Gas Mileage Tip - 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 1-2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1-1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1-2%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.03-$0.06/gallon

Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.91/gallon.

Estimates for fuel savings from vehicle maintenance, keeping tires properly inflated, and using the recommended grade of motor oil are based on studies and literature reviews performed by Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc., Washington, DC.

Gas Mileage Tip - 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.

Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 3%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: up to $0.09/gallon

Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.91/gallon.

Estimates for fuel savings from vehicle maintenance, keeping tires properly inflated, and using the recommended grade of motor oil are based on studies and literature reviews performed by Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc., Washington, DC.

Gas Mileage Tip - Check & Replace Air Filters Regularly

Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car'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.

Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 10%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: up to $0.29/gallon

Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.91/gallon.

Estimates for fuel savings from vehicle maintenance, keeping tires properly inflated, and using the recommended grade of motor oil are based on studies and literature reviews performed by Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc., Washington, DC.

Gas Mileage Tip - Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned

Fixing a car 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.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 4%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.12/gallon

This is how Dixie Caps can help to improve your fuel economy. Dixie Caps help keep your car, truck, mini van, or SUV running smoothly. Dixie Caps Balance Injectors, Eliminate Lean Idle Misfire, provide Smoother Idle, and Lower Emissions .

Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.91/gallon.

Estimates for fuel savings from vehicle maintenance, keeping tires properly inflated, and using the recommended grade of motor oil are based on studies and literature reviews performed by Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc., Washington, DC.

AAA Says Gas Prices Racing Higher as Demand, Oil Prices and Global Tension Mount

Orlando, Fla. - 4/12/2006

Average gasoline prices are nearly 40 cents higher than one year ago today with self-serve, regular gasoline now costing an average of $2.687 per gallon, AAA’s daily, online Fuel Gauge Report (www.aaafuelgaugereport.com) shows. 

AAA, the nation’s largest organization for motorists, said prices are being driven higher by increasing tension between the United States and Iran, rising demand for gasoline in the United States and a domestic refining industry that has been falling behind in rebuilding depleted gasoline inventories.

AAA said tensions between Iran and the United States are pushing oil prices higher, even as demand for gasoline in the United States is continuing to rise by a slight 1.5 percent over last year. Adding more upward pressure to pump prices are U.S. refineries that appear to be having a difficult time managing a switch from fuel blended with MTBE to gasoline combined with ethanol. This is evidenced by several weeks of declines in US gasoline inventories as reported by the US Department of Energy.

According to AAA, Hawaii has the highest average gas price in the nation at $2.969 per gallon. Washington, D.C. and California have the next highest average prices at $2.866 per gallon and $2.86 per gallon; respectively.

The lowest state-wide average gasoline price in the nation is in Utah at $2.339 per gallon. Wyoming has the next lowest average price at $2.372 per gallon, and Idaho has the third lowest price at $2.382 per gallon.

Nationwide, the price of self-serve, mid-grade gasoline averages $2.853 per gallon, an increase from $2.506 per gallon in the middle of last month, and up from $2.416 one year ago. Self-serve premium averages $2.995 per gallon, up from $2.597 per gallon one month ago, and up from $2.504 one year ago.

The national average prices for self-serve regular unleaded gasoline for AAA's mid-April survey for the last five years are: 2005, $2.360; 2004, $1.78; 2003, $1.595; 2002, $1.411; and 2001, $1.587.

AAA's Fuel Gauge Report is based on data from Oil Price Information Service, the nation's most comprehensive source of petroleum pricing information. AAA purchases the data and makes it available free on the Internet as a public service. Average daily prices for the nation, all 50 states and more than 250 localities are available for all grades of gasoline, making the site the most current and complete public source of fuel price information.

As the nation's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides nearly 49 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers. AAA clubs can be visited on the Internet at www.aaa.com.

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FTC Consumer Alert - Good, Better, Best: How to Improve Gas Mileage

Whether you are shopping for a new car or just trying to maintain the one you have, you can take some steps to get the best mileage out of your gas purchases. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, offers these tips to use fuel efficiently:

On the Road: Drive More Efficiently

• Stay within posted speed limits. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour.

• Stop aggressive driving. You can improve your gas mileage up to five percent around town if you avoid “jackrabbit” starts and stops by anticipating traffic conditions and driving gently.

• Avoid unnecessary idling. It wastes fuel, costs you money, and pollutes the air. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a wait.

• 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.

• Use overdrive gears and cruise control when appropriate. They improve the fuel economy of your car when you’re driving on a highway.

• Remove excess weight from the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce a typical car’s fuel economy by up to two percent.

• Avoid packing items on top of your car. A loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy by five percent.

At the Garage: Maintain Your Car

• Keep your engine tuned. Tuning your engine according to your owner’s manual can increase gas mileage by an average of four percent. Increases vary depending on a car’s condition.

• Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned. It can increase gas mileage up to three percent.

• Change your oil. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can improve your gas mileage by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the performance symbol of the American Petroleum Institute contains friction-reducing additives that can improve fuel economy.

• Check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing clogged filters can increase gas mileage up to ten percent.

At the Pump: Use the Octane Level You Need

• Your owner’s manual recommends the most effective octane level for your car. For most cars, the recommended gasoline is regular octane. In most cases, using a higher octane gas than the manufacturer recommends offers no benefit. Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of money.

