The hot hoarding item of the week has been gas. So, here are four tips from AAA on how to increase your gas mileage...
1. Plan your trips- If you need to make more than one stop while out running errands, map out a route before you go so you don't end up backtracking. Also, they say to avoid rush hour if you can.
2. Watch your speed- Fuel economy peaks at around 50 mph on most cars, then drops off as speeds increase. So, not having a heavy foot on the highway helps. Also, rapid acceleration and hard braking can lower fuel economy by 40% in stop-and-go traffic.
3. Don't idle- Your cars engine consumes around a half gallon of fuel per hour when idling, but a warm engine only takes around 10 seconds worth of fuel to restart. So, if you're going to be stopped for a couple minutes, it's better to just turn the car off.
4. Maintain your car- Cars that aren't maintained well are less efficient and use more fuel. Stuff like missed oil changes, under inflated tires, and dirty air filters can all lower your fuel economy.
