In the face of ever-increasing gas prices, I’ve taken the drastic step of easing off the accelerator in the hopes of conserving some gas — a bit difficult for someone with a lead foot like mine. While it tacks on a few minutes of travel time, so far I’ve noticed an increase in the mileage per tank of gas, about 25-30 miles, or one gallon’s worth for my car.
From fueleconomy.gov:
While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph.
As a rule of thumb, you can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.20 per gallon for gas.
And with prices nearing $4 per gallon, that’s a pretty good way to save money and conserve gasoline. In a year, if you save that one gallon per week, you’ll have an extra $200 in your pocket!
