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Chevy’s Smart Driving Tips

This past week I had the opportunity to drive the INCREDIBLE Chevrolet Volt for a few days. I LOVED not spending anything on gasoline, but once I gave the car back, I had to figure out HOW to get the best fuel economy from our cars. Chevrolet came up with these GREAT tips

Drivers are looking to save money on gas but most of them do not realize that the secret to maximizing their fuel economy lies in their own hands. With gas prices at almost $4 a gallon nationally – and $3.54 here in the city – Chevrolet conducted an internal test using two identical Chevy models, the Cruze, to demonstrate 10 common mistakes drivers make that hurt their fuel economy.

Seeking to help you squeeze more miles per gallon, below you can find Smart Driving tips from Chevrolet that can ultimately help you save up to $100 a month at the pump.

Smart Driving Tips

1. Get out of the drive-through lane:

Idling for 15 minutes burns through an average of a quarter of a gallon.

2. Avoid jumping on the gas:

Driving smoothly can improve your mileage by 20 percent.

3. Drive at 70 mph, not 80 mph:

While on the interstate a 10-mph difference will save you up to four miles per gallon.

4. Use cruise control:

Maintaining a constant speed over time is much more efficient than speeding up and slowing down over and over again.

5. Roll up the windows:

At slower speeds, turning off the air conditioning can save you a little, but on the highway increased air pressure consumes much more energy than air conditioning ever will

In addition, you can’t forget to maintain your vehicle in top condition. Some easy to follow Vehicle Maintenance Tips include:

Check your vehicle’s tire pressure:
Check your tires at least once a month, as a tire that is 10 pounds under pressure can cut your fuel efficiency by more than 3 percent.

Avoid vehicle aerodynamic changes:
At highway speeds, up to a third of your fuel is used to overcome wind resistance, so even small changes to your vehicle’s aerodynamics will have a big impact in fuel economy. When the season is over, take down your sports flags.

Avoid carrying extra junk in the trunk:
According to EPA estimates, every 100 pounds of weight can reduce fuel economy by 2 percent.

Do not ignore the “check engine” light:
Serious engine problems can cut your fuel economy by up to 40 percent.

Avoid bundling errands:
An engine at operating temperature is up to 50 percent more efficient than a cold engine. When possible, be fuel friendly and run your errands in one day rather than running one errand every day of the week.

Comments

  2. April – it’s an incredibly FUN car to drive. Add to that the fact that I used almost no gas and I LOVED it.

  3. Oh thanks for the tips. I have never used cruise control, just never liked it, but I may have to start. And if we go to fast food, we always go in!

  4. Great tips! Considering gas prices are sitting at $3.50 a gallon here in Portland, the Chevy Volt sounds like the perfect vehicle. Do you think a car seat would fit easily in the back?

  9. My dad used to yell at me all the time, telling me I was placing “drag” on the car.

  10. Absolutely. There are two full sized bucket seats in the back. It’s a little tight if you’re over 6’2″ on the headroom (my hubby is that height), but he had no problem in either the front or the back seats.

  11. I’ve noticed a BIG difference in the gas mileage (especially on my hybrid) by using cruise control. It makes a REMARKABLE difference.

  13. Excellent tips. Thanks for reminding me to get the summer junk out of the trunk! I go back to work Wednesday and travel a highway, so I know getting the extra baggage out will help!

  15. 1. You seem to be always test driving cars LOL
    2. I always have the windows up (cough….South Florida will do that to a girl as you know)
    3. My car lets me know when my tire pressure is low, it is so smart!

    Thanks for the great tips!

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