Reduce your Fuel Consumption
As anyone
who lives in Southern California knows, our fuel prices are some of the highest
in the country. In fact, recently gas broke the $4 level
in our area and they are only going higher. Because of this unfortunate trend,
the experts at Southern
California Ford Dealers thought it would be a perfect time to go over
some tips on how to reduce fuel consumption and increase fuel economy.
1. Not So Fast
While we
all spend a good deal of time in traffic, there are opportunities to drive fast
in SoCal. In order to save on fuel and for safety sake, we suggest avoiding
driving too fast. According to the fuel consumption experts at the DOE, every 5
mph you drive over 50 mph, you pay roughly 20 cents per gallon for gas. It also
helps to use cruise control as often as possible.
2. Be Careful with Stops and Starts
Because of
the aforementioned traffic we all battle with, this tip is perhaps the most
important. The key is to be as proactive as possible by monitoring the flow of
traffic as often as possible. If you can avoid riding the brake and gas pedal
it will pay off in fuel savings. The DOE says that rapid acceleration and
braking can lower your gas mileage by roughly 15% to 30% at highway speeds and
10% to 40% in stop-and-go traffic.
You'll also want to avoid excessive idling, which can waste up to a half
gallon of fuel per hour.
3. Consistent Maintenance
A
well-maintained vehicle will almost always improve your fuel economy. All 69
dealerships that make up the Southern California Ford Dealers understand how
important a healthy engine is to lower gas bills. When you bring your Ford
vehicle into an authorized Ford Service Center, they will check for a number of
gas economy robbing problems including clogged air and fuel filters, deteriorated
spark plugs that misfire, poor wheel alignment, and old or dirty oil. If your
vehicle is facing any of these problems, your engine will have to work harder
and use much more fuel. It is also the case that you'll want to check tire
pressure because properly inflated tires can actually improve your fuel
efficiency by up to 3%.
4. More Weight Mean More Fuel
With SUVs
taking over the roads of America, we are all carrying around more stuff. While
that is certainly convenient for busy families, the key is not to overdo the
cargo. According to the FTC, for every 200 pounds, you add to your car's weight
you increase fuel consumption by 2%. If you end up putting things on your roof,
it will reduce aerodynamics and can lower your fuel economy by as much as 5%.
The best bet is clean out your car more often and to only take what you need.
It might be a challenge, but it will pay off in the end.
5. Find the Right Car
As you
might expect, we firmly believe that Ford vehicles are a great way to reduce
your fuel consumption. Southern California Ford Dealers offer an amazing array
of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicles that all can limit your need
to stop at the pump. If you really want to be immune to $4 or even $5 gas,
you'll want to check out the 2018
Ford Fusion Energi that gets amazing mileage!
To learn even more tips on how to reduce your fuel consumption, or to discover the right Ford vehicle for you, please find your local SoCal Ford dealer on our website and contact them today.
