My list:
1) Slow Down on the highways
2) Increase tire pressure to max sidewall rating (or 1-2 psi less)
3) Pace traffic, anticipate the change of lights to minimize use of throttle and brakes
4) Remove unnecessary weight from the vehicle
5) Don't idle – avoid drive-thrus, warm-ups, etc …
I think these lists are worth repeating as the media does such a poor job covering this and other technical issues ... look at that recent article on CNN.com (link available elsewhere on this forum).
CarbonBuilder, that's a good question. Of course, I don't think there's an easy answer. I think weight matters more in stop-and-go driving and less on the highway where momentum works
for you while weight works against you ... so they help cancel each other out.
One of the
best tankfuls I ever got with this '06 Civic (about 42.5mpg) was when I was moving last year and my car was loaded right to the gills. BUT ... my move was in the middle of summer, almost all of the trip was highway and the traffic late in the morning and early afternoon was very light ... and the return trips (I made a handful) were completely empty.