Move America Beyond Oil

Strategies for going farther on a gallon of gas

Gas prices got you down? These real relief measures can help lower your fuel bills immediately and could save the driver of an average car about $800 per year, an NRDC analysis shows. We looked at 256 automobile models to see how much money their drivers could potentially save through driving and maintenance strategies that improve fuel economy. See how the 10 bestselling models stacked up below.

Here’s how you can start getting the benefits today:

Maintain Well

Potential savings: Up to $271 a year

• Pump It Up
  Check your tire pressure. More than a quarter of all cars and nearly one-third of all SUVs, vans and pickups have under-inflated tires, according to a survey by the Department of Transportation. Properly inflating tires or buying low-rolling resistance tires could increase fuel economy by 3 percent or more.
• Get in Tune
  Take your car in for regular maintenance (check your owner's manual to find out how often your car needs a tune-up). Following the recommended maintenance schedule keeps your car running better and longer. A poorly tuned or poorly maintained engine can increase gasoline consumption by as much as 4 percent.
• Use Good Motor Oil
  Use the motor oil grade designed for your engine and choose a fuel-efficient oil marked with the "Energy Conserving" label by the American Petroleum Institute. Using a friction-reducing formula in the right grade can improve fuel economy by up to 2 percent.
• Lighten the Load
  Removing heavy items from your trunk and roof racks can improve fuel economy by 2 percent.

Drive Smart

Potential savings: Up to $294 a year

• Slow It Down
  Ease up on the pedal. Slowing down from 75 to 65 miles per hour will drop your highway gasoline consumption by about 15 percent. In town, avoiding rapid acceleration and aggressive driving can improve fuel economy by up to 5 percent.
• Cut the Engine
  If you're waiting to pick up a teenager or trapped in a huge traffic jam, turn off your engine. Across the country, idling cars waste millions of gallons of gasoline every day. If your wait is longer than 30 seconds, restarting the engine uses less gas than leaving it running.

Drive Less

Potential savings: Up to $236 a year

• Commute Smarter
  Share a ride to work, telecommute or use transit. If each commuter car carried just one more passenger once a week, we would cut America's gasoline consumption by more than 50 million gallons each week. And commuting by car one day less per week saves you $236 per year on average.

Other Options

• Try a Different Gasoline
  Consider switching from premium to mid-grade or regular gasoline for vehicles that do not require premium. Consult your owner's manual first.
• Buy an Efficient Car
  If you're in the market for a new car, get one that uses less gas, such as a hybrid. Compare models in the same class and pick the one with the highest miles-per-gallon rating.

Potential Savings for Top 10 Bestselling Vehicles in 2000

For full chart and methodology, click here.

See Also
Gas Price Pain Relievers

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  Up with Fuel Economy!

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  Hybrids

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  Better Conventional Cars and Trucks

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  Save Gas Right Now

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