Ideal Bite

Looking to save an extra buck at the gas pump? Be cool AND smart this autumn.

09.15.2005

Submitted by idealbite on Thu, 09/15/2005 - 5:00pm.

The Bite:

If you feel a little warm in your car this fall, roll your windows down while driving around town, but kick on the AC if you are going more than 45 mph. We all know that air conditioners drag down our vehicle’s fuel efficiency. But once over 45 mph, your car windows provide wind resistance and actually decrease your engine’s efficiencies at higher speeds.

The Benefits:

Save money. Being smart about your cooling system can save 10-20% on fuel consumption, and with today’s gas prices, who isn’t looking for a break?
For extra savings, use the recirculation feature in your ventilation system when the AC is on – it cools the already cool air in your car down, lowering the temps faster.
Reduce nasty emissions that are harming the environment and decreasing our air quality.
Keep your hairdo. We used to arrive at places looking like we were trying to recreate the 80s (before it was a retro move). Feel free to roll them up now when going faster, and keep your ‘do

Personally Speaking:

Like most of you, we’re both kind of missing the days when we worried about fuel prices in the $2 range.

Wanna Try:

Well, just roll down your windows around town. Some additional tips for saving fuel as prices keep climbing:

Keep all 4 windows down to reduce wind drag. With the back windows open, air can escape from the car easily.
Use cruise control whenever possible to keep the car at a steady speed and avoid haphazard starts and stops.
Remove extra weight from your trunk - which sort of wrecks our tendency to use the car to store stuff we are planning to take to Goodwill.
For more tips on increasing your gas mileage, visit Green Car Club.