Pump your ride
Most people seem to notice their tires when they are flat, not realizing that an under-inflated tire uses up more gas, which is bad for the environment and bad for your wallet. Under-inflated tires reduce gas mileage because they are less round than properly inflated tires, and because of that, it requires more energy to begin moving and to maintain speed. If you don't believe us, try rolling a box.
According to AAA, driving with under-inflated tires can reduce your vehicle's gas mileage by 2-3% which, over a year, could be like wasting an entire tank of gas. So, when you think about it, checking your tire pressure should be a monthly money saving, climate saving, and foreign oil saving activity.
So, how do you check your tires' pressure? First, you need to know what the correct pressure should be and that can found in a number of places including the owner's manual that is sitting in your glove compartment (under the tissues, maps, and brochures from your last weekend away) and on a label on the driver's side door, another place where you never noticed it. You are looking for a double digit number followed by the letters "PSI". PSI is not a new police drama but stands for Pounds per Square Inch.
Always check your air pressure when tires are COLD; this does not mean when the temperature is below 40 degrees, it means when the vehicle has been driven less than a mile, or one hour or more after you stop driving. This is because hot air expands and distorts the accuracy of the measurement. To check the pressure, remove the cap from the valve on one tire and firmly press a tire gauge onto the valve. Good basic tire gauges are inexpensive -- roughly $5.00 -- and will be worth the cost in saved gas. Plus, they can be kept in the glove compartment, which will make that a space you actually use.
If you have to drive to a gas station to get air, check and record the tire pressure before you go and then add the appropriate air when you get to the pump. Yes, some stations charge a couple quarters for air, which doesn't seem to make sense, but is far less than you will be saving in improved fuel economy. Most stations will give you or are required to provide air for free if you're buying gas. Ask the attendant for a token or the location of a button to turn on the compressor.
Now using the pump is not difficult. Many air pumps allow you to set the desired PSI in advance. This is fun because you get to listen to the unique "ding" that occurs as you pump air. When the dinging stops, your tire is appropriately full. Other pumps have a gauge or you can use your own. Stop pumping every few seconds to check the pressure. All four tires should only take you a few minutes.
What do you do if you have over-pumped the tire? Do fix it. Think of burping a baby, you need to release some air. In this case, you don't hold the tire over your shoulder and pat its back. You release air by pushing on the metal stem in the center of the valve with a fingernail or the tip of a pen and then recheck the pressure with your tire gauge. Once you have achieved the recommended air pressure, replace the valve cap and repeat with each tire, including the spare.
Note: overinflating your tires reduces your control over your vehicle. Stick to the recommended PSI so that fuel economy and safety are optimized.
Hear us now and believe us later... keeping the tire properly inflated is the right way to drive.
Quick tips for getting the best fuel efficiency your existing car can offer:
- 1. Tune it up. A well-tuned engine will, on average, get about 4% better gas mileage than its badly tuned counterpart. Sometimes the savings are bigger. Bad spark plugs, inaccurate temperature sensors and clogged air filters can cost a couple miles per gallon each, while a busted oxygen sensor can reduce mileage by 40%.
- 2. Change it up. Dirty oil drags down the engine, so change it regularly. Just having the proper weight of oil is worth a percentage point or two. Some oils also have friction-killing additives that boost performance. Check the API label for the words "Energy Conserving" and you can gain 1 or 2 more percentage points.
- 3. Cap it. About one in six vehicles in the US has a cracked, loose, or missing gas cap. The net loss is 147 million gallons per year in the US, lost into the air. That's a half a billion dollars that could be better spent, not to mention a local air pollution hazard.
- 4. Strip it. Racks and cases are great tools for carrying items that don't fit in the car, but when left on 24/7/365 you're wasting gas, especially if the rack is loaded when it doesn't need to be. A loaded roof rack can reduce mileage by 5%. Bonus: Hefting that stuff up and down is cheaper than joining a gym.
- 5. Unload it. Every extra 100 pounds your car has to lug around reduces efficiency another percent or two.
- 6. Pump it Up. Get a good gauge and check pressure of your tires every month, preferably when they haven't been used for a few hours. You can find the proper PSI on the door jamb of your car, or check the owner's manual. If your favorite gas station insists on charging, let them know you think that's rude. But for a quarter a month, you'll make it back with the first $10 of gas. Your tires will last as much as 25% longer too.
- 7. Chill it out. The EPA says that accelerating and braking gently could save you up to 33%. And slow down too, every 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.
