Some gas saving tips....

[reno]

Since this is only tips, I posted it here, if I am wrong, please move it.

Check your speed
Eliminate jack-rabbit starts and accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop. Don't push pedal down more than 1/4 of the total foot travel. This allows carburetor to function at peak efficiency.

Drive steadily
Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Also avoid tailgating - the driver in front of you is unpredictable. Not only is it unsafe, but if affects your economy, if he slows down unexpectedly. One steady pace is far more efficient.

Car pool
When all riders chip in for gas it's a lot cheaper. Sharing rides also reduces traffic congestion, gives the driver easier maneuverability and greater "steady speed" economy. For best results, distribute passenger weight evenly throughout car.

Consider walking or biking for short trips
Not only will you save on gas, it's a healthy alternative.

Lighten up
Don't haul anything you don't absolutely need. Remove the bicycle or ski racks between trips and take the flags off (it's not really the extra weight that hurts your gas mileage; it's mostly aerodynamic drag). Be sure to check your trunk, glove box and front and back seats for belongings that you really don't need on a permanent basis. This won't save you a fortune (unless you have a habit of driving with the full trunk all the time) - but with gas prices rising, it does save enough to consider an automotive clean out, and it doesn't cost a dime.

Keep your tires properly inflated
Buy a quality tire gauge and check the pressure of your tires before you start. Remember to check while they're cold and do it at least once a month. When your tires are under-inflated, they require much more horsepower to rotate, thus consuming more gas. Most cars have a label that lists proper tire pressure, usually on a plate attached to the drivers door. Your owner's manual has the original tire specifications and required inflation pressures also, as long as you haven't changed tire sizes, these are the numbers you want to target.

Get back to nature
Consider shutting off the air conditioner, opening the windows and enjoying the breeze. It may be a tad warmer, but at lower speeds you'll save fuel. That said, at higher speeds the A/C may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows and sunroof.

Take care of your car
Particularly important is proper maintenance, including engine tune-ups, wheel alignments, tire pressure checks, and filter replacement.


These were posted on another site from a radio station i listen to and thought I would pass it on.

-=Reno=-

 

[AllanD]

"Jack rabbit" starts burning excessive gas isn't entirely true.

A European car manufacturer determined in a careful series of tests that their vehicles got best mileage by accelerating "briskly" to cruising speed then backing off the throttle to maintain speed. accelerating BEFORE an upgrade to avoid pulling the engine out of it's most efficient RPM range (and to avoid wasteful downshifting to climb hills)

Speed isn't ALWAYS a fuel burner best cruising speed is a compromise between aerodynamic drag and best operating rpm for the engine
(and this is why some people change gears to get these two factors to coincide)

A/C isn't as inefficient as running with the windows open at all speeds.

Disregarding the USELESS test on Myth-Busters where they performed their on speedway test at 45mph (who actually drives at 45mph?) because their LAWYERS
determined that higher speeds were "unsafe"

Aerodynamic drag increases with the CUBE of speed (If I'm wrong I'm sure MAKG will correct me) and modern cars are DESIGNED to be most efficient with the windows UP

Not to mention that cars that are specifically designed for A/C typically
have ventilation systems that quite frankly SUCK (and generally are very good at blowing hot air)

But more on drag....
When adding the swing away mirrors to my truck I observed a 1/2mpg loss
of mileage at 65mph and a 3/4mpg loss at 75mph but considering that the original pendant mirrors my STX came with hept "featherting" themselves to give me a
wonderful view of my radio I decided that NOT getting dents in thesides of my truck from lane change collisions would probably improve my mileage more

Weight? more critical in hilly terrain and particularly when multiple starts
and stops must be made. across Kansas, Nebraska or South Dakota at a
steady 65mph is may actually help. The weight compresses the suspension
and sits the vehicle lower to the ground.
Mass matters most when you must accelerate it.
The extra load on the bearings or from sidewall deflection is trivial.

Tire pressure? Maximum pressure on the side wall of the tire plus 15%
(+15% is allowed by DOT regulations and won't hurt the tire)

This pressure is not the best for traction, cornering/handling, but it IS best
for rolling resistance and when Fuel economy is the primary consideration
rolling resistance is all that matters.

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[reno]

Hey those were not my suggestions, just a copy and paste, so negative about everything, what is positive in your world?

I do know if I ease off from a start in the Ranger or my Motorcycle, keep it around 50 -55mph, I get better fuel mileage. If the A/C is off in the ranger, I get a few more miles to the gallon. If I baby the bike I get about 38mpg, and that is with a stage III jet kit and modified K&N Filter with Vance & Hines Long Shots-no Baffles. If I ride hard, I get about 25mpg sometimes 22mpg.

This is also another one of those this is BS that is BS posts, so lets not go there, jack rabbit starts does no good to a vehicle, I have seen and repaired to many because of that.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If it is nice out I will drive with the windows down, just can't beat fresh air. If it is really hot, or usually if I am on the highway I roll them up and crank up the AC, on my F-150... Ranger has no AC so I just sit there and wish I had it...

I like the breakaway mirrors on my Ranger, they give me a handy place to prop my hand to act like a scoop to funnel air into the cockpit.

I know jackrabbit starts hurt my F-150's milage though, but they are so tempting with my exhaust... My Ranger really can't do one, they come out about the same as a normal takeoff.

55 is my F-150's sweet spot, turning 1500 RPM it just sits there and sips fuel. Since I put bigger tires on it (235's to 255's) it liked to downshift more on hills, my exhaust did help eliminate quite a bit of that. Pushing that big heavy body thru the air takes some effort, and it increases dramatically the faster you go. However my brothers '97 with a 4.6 (much peakier than a 5.4) is happier at 75, and he has lower gears than I do too.

Driving around town taking off, stopping, idling... eats my trucks alive.

I upped my tires on my F-150 from 35 PSI (what the truck says) to 44 PSI (what the tires say)... aside from riding like a lumber wagon I can't say I have noticed much diffence as far as milage goes. When it starts impeding on safety I don't think it is worth it, better to be alive and broke than dead and rich from your 1 or 2 extra MPH.

 

[AllanD]

Hey those were not my suggestions, just a copy and paste, so negative about everything, what is positive in your world?

I do know if I ease off from a start in the Ranger or my Motorcycle, keep it around 50 -55mph, I get better fuel mileage. If the A/C is off in the ranger, I get a few more miles to the gallon. If I baby the bike I get about 38mpg, and that is with a stage III jet kit and modified K&N Filter with Vance & Hines Long Shots-no Baffles. If I ride hard, I get about 25mpg sometimes 22mpg.

This is also another one of those this is BS that is BS posts, so lets not go there, jack rabbit starts does no good to a vehicle, I have seen and repaired to many because of that.

Why assume I'm just being negative?

I'm clarifying, Revise&Extend, etc...

Yes you cut and pasted it but the mention of a Carb dates it.

cultural lag prevents valid up to date information from being shared,
because it is in conflict with outdated ideas that get entrenched through mindless repetition.

wanna see negative? make a post about HHO or Onbooard hydrogen generation.

Discuss that and expect no mercy....

Oops you already did

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