Summer Vacation Road Trips

Ah, summertime. Picnics, watermelon, the pool... and for many -- vacations. And lots of those vacations are by car.

To be prepared for the road this summer, here's a few tips from FuelEconomy.gov, the official U.S. government source for fuel economy information.

Assuming you're not going to buy a new car just for the trip, it really boils down to three main areas to maximize your fuel economy:

• Driving more efficiently
• Keeping your car in shape
• Planning and combining trips

Driving More Efficiently

• The first thing you can do is drive sensibly. Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.
• Second, observe the speed limit. While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 50 mph. You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 50 mph is like paying an additional $0.25 per gallon for gas. 
• Next, avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2 percent. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
• In addition, avoid excessive idling; use cruise control, which helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas; and use overdrive, because when you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.  

Keeping Your Car in Shape

• Before heading out for vacation, make sure your engine is properly tuned. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.
• Keep your tires inflated. You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
• And before hitting the road, get an oil change. You'll improve your gas mileage by 1–2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1–2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1–1.5 percent.

Planning and Combining Trips

If you're taking a day trip or lots of stops on a longer trip, remember that combining errands into one trip saves you time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Trip planning ensures that traveling is done when the engine is warmed-up and efficient, and it can reduce the distance you travel.

Final Tip

A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to meet your needs with a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent. Reduce aerodynamic drag and improve your fuel economy by placing items inside the trunk whenever possible Avoid carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 lbs in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by 1-2 percent.

Information courtesy of FuelEconomy.gov.

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Drive Smarter and More Fuel Efficient This Summer

Memorial Day weekend marked the start of road trip season, when families pack up their cars, trucks and SUVs and take off for destinations across Loudoun County, Virginia and the country.

Have you ever wondered why we drive on our vacations?

There are numerous reasons, including to save money on airfare, reduce the hassle of airport parking and the stress of air travel. But with gas prices reaching an average of nearly 60 cents more than this time last year, do the savings really add up?

At the recent national average of $2.86 per gallon of regular gasoline (June 14), budget-conscious consumers will want to take steps to avoid filling up more often than necessary. So whether you’re traveling to the beach or just to the grocery store, here are some efficient driving tips to avoid that old seasonal affliction -- "pain at the pump."

Before You Hit the Road

• Inflate Your Tires. Keeping your tires properly inflated is a simple measure to improve gas mileage by around 3 percent, for annual savings of up to 20 gallons of gasoline, or up to $45.
• Use the Right Oil. Using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil, including re-refined motor oil, improves gas mileage by 1 to 2 percent, resulting in annual savings of up to $30.
• Get a Tune-Up. Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent – saving up to 25 gallons of gasoline and about $55 in a year’s time. Fixing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve mileage by as much as 40 percent – saving up to 245 gallons of gasoline or up to $570.

When You Drive

• Ease Up on the Gas Pedal. Speeding, rapid acceleration and rapid braking can lower gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds. Drivers can save up to 91 cents per gallon of gasoline by driving sensibly on the highway. (Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $2.86/gallon.)
• Use Cruise Control. Making use of a car’s cruise control feature cuts fuel consumption in most cases.
• Slow Down! Gas mileage usually decreases rapidly above 60 miles per hour. In fact, each five mph over 60 is like paying an additional 24 cents per gallon for gas. So keep a moderate and steady pace on the highway.
• Don’t Idle. You can’t get worse than 0 miles per gallon – which is what you get when your car is idling. So unless you’ll be stopping for less than a minute or so, turn off the engine while at the roadside.

Find additional gas- and money-saving tips at the Alliance’s Drive $marter Challenge website – www.drivesmarterchallenge.org. For the most up-to-date stats on fuel economy, visit www.fueleconomy.gov.

  For the latest Loudoun County traffic news and information, subscribe to Loudoun County Traffic via your favorite RSS reader, or get Loudoun County Traffic by e-mail.