In Advertising: Check Out Claims About “Gas-Saving” Gadgets

• Be skeptical of claims for devices that will “boost your mileage by an extra 6 miles per gallon,” “improve your fuel economy up to 26 percent,” or the like. EPA has tested over 100 supposed gas-saving devices — including mixture “enhancers” and fuel line magnets — and found that very few provide any fuel economy benefits. The devices that work provide only marginal improvements. Some “gas-saving” devices may damage a car’s engine or increase exhaust emissions.

In the Showroom: Consider the Alternatives

• Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) operate on alternative fuels, such as methanol, ethanol, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, electricity, and others designated by the DOE. Using these alternative fuels in vehicles may reduce harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions. FTC Rules require labels on all new AFVs to give the vehicle’s estimated cruising range and general descriptive information. Find out how many miles a new AFV travels on a tank or supply of fuel because, gallon for gallon, some don’t travel as far as gasoline-powered vehicles.

• Hybrid Electric Vehicles offer another option for car buyers. According to DOE and EPA, these vehicles combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors and can be configured to achieve different objectives, such as improved fuel economy and increased power.

For more information on alternative fuel vehicles, call the DOE’s toll-free National Alternative Fuels Hotline, 1-800-423-1DOE, or visit DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center website at www.afdc.doe.gov. More information about both hybrid-electric and alternative fuel vehicles is at www.fueleconomy.gov.

For more energy saving tips for cars, visit the DOE's website.

U.S. Sets New Fuel Economy Rules for SUVs

By KEN THOMAS, Associated Press Writer
Wed Mar 29, 6:41 PM ET

The government set tighter gas mileage rules Wednesday for pickups and sport utility vehicles, including bulky SUVs like the Hummer H2 and Chevrolet Suburban, responding to rising concern about the supply and cost of energy from abroad.

The new fuel economy rules, covering 2008 through 2011, would save 10.7 billion gallons of fuel over the lifetime of the vehicles sold during that period and take a more aggressive stance than a Bush administration proposal issued last summer, officials said.

"The new standards represent the most ambitious fuel economy goals for light trucks ever developed in the program's 27-year history," said Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, announcing the plan from a Baltimore football stadium that overlooked traffic near an Interstate 95 interchange.

The new regulations followed President Bush's declaration in January that the U.S. is "addicted to oil," and his call for a 75 percent reduction in Mideast oil imports by 2025. Manufacturers will begin implementing the rules as average gas prices exceed $2.50 a gallon and many consumers are seeking more fuel-efficient vehicles such as hybrids and flexible-fuel pickups and SUVs.

U.S. automakers, notably General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co., have struggled in recent months, outlining plans to reduce their work force as they deal with shrinking market share, higher costs for labor and raw materials and intense competition from Asian competitors.

Mineta said the plan was "pragmatic" and devised with jobs and costs in mind, along with the benefits of conserving fuel. Automakers will need to closely scrutinize their product lineup to meet the standards, which are the most sweeping to the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) system in three decades.

"This is challenging and it won't be easy to meet these standards but manufacturers are committed to being a part of the solution," said Charles Territo, a spokesman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers.

Transportation officials estimated the plan would add about $200 to the cost of each vehicle, but consumers likely would recoup that cost in fuel savings in four years, they said.

The rule would include SUVs weighing 8,500 to 10,000 pounds for the first time starting in 2011, but it would not include large pickup trucks in the weight class. Vehicles likely to be affected include the Hummer H2, Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon XL, and the Ford Expedition EL, scheduled to be released this summer. DOT officials said they would require manufacturers to install fuel saving technology on all passenger trucks.

Environmental groups found the plan disappointing after lobbying for months for higher gas mileage requirements and the inclusion of the largest pickup trucks and SUVs. Eric Haxthausen, an economist with Environmental Defense, compared it to "slowing down the Titanic as it steams ahead toward the iceberg."

"After the Bush administration acknowledged our oil addiction, one might have expected a slam dunk, but this is an air ball," said David Friedman, research director for the Clean Vehicles Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. His group estimated it would only save two weeks of gasoline a year over the next two decades.

The new rules do not apply to passenger cars, which must meet a 27.5 mile per gallon average.

Under the CAFE system, automakers now must meet an average of 21.6 mpg for their 2006 model year light trucks. That average will rise to 22.2 mpg for 2007 vehicles.

Under the new rules, the fleetwide average would reach 24 mpg by 2011, when the largest SUVs will be included in the calculation. The program will be phased in through 2010, with automakers having the option of complying under the old system or using new system.

If automakers use the old system, the targets would be 22.5 mpg in 2008, 23.1 mpg in 2009 and 23.5 mpg in 2010. All manufacturers would need to use the new system in 2011.

The new rule would call for specific fuel economy standards for all light trucks based on the vehicle's wheelbase and track width.

Mineta said the new rules would help close loopholes automakers used in the past to meet the standards and level the playing field for automakers.

Automakers have noted that the final plan will likely mean seven straight years of higher fuel economy requirements for light trucks. The industry has fought previous attempts to raise the standards but has expressed support for the proposal's direction.

Ford spokesman Ed Lewis said it would be "technically challenging" but would "move automakers toward a more level playing field because it recognizes the differences between full-line manufacturers and those who only produce small trucks."

GM spokeswoman Sherrie Childers-Arb said her company looked forward to "carefully reviewing" the new rules.

Reaction in Congress was mixed.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., said it "missed an opportunity to break our nation's addiction to oil, reduce our greenhouse gases, and decrease the price of gas at the pump."

Rep. John Dingell (news, bio, voting record), D-Mich., a longtime advocate of the auto industry, said, "At first glance it appears to be a challenging standard for the industry that I hope it will be able to achieve."

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On the Net:
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/