Fuel Saving Tips for Gas Guzzlers

Taking public transportation, bike riding and car pooling are great fuel-conserving pointers for consumers. But what about businesses, like landscape contractors, that can’t function without their gas-guzzling work trucks?

Here are some tips, courtesy of the U.S. Department of Energy's www.fuelecononmy.gov for smart purchasing, efficient driving and properly maintaining your fleet. Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.91/gallon.

SHOP SMART. While you don’t want to drive 10 miles out of your way to save a cent or two per gallon, a little bit of research may reveal that an account of yours is a block away from the cheapest gas outlet in town. Visit www.automotive.com/gas-prices daily to stay up to date on which gas stations are a steal. Gas savings = $0.01-$0.10/gallon.

DRIVE SENSIBLY. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Gas savings = $0.15-$0.96/gallon.

OBSERVE THE SPEED LIMIT While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas. Gas savings = $0.20-$0.67/gallon.

REMOVE EXCESS WEIGHT. Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones. Gas savings = $0.03-$0.06/gallon.

AVOID EXCESSIVE IDLING. Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.

USE CRUISE CONTROL. Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

USE OVERDRIVE GEARS. When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

KEEP YOUR ENGINE PROPERLY TUNED. Fixing a vehicle that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done. Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent. Gas savings = $0.12/gallon.

CHECK AND REPLACE AIR FILTERS REGULARLY. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your vehicle's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your vehicle's air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine. Gas savings = up to $0.29/gallon.

KEEP TIRES PROPERLY INFLATED. You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer. Gas savings = up to $0.09/gallon.

USE THE RECOMMENDED GRADE OF MOTOR OIL. You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1 percent to 2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1 percent to 1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives. Gas savings = $0.03-$0.06/gallon.