Credible automotive sites like Kelly Blue Book and Car and Driver have published columns noting several ways you can improve fuel economy with your existing vehicle, whether it be a Toyota Corolla or a Ford Excursion. The practicality of some of these suggestions can seem odd; but ultimately, it is the driver who has the biggest impact on just how much fuel your engine is drinking down.

Maintaining tire pressure and changing your oil regularly are a couple of suggestions given that can help to improve the fuel economy of your vehicle; but honestly, maintaining proper tire inflation and changing your oil once every three to five thousand miles is a given. If these two tips are something that you don’t already do regularly, suffering a drop in fuel economy should be the least of your worries. Tire failure and engine damage are likely to be staring you in the face, and the repair costs for those issues will surely outweigh prices at the pump.

Driving with the air conditioning off and the windows down is another tactic to consider, but there are many variables here that affect just how much fuel you can save. Using the air conditioning does increase the overall demand for energy from the engine, thus using more fuel, but driving with the windows down hinders the aerodynamics of the car and can cause the engine to work harder to maintain speed. Some studies have found that using the air conditioning is more ideal than leaving your windows down, but I propose that you do both at particular times. When in slow moving traffic, open your windows as at those speeds aerodynamics won’t matter much. At higher speeds, such as when traveling down highways, aerodynamics becomes crucial; thus, closing the windows and switching on the A/C makes more sense.

Ultimately, it is the driving habits of the person behind the wheel that dictates just how well a vehicle fairs in terms of fuel economy. Erratic driving with sudden bursts of throttle and jamming of the breaks will almost certainly get you fewer miles per gallon. Ideally, drivers need to focus on smoothness. Ease on the throttle from stop-lights and signs. Use the principal of coasting as much as possible. Coasting is a technique where a driver lets the contours of the road and the momentum of the vehicle move him or her along without significant use of the throttle. Also, using the brakes sparingly is a good tip to follow as well. If a driver can maintain speed safely without unnecessarily applying the breaks, doing so will eliminate the need for the engine to bring the vehicle back to speed.

Kapena M. Landgraf - Rainbow Connection Staff Writer