Department of Energy, Public Inquiry Office, PA-5, Washington, D.C. 20585, or given them a call at 1-800-363-3732. Ask for their brochure Energy Conservation Information for Vehicle Owners, publication number DOE/CE-0297P.

You can also contact us at the California Energy Commission for more information. Write: California Energy Commission, Media & Public Communications, 1516 Ninth Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Or send us an e-mail to: energia@energy.ca.gov.

The Energy Commission also has a site on the Internet for the latest information on Gasoline and Diesel Fuel prices at http://www.consumerenergycenter.com/transportation/conventional/index.html.

Some major oil companies and the AAA, the American Automobile Association, also publish tips for saving gasoline. So, give them a call.

Finally, the American Council for Energy Efficient Economy has a new report Green Guide to Cars and Trucks that "provides the first-ever comprehensive environmental ratings for cars and light trucks sold in the United States."

Saving energy need not be an inconvenience, and it can leave a few extra dollars in your pocket.

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