Tips for Smarter Driving

MISSION, KS--(Marketwire - Sep 5, 2011) - (Family Features) High gas prices and an uncertain economy are putting vehicle fuel efficiency at the top of many drivers' priority lists. A 2011 survey by Consumer Reports found that 62 percent of those surveyed are planning on making their next car much more fuel efficient. But what if a new vehicle isn't in your budget? Take heart -- there are steps you can take now that can help increase fuel efficiency in what you're driving today.

John and Helen Taylor, known as the world's most fuel efficient couple, hold 89 world records and travel the world stretching the boundaries of fuel efficiency, are here to help others do the same. The Taylors say that by simply following the MAP to Smarter Driving, drivers can become more fuel efficient and do it on a budget. The MAP includes:

Maintenance
Perform smart maintenance before you drive, including:

• Make sure tires are not over- or under-inflated. Proper air pressure cuts down on fuel used while driving. Keeping tires at the correct pressure can improve your gasoline mileage by more than 3 percent.
• Keep your engine well tuned and repair problems immediately. If your car has failed an emissions test or is noticeably out of tune, repairing the problem could improve your gasoline mileage by 4 percent, on average.

Actions
Practice smart actions and behaviors while you're behind the wheel:

• Avoid the highs and find the lows. Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower gasoline mileage by five percent at lower speeds and by 33 percent at highway speeds. You should assume that each five mph driven over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.29 per gallon for gas (savings based on an assumed fuel price of $3.65 per gallon).
• Also, avoid idling. Idling gets zero miles per gallon.

Products
Purchase smart products at the right price without sacrificing quality:

• Choose a high-quality gasoline. Lower-quality gasolines can leave harmful carbon deposits or "gunk," which can build up on intake valves and fuel injectors. This negatively impacts engine performance, vehicle responsiveness and reduction of fuel flow -- all potentially leading to reduced fuel economy.
• Use a loyalty or rewards payment card to save. The Taylors suggest stretching your budget. Shell has teamed up with leading grocers in more than 110 markets across the U.S. where you can earn rewards for using your existing supermarket loyalty card and then redeem the points at participating Shell stations. Another option is to use a Shell payment card that saves you money at more than 14,000 Shell stations across the U.S.

Smarter Driving can go a long way to help you stretch your budget while helping protect your vehicle. To find out more about the Shell Smarter Driving Program or to test your Smarter Driving IQ, visit www.Shell.us/smarterdriving, or find Shell at www.facebook.com/shellontheroad.

(Some tips sourced from www.fueleconomy.gov.)

Fuel Efficiency Myths

• Gadgets can improve gas mileage. Be wary of any devices that say they can get you better mileage. The EPA has found that very few provide any fuel economy benefits -- and some may even damage the engine or increase exhaust emissions. For a list of tested products, visit www.epa.gov.
• Replacing the engine air filter improves fuel efficiency. For older cars with carburetors, this can be true. But today's fuel-injected engines have the fuel-air mixture adjusted by computers. Changing a dirty air filter might improve engine performance, but it won't affect fuel economy.
• It's more fuel-efficient to turn on the AC and close the windows. Rolling down your windows can cause an increase in your fuel consumption if you attempt to drive the same speed because of the drag from the wind. Yet, it is important to note that air conditioning can also put added strain on the engine by using fuel to operate. So, whenever possible use the fan instead.

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