Page 15 - The Magazine of AAA Ohio Auto Club – September 2020

5 Tips to ‘Green Up’ Your Driving
Owning a hybrid or electric car is beneficial for the environment. However, there are still plenty of ways that conventional car owners can improve fuel economy, reduce carbon emissions and get “greener” in their driving.
Slow Your Roll. Most cars are optimally fuel-efficient
at lower speeds, and fuel economy decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph. According to fueleconomy.gov, assuming a $2.20 cost per gallon for fuel, every 5 mph you drive more than 50 is like paying an additional 15 cents
per gallon for gas. Keeping speed under control makes you safer on the road and is better for your wallet and the environment.
Lighten your load. Be aware that carrying cargo in or on your car has a negative impact on fuel economy and your carbon footprint. According to fueleconomy.gov, ditching 100 pounds of cargo could improve your gas mileage by about 1%. Be aware that stacking cargo on top of the vehicle can reduce fuel economy up to 25% – a rear-mounted cargo box is more fuel-efficient.
Avoid idling. When sitting in a parked car, reduce emissions and save fuel by turning off your engine instead of idling. One rule of thumb – if you can shut off the engine for at least a minute before needing to restart it, you will save fuel.
Switch to synthetic oil. Even if your car does not require it, switching to synthetic oil can improve fuel economy. The lower viscosity of synthetic oils means they circulate more easily within the engine, particularly upon startup, which reduces friction and wastes less energy. Some companies claim their synthetic oils
can increase gas mileage by up to 5%.
Give your car some TLC. Performing regular
maintenance on your vehicle keeps it safer, more fuel- efficient and reduces harmful emissions. In addition, simple maintenance you can do yourself, such as keeping your tires properly inflated and replacing clogged air filters, have been shown to improve fuel economy measurably.
* All tires eventually wear out and should be replaced. Based on internal wet braking test results from 50 MPH vs. Pirelli® Cinturato P7TM ALL SEASON Plus and Continental® PureContactTM tires in size 215/60R16 95V and Goodyear® Assurance® WeatherReady® tires in size 215/60R16 95H on a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. Tires tested machine-buffed to 3/32”, which is above the 2/32” tread wear-out limit in most states. Braking distance calculated from 50 MPH data corrected to 35 MPH based on SAE Procedure J299. Actual on-road results may vary.
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SEPTEMBER 2020 | 13