Reduce Automobile Pollution
Almost one third of the carbon dioxide produced in the USA comes from cars, trucks and airplanes. Incentive: For every mile you don't drive, you save 1 pound of carbon dioxide. So if you don't drive 10 miles per week, over the course of a year, you will have saved 500 pounds of carbon dioxide!
Intelligent Driving Methods:
* Keep your tires properly inflated.
* Replace your car's air filter every 1000 miles.
* Use cruise control on the highway.
* Combine errands into one trip.
* Don't idle your engine for long periods of time.
* Keep your car tuned.
* Don't top off at the gas pumps.
HOW TO GET BETTER MILEAGE AND CURB POLLUTION:
Don't Drive Like An Adrenaline Junky!
A European study found that rapid acceleration from stoplights and hard braking reduced travel time by only 4% in city driving but resulted in a 37% jump in fuel consumption and a five-fold increase in toxic emissions. Driving more calmly may give the most significant gas savings of all.
Tire Care
Keeping your tires inflated properly can improve gas mileage by more than 3%! Every gallon of gas you don't use eliminates 20 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions! However, just filling up your tires with air at the air pump does not insure proper inflation. You need to have a tire gauge and you should know the recommended readings for your vehicle (check the car's manual). Tires that are under-inflated reduce fuel economy and they wear out faster. Additionally, check over your tires at least once per month to be sure they are in good condition and not wearing unevenly.
Clean Motor Oil is Next To Godliness
Clean motor oil is one of the keys to getting better gas mileage. You can make an engine more efficient by reducing internal friction, so it doesn't have to work as hard by running a high-quality motor oil through your engine. When the motor oil in your car is old or dirty, the engine works harder and uses more gas.
Maintain Air Filters
Make sure your air filter is in good condition. If it's old, replace it -- they are easy to replace and are inexpensive. Have a new air filter put in at least once a year.
Exhaust System Checks
Make sure to check your exhaust system and make sure it has no holes, leaks or weak components. You can lose power (and therefore gasoline) through the exhaust system if it is not working properly.
Improve Your Spark
One way to make an engine more efficient is to improve the spark to your engine. Doing so will allow the engine to burn the air and fuel mixture better.
08/19/2007: Ken from Oz, Kansas writes: "I just bought a recumbent bike and rode it to the grocery store instead of driving a car. I also plan to ride it to work--it saves gas, provides good exercise, is good for your mood and you can enjoy the scenery."
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08/18/2007: Deborah from Spicewood, TX writes: "Plan your trips wisely and buy only as much gas as you will use in a week. Use that amount as a gauge to plan with and to measure how much you really NEED to drive. It's surprising how much less traveling you have to do if you start really looking into your habits around gasoline usage."
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