The main advantage of hybrid cars is
gas mileage saving that is $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ saving. Follow some
basic principles and you could save lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$$.
Tips to save Gas Mileage.
| 1. |
Drive Sensibly
Believe it or not, but aggressive driving such as speeding,
rapid acceleration and braking wastes gas. You can lower your
gas mileage by about 30 percent at highway speeds and by 5
percent around town if you drive sensibly. Use breaks Sensible
driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save
more than gas money.
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| 2. |
Observe the Speed Limit Gas
mileage decreases rapidly at speeds higher than 60 mph.
Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional
$0.15 per gallon for gas. So if you are paying $2.15 per gallon,
but if you are going at 70 mph then you are spening actually
$2.45 on each gallon.
Observing the speed limit is also safer. (You wont get speeding
tickets, and you save money again).
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| 3. |
Remove Excess Weight Remove
the excess weight in your vehicle, and avoid keeping unnecessary
items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100
pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%.
This effects more for smaller vehicles. |
| 4. |
Avoid Excessive Idling Try
to avoid excess Idling. Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars
with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than
do cars with smaller engines. Hybrid cars has advantage since
they run on electric engine at idle situations (like stop
signs, lights, traffic jams), and hence idling do not consume
gas in hybrid vehicles/ Hybrid cars.
|
| 5. |
Use Cruise Control for better mileage
Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a
constant speed and most probably will save gas. Avoid fluctuating
your speed in a wide range on the highway. It will not only
save gas but also will be safe on the roads, and does not
create confusion for the fellow drivers.
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| 6. |
Use Overdrive Gears When
you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down.
This saves gas and reduces engine wear.
|
| 7. |
Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned
Tune up your car regularly, perform emissions test which can
impove its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though actual
results vary. Fixing a faulty oxygen sensor, may improve your
gas mileage as much as 40 percent
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| 8. |
Regular Check & Replacement of
Air Filters Replacing a clogged air filter can improve
your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car's
air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your
engine. If you replace a dirty air filter it not only saves
gas but also protects your engine. Never neglect this if you
want your car to last longer.
|
| 9. |
Inflate your tires to a proper value
You can improve your gas mileage by around 3 percent by keeping
your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires
can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in
pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer
and last longer.
|
| 10. |
Always try to use the Recommended Grade
of Motor Oil
You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the
manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example,
using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can
lower your gas mileage by 1-2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine
designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1-1.5 percent.
Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving"
on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing
additives.
|
| 11 |
Avoid Airconditioner in possible
situations
If possible turn off your air conditioner when temperature
is moderate. You can open your windows and drive in city but
avoid open windows on highway.
|
| 12 |
Try regenerative breaking by anticipating
when to stop
If you anticipate for a red light/yellow light/stop signs slow
down and then use breaks. Try to avoid sudden breaks. If you
use regenerative breaking mechanism hybrid cars have the capability
to generate energy from breaking. It unbelievable but it is
a great advantage with hybrid cars that you generate energy
even when breaking. |
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