The best way to cut fuel costs, of course, is to drive a car that gets good mileage. That said, the easiest way to cut gas costs for any car is to maintain a highway speed of 55 mph. For each 10 mph over that, aerodynamic drag reduces fuel efficiency by around 5 miles per gallon (mpg), according to tests by Consumer Reports on a Toyota Camry.
Other fuel-saving tips:
- Pay attention to maintenance. Fixing a faulty oxygen sensor, for example, can improve your mileage as much as 40 percent. An improperly tuned car reduces mileage by about 4 percent, according to government tests.
- Accelerating and braking too fast reduce fuel efficiency by about 3 mpg, according to the Consumer Reports tests.
- Having tires that are under-inflated by about 10 pounds per square inch decreases fuel efficiency by about 1.5 mpg, according to Consumer Reports.
- Using the wrong weight of motor oil can reduce efficiency by about 2 percent, so check your owner’s manual. In addition to the correct weight, use types labeled “energy conserving” that contain friction-reducing additives.
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