Ways to Achieve Fuel Efficiency So You Have More Money to Spend on Fun

Warmer weather, sunshine, and the appeal of the open road lead many of us to pack our bags and head out for relaxing road trips.  If you’re like most Americans, you prefer to spend your hard-earned money on food and entertainment and less of it at the fuel pump.  Here are a few easy ways you can make sure you’re getting the most out of every dollar you pay for gas.

1. Control your speed. Increasing and decreasing speed as you pass vehicles on the freeway will eat up extra fuel—an extra 15% to 30%, in fact!  Instead, find a speed you can travel continuously and use your cruise control to maintain it.  The most efficient speed to drive differs from vehicle to vehicle, but on average the best fuel economy is achieved at about 50 miles per hour.  That may not be realistic on the highway, but what it means is that driving near the speed limit will save you money versus traveling faster.
2. Map your journey with technology. Using one of the many mobile navigation apps will help you find the shortest route and avoid traffic jams.  You’ll not only save fuel, but you’ll enjoy your trip more.  Of course, planning your errands well will help you save both time and money by completing several tasks during a single trip into town.
3. Manage your cargo. Just because your truck will haul a hefty payload doesn’t mean you should make it a regular habit.  When you’re headed out on a road trip, make sure you’ve packed your truck and/or trailer efficiently so you’re not pulling unnecessary weight.  Eliminating 100 pounds of weight saves you about 2% on your fuel expenses.  Hauling cargo on your roof reduces fuel economy by up to 25% on the highway, so its best to remove these boxes when not in use.
4. Keep up on oil changes. “Old” oil becomes thick and makes your engine work harder thereby reducing your fuel efficiency.  Changing your oil as recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer ensures your engine is running at its best.  Be sure to use the right oil for your particular vehicle, too.
5. Try not to idle. Some newer models come standard with engine shut down to prevent idling.  If your engine idles for more than one minute, the vehicle will use more gas than what is required to start your engine.  That means that leaving the engine idle at the drive-up window or while stuck in a traffic jam uses much more fuel than turning the engine off and restarting when you’re ready to move.

Protect your investment with drill-less mud flaps.

Before you head out on your next adventure, make sure your truck is ready with a new set of drill-less mud flaps from DuraFlap.  Our product is constructed here locally with only the finest quality materials so they won’t tear, peel, fade, rust or break.  They’re easy to install using holes already existing in the body of your vehicle.  Best of all, its simple to add personality to your truck by choosing artwork in our online catalog, or you can bring us your own illustration and we’ll create a unique design just for your rig.  Contact us today and see how easy it is to get started.