FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, JUNE 30, 2008
CONTACT: LISA WHEELER
PHONE 512-239-5003 PAGER 512-606-3681
TCEQ Offers Tips For Better Fuel Economy
Maintaining your vehicle and driving the speed limit can save you $372 a year in gas costs
With gasoline prices averaging near $4 a gallon, consumers are looking for ways to make every drop count. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is offering several tips to improve gas mileage, and our state's environment giving Texans a good start to saving before heading out on the road this Fourth of July holiday.
By practicing proper vehicle maintenance such as changing the oil, checking tire pressure, and replacing the air filter you can save up to 56 cents per gallon. Proper vehicle maintenance can reduce your car's emissions and reduce your fuel cost by up to 14 percent.
Check Tire Pressure - With the maximum recommended pressure, tires will last longer, deliver better gas mileage, and be safer on the road.
Replace Air Filters -Clogged air filters cause engines to work harder, requiring more fuel. Replacing filters improves your vehicle's fuel economy by as much as 10 percent.
Pay Attention to the Check Engine Light -Repairing a minor problem improves gas mileage by as much as 4 percent. Fixing a serious problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.
Reduce Idling -If you expect to idle for more than 30 seconds, park your vehicle, turn it off, and go inside. Idling will waste fuel and creates more emissions than restarting the engine.
Slow down -You can improve fuel economy by 5 percent, if driving in town, or by up to 33 percent on the highway. Typically for every 5 miles per hour you drive over 60 miles per hour, it's like paying an additional 20 cents per gallon of gas you use. If you have a 13-gallon fuel tank, you can save $2.60 per tank just by driving the speed limit. This adds up to an annual savings of $135.
For additional ways to save fuel, don't top off the tank to round-off your purchase. Fuel escapes as vapor, polluting the air, and also increases the chance for spilling gas. Make sure the gas cap is properly tightened; otherwise, gas will evaporate from the car's tank.
The TCEQ offers additional tips on how to save money and the environment on its Take Care of Texas Web site.
All TCEQ news releases are available at www.tceq.state.tx.us.
To receive news releases via e-mail, sign up at www.tceq.state.tx.us/comm_exec/communication/media/email.html.
