คำตอบที่ 53
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Shifting Gears: Real Money‑Saving Steps
There are numerous no- or low-cost steps you can
take to combat rising gas prices. The most important
place to start is at the gas pump; buy only the
octane level gas you need. All gas pumps must post
the octane rating of the gas under the FTCs Fuel
Rating Rule. Remember, the higher the octane, the
higher the price. Check your owners manual to
determine the right octane level for your car.
Here are some additional tips from the EPA to help
you get better gas mileage.
Drive more efficiently
Stay within posted speed limits. The faster you
drive, the more fuel you use. For example,
driving at 65 miles per hour (mph), rather than 55
mph, increases fuel consumption by 20 percent.
Driving at 75 mph, rather than 65 mph, increases
fuel consumption by another 25 percent.
Use overdrive gears. Overdrive gears improve
the fuel economy of your car during highway
driving. Your cars engine speed decreases
when you use overdrive. This reduces both fuel
consumption and engine wear.
Use cruise control. Using cruise control on
highway trips can help you maintain a constant
speed and, in most cases, reduce your fuel
consumption.
Anticipate driving situations. If you anticipate
traffic conditions and dont tailgate, you can
avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration, and
improve your fuel economy by 5 to 10 percent.
In city driving, nearly 50 percent of the energy
needed to power your car goes to acceleration.
Go easy on the gas pedal and brakes. Jackrabbit
starts and sudden stops are wasteful.
Avoid unnecessary idling. Turn off the engine
if you anticipate a lengthy wait. No matter how
efficient your car is, unnecessary idling wastes
fuel, costs you money and pollutes the air.
Combine errands. Several short trips taken from
a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one
trip covering the same distance when the engine
is warm.
Remove excess weight from the trunk. Avoid
carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones.
An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a
typical cars fuel economy by one to two percent.
Maintain your car
Keep your engine tuned. Studies have shown
that a poorly tuned engine can increase fuel
consumption by as much as 10 to 20 percent
depending on a cars condition. Follow the
recommended maintenance schedule in your
owners manual; youll save fuel and your car
will run better and last longer.
Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned.
Car manufacturers must place a label in the car
stating the correct tire pressure. The label usually
is on the edge of the door or door jamb, in the
glove box, or on the inside of the gas cap cover.
If the label lists a psi (pounds per square inch)
range, use the higher number to maximize your
fuel efficiency. Underinflated tires cause fuel
consumption to increase by six percent.
Change your oil. Clean oil reduces wear caused
by friction between moving parts and removes
harmful substances from the engine. Change your
oil as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
Check and replace air filters regularly. Your
cars air filter keeps impurities in the air from
damaging internal engine components. Not only
will replacing a dirty air filter improve your
fuel economy, it also will protect your engine.
Clogged filters can cause up to a 10 percent
increase in fuel consumption.