Cheap ways to Improve your Fuel Economy Part 1

So it's nearing holiday time, and those of us with automobiles are beginning to think about the long drive home. At the very least, it's better than thinking about finals. But, alas, we've been working hard. We've been spending what little money we have on a downward spiral of dates, comfort food and alcohol, neglecting our beloved old car until this, the moment that it delivers us from the trials of campus life to the heartbreak cure of the open road.... right? Is that just me? Anyway, If your car hasn't received any lovin' in a while, chances are the ride home will hurt your wallet. So HtBS presents you with the following ways to improve your car's fuel economy for under $20. These are cheap and easy to do. They require no tools, and next to no knowledge of automobiles. Part 2 will be more fun.


->Don't Drive like Evan: For serious. Gearing varies from car to car on what the highest efficient speed is, but across the board speeds in excess of, say, 75 miles per hour will subject your car to a ton of drag from the air around you. Granted this'll vary depending on a cars shape, but since the vast majority of production cars on the road do not have a smooth underbody or other aerodynamic goodies, expect drag to win. The faster you go, the more dramatic of an effect the drag has. A little bird once told me that a Volvo 850 rated at 25mpg Highway will only get 16mpg at speeds of 100mph. And it's not just your cruising speed that matters--it's how you get there. The higher the RPM you demand of your engine, the more fuel you should expect to burn. cost: free

Some of us, though, will never learn to drive as though our foot is made of a lightweight substance.

->Air Filter: A new air filter will work wonders for fuel economy and is often overlooked on a college student's car. At least once a year, throw a new air filter in your car. Engines, by and large, function like huge air pumps. When you press the "gas" pedal on a Fuel-Injected car, you're actually only letting air into the engine by way of the throttle-body--the car's computer then matches that air with the right amount of fuel. The air filter is meant to keep grit and debris and bugs from entering your cylinders and scratching up (read: destroying) the inside of your engine. As you drive, that filter gets clogged, and the engine gets choked for air. The affects performance, but also efficiency as it becomes harder for the engine computer match the air with the right amount of fuel. New air filters for domestic cars can be bought damn near anywhere that sells car-parts. Some European cars require a trip to the dealer. If neglected for years, this can starve several miles per gallon from your trusty ride, easily. Cost: $10-$20

->Tire Pressure: All of your tires should be filled to the pound-per-square-inch ratings for the particular car. This number can usually be found on a label in a door-well or near the gas cap, or in the little manual that came with your car. More important than the amount of air in the tires is that all of the tires are filled to the same pressure. If you haven't filled your tires since the weather got colder, chances are your tires are under-filled and costing you more fuel. Cost: Free. Or $0.50, now that air is a marketable commodity.