Source: EPA, U.S. Department of Energy and Consumer Reports
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Myth#1
You may have heard it's best to fill up your gas tank early in the morning while the fuel is cooler. Well, the theory goes that fluids are denser at lower temperatures, so a gallon of cold gas actually has more gas molecules than a gallon of warmer gas. however, the holding tanks where the gas is stored does not see the temperature variation the atmosphere does...so there's little, if any, benefit, to getting up early to pump gas.
Myth#2
Changing your air filter in your vehicle is important because engine power will decrease slightly as the air filter becomes clogged. But a clean air filter won't save you gas. Most modern engines have sensors that automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture as the air filter becomes clogged. So...for engine efficiency...keep it clean.
Myth #3
Is premium fuel worth the bang for the buck? The owners' manual in some newer vehicles recommends premium gas but, consumers may have the wrong idea about why. you may see the phrase "recommended" - but not "required"...but what they don't tell you is that most modern engines again have sensors that detect regular instead of premium fuel, then the system automatically adjusts spark plug timing. The end result is a slight reduction in horsepower. Technology wins again.
Myth#4
Crank up the a/c or sweat it out with the windows open??? Air-conditioning does make extra work for the engine, no doubt, increasing fuel consumption. But car a/c units today are much more efficient than they used to be. in around-town driving, using the a/c will drop fuel economy by about a mile a gallon but, on the other hand, driving at high speeds with the windows down also increases fuel consumption by about a mile a gallon, because of the aerodynamic drag. The faster you go; drag becomes more of an issue. One way or another gas disappears, so why not keep your cool while driving.
To read the full story or post a comment about hypermiling by news 3's Kelly O’Connell, type in the keyword “hypermiling” in the search box right here on our website.
Source: EPA, U.S. Department of Energy and Consumer Reports
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