Hai Everybody!

[gazebogoon]

I'm new both to this community and to LJ (new lj friends welcome!) and I thought I'd say hello and also post my first question.  Please forgive if this has been asked and answered

Comments

[ladymurmur]

Excellent suggestions. I can only add trying to make the most efficient use of your drive time - combine multiple errands into one trip, rather than making multiple individual trips.

[cat_mcdougall]

Use the AC (believe it or not) instead of opening the windows

*wishes for a car with AC* Why AC instead of opening windows? Wind drag?

[star_tigress]

Going 65 instead of 80 on highways. :) I've tested it both with my '94 Grand Am (4 cylinders) and a hybrid synergy Prius and they've saved a lot of fuel. My Grand Am usually gets about 35mpg or more if going 65 and the Prius gets nearly 50mpg or a little over. Conversely, if I was going 75-80, the Prius would get about only 37-42mpg and my Grand Am - I cringe to even ponder that.

I know some people get extreme road rage when encountered with slow drivers (aka going the speed limit) so I just stay in the slowest lane unless passing.

[cactus_rs]

I think some group did a study and found that cars (generally speaking, YMMV) are the most fuel efficient at 55 mph, actually.

So I only drive any faster than that when I'm looking at like, driving time > 2 hours, just for the sake of my sanity.

[misskrisha]

i cringed when i first read this, because for a portion of my trip to school (although i graduated 2 years ago...), the speed limit was 70. on those two-lane roads, officers wouldn't bat an eye @ ticketing your for impeding traffic.

[star_tigress]

I know. :\ That's the thing! The speed limit here in Ohio varies widely from 50 to 65 but many usually go 15 or over, including some trucks.

So it's basically damned if you do, damned if they don't.

[lattershed]

ride a bike if possible.

[gazebogoon]

Ok, your reply made me l out l :)

[peradouro]

Plan shopping so you make one trip per week. Or if you can stretch it to two weeks occasionally you'll see some difference.

See if you can ride share to go shopping. Ask someone to go shopping with you, trading off cars every other time.

If you drive to work park a couple blocks away and walk if you can.

Don't buy the cheapest gas. You may end up with plugged fuel injectors and that can cost a fortune.

[autosparta]

Good tips. Here are hopefully a few more:

1. Use your cruise control on a highway. it can be difficult to keep a smooth speed but if you can it will help your gas usage greatly.

2. I find that when I"m driving on city streets, I try to coast upto streetlights, especially if I'm far away from the lights and they're red. Saves me having to use my brakes so much too.

3. Try to stay btw 60 and 80 km phr (45 and 55 MPH) you are going to get your best fuel efficiency there.

4. Keep your tank btw 1/3 and 2/3 full. You should never let your tank run dry due to the sediment and the associated poor fuel eficiency and keeping it any more full will mean that you're carrying more weight meaning it takes more gas to carry said weight. While I"m sure it doesn't make that much difference it does make some difference.

[gazebogoon]

Never thought of the fuel tank trick, good one!