What are your top 10 fuel economy tips?

[instarx]

I think GPS is the most under utilized tool for improving fuel economy. when I plotted all my normal routes I discovered that most of the time I was not going the shortest way. If you drive 7 miles to work every day and can find a route of 6 miles that is about 14% in fuel savings.

If you go to several places use your GPS to plot the most efficient route and order. Not all GPSs do route-planning but a lot do. You can easily save 20 - 25%.

[jonathan150cc]

1. Don't drive your car.
2. If you do drive, know your real MPG so you can have a baseline.
3. Keep your car maintained. If you keep up with it, you can use the cheap stuff
4. Remember that your car is only a tool to get your from one place to another.
5. Your tires are important. Keep them rotated, blanaced, inflated & aligned.
6. Coast whenever possible.
7. Turn off the car at railroad tracks and long red lights.
8. Simplify your intake. I've never seen a car that didn't improve FE by removing ducting.
9. Get some instrumentation to keep you honest with yourself.
10. Don't obsess about it. It's important, but not the end of the world.

[Shawn D.]

Originally Posted by instarx

I think GPS is the most under utilized tool for improving fuel economy. when I plotted all my normal routes I discovered that most of the time I was not going the shortest way. If you drive 7 miles to work every day and can find a route of 6 miles that is about 14% in fuel savings.

If you go to several places use your GPS to plot the most efficient route and order. Not all GPSs do route-planning but a lot do. You can easily save 20 - 25%.

I'm sure you already know this, but "shortest" is not necessarily the most efficient. Here's just one example based on real-world conditions:

Marietta, GA to Lawrenceville, GA: The shortest route is I-75 to I-285 to I-85, at 37 miles. The I-75 to I-85 route is 6 miles longer but takes 30-45 minutes less time in rush hour because you are stuck in traffic only on the section outside I-285, not the whole section of I-285 between I-75 and I-85 plus the section outside I-285.

I also take a route to work in the morning that is five miles longer than my return route, but I use less fuel because I get out early enough to avoid traffic on the highways, whereas the lights on the return route are there 24 hours.

[tasdrouille]

The article got published today. It's been reduced to a top 8 by the editor. You can check it out at tdicurious.ca.

[MetroMPG]

Nice list, tas. And congrats on getting on the TDI site.

[RandomFact314]

These are my top 5 in order of importance I believe:
Keep track of your MPG
Stop speeding all together
Pump your tires up
LRR tires are great
Coast whenever you can (possibly in neutral)

[tasdrouille]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Nice list, tas. And congrats on getting on the TDI site.

Thank you. So far it's been a nice experience dealing with them, and I'm looking forward to future projects.

It was initially a top 10. I find it weird they decided to left the driving without brakes and instrumentation parts out.

[instarx]

Originally Posted by Shawn D.

I'm sure you already know this, but "shortest" is not necessarily the most efficient. Here's just one example based on real-world conditions:

Of course you are right. Distance is not the only factor and long trips with no stops can be more efficient than shorter trips with lots of stops. An infallable rule can't be stated for all situations.

But still, efficiency isn't really the goal - using less fuel is. Driving ten miles at 20 mpg is more efficient than going seven miles at 15 mpg, but the seven mile trip still uses less fuel - and that's the real goal.

We all tend to get hung up on getting the best mileage, but that doesn't always translate into less fuel used.

[swoody]

You make a good point there instarx. I think I may pay a bit more attention to my total fuel consumed now, and weigh it in against getting the best mileage I can.