By Aaron Lindstrom, Enterprise Fleet Services With the environment in mind, Enterprise Fleet Management offers the following driving tips:
Lighten your load. The more weight a vehicle carries, the lower its fuel economy will be. In addition to getting poor mileage, if a vehicle is regularly overloaded, the frequency and cost of repairs for axle bearings, tires, brakes and other driveline and suspension components will end up costing a lot more than the money saved by purchasing the less expensive lighter truck.
Reduce speed and keep the RPMs down. Smooth, steady acceleration from a stoplight or stop sign uses fuel more efficiently than quick “jack rabbit” starts. Making sudden starts and stops, revving the engine and excessive idling also can significantly lower gas mileage.
Keep tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires create more rolling resistance on the road, which decreases gas mileage and shortens tire life due to improper wear. Since tire pressure changes with temperature, you should check and adjust pressure when the tire is cold and when the vehicle has been sitting for a couple of hours.
Check wheel alignment periodically. Misalignment can be caused by hitting potholes, curbs and bumps, worn steering or suspension components and deterioration from aging of suspension parts. Not only does misalignment increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel efficiency, it also causes additional wear and tear on tires.
Select the right oil for your engine. Using the correct oil viscosity is important because higher-viscosity oils create greater resistance to the moving parts of the engine and require more gas. Changing oil every 3,000 to 5,000 miles not only is a good maintenance policy, but it also improves fuel efficiency.
Keep engines tuned. A tune-up can increase fuel economy. Follow your owner’s manual guidelines. Be sure to check for worn spark plugs, dragging brakes, and low transmission fluid; have your wheels aligned and tires rotated; and replace the air filter if needed. Make sure all used vehicle fluids are recycled or disposed of safely.
Use the right fuel. Check your owner’s manual when choosing what grade of gasoline to use, and don’t spend the extra money on a premium grade if you don’t need to. If you have a FlexFuel vehicle, which is able to use E85 fuel, take a few minutes to locate E85 fueling stations in your vicinity by visiting
www.e85refueling.com. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, using E85 can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 Avoid the top off. Drivers often top off their tank beyond the gas pump’s automatic cutoff point to get an even total or to squeeze in as much fuel as possible. But that extra squeeze can lead to spills and release gas vapors into the air.
Cool off wisely. While it is true that rolling windows down in lieu of the AC can increase fuel economy at slower speeds, at faster highway speeds the reverse is true – open windows can actually increase drag and hurt fuel economy.
Replace older, less fuel efficient vehicles at appropriate intervals. A vehicle replacement program not only ensures vehicles are getting the best fuel mileage and the latest emission controls, it also helps a company achieve optimum performance and the best resale value, which also directly affects cost savings.
For more information about Enterprise’s industry-leading environmental stewardship initiatives, visit
www.fleet.keystogreen.com.percent.