In these days of record-high gas prices, the Alliance to Save Energy offers reminders to help reduce the cost of driving:
• Keep your car properly tuned to improve gas mileage about 4 percent.
• Improve mileage as much as 40 percent by replacing faulty oxygen sensors.
• Keep tires properly inflated to improve gas mileage more than 3 percent (as well as to extend the life and ensure the safety of the tires).
• Use the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil to improve gas mileage as much as 2 percent. Select motor oil labeled "energy conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.
• Check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing a clogged or dirty air filter can improve a car's gas mileage as much as 10 percent, and a clean filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of the engine.
• Curtail aggressive driving. Speeding, rapid acceleration and rapid braking all waste gas - and curb mileage as much as 33 percent at highway speeds, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Nix jackrabbit starts, opting instead for slow acceleration from a dead stop. And slow down in general: Each mile per hour you drive over 60 mph is like paying an extra 10 cents per gallon, according to DOE.
• Consider gas mileage when shopping for a new vehicle. Check out the DOE Web site (www.fueleconomy.gov) and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Web site (www.greenercars.com) for information about fuel-efficient vehicles. Learn about current electric-drive vehicles on the Electric Drive Transportation Association Web site (www.electricdrive.org). As a bonus, you'll get a $2,000 federal tax deduction this year if you purchase a hybrid-electric car. (Next year the deduction drops to $500.)
• When renting a car, ask for a fuel-efficient model. Also, remember to fill up the tank before returning the car to the rental company, which charges much higher gas prices - and sometimes an extra gas surcharge.
• Avoid idling. Cars with larger engines typically waste even more gas while idling than cars with smaller engines.
• Combine your errands into one trip, and plan your routes carefully to drive fewer miles and use less fuel.
• If available, use the vehicle's overdrive gear when appropriate to reduce engine speed, save gas and decrease engine wear.
• Use cruise control to help cut fuel consumption by maintaining a steady speed.
• If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets better gas mileage whenever possible.
• Protect your health and your pocketbook by walking to your destination whenever possible. You'll lose weight, lower stress, save gas and money and reduce pollution.
• Pack lightly when traveling, and avoid carrying items on your vehicle's roof. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk cuts a typical car's fuel economy as much as 2 percent.
• Carpool and use public transportation whenever possible. And consider telecommuting if your employer allows it.