Gas Mileage Tips

Here are some tips to help you reduce the amount of gas you use. If you are already following these tips, you are probably getting the best gas mileage your car can deliver.

DRIVE MORE EFFICIENTLY

Drive Sensibly
Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than gas money.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 5-33%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.20-$1.35/gallon

Observe the Speed Limit
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.
You can assume that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.30 per gallon for gas.
Observing the speed limit is also safer.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 7-23%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.29-$0.94/gallon

Remove Excess Weight
Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG by up to 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1-2%/100 lbs
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.04-$0.08/gallon

Avoid Excessive Idling
Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.

Use Cruise Control
Using cruise control on the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will save gas.

Use Overdrive Gears
When you use overdrive gearing, your car's engine speed goes down. This saves gas and reduces engine wear.

Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $4.08/gallon.

Data Sources
Estimates for fuel savings from sensible driving are based on studies and literature reviews performed by Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc., Washington, DC.
Estimates for the effect of speed on MPG are based on a study by West, B.H., R.N. McGill, J.W. Hodgson, S.S. Sluder, and D.E. Smith, Development and Verification of Light-Duty Modal Emissions and Fuel Consumption Values for Traffic Models, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, March 1999.


KEEPING YOUR CAR IN SHAPE

Keep Your Engine Properly Tuned
Fixing a car that is noticeably out of tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4 percent, though results vary based on the kind of repair and how well it is done.
Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 4%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.16/gallon

Check & Replace Air Filters Regularly
Replacing a clogged air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car's air filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine. Not only will replacing a dirty air filter save gas, it will protect your engine.

Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 10%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: up to $0.41/gallon

Keep Tires Properly Inflated
You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 psi drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.

Fuel Economy Benefit: up to 3%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: up to $0.12/gallon

Use the Recommended Grade of Motor Oil
You can improve your gas mileage by 1-2 percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. For example, using 10W-30 motor oil in an engine designed to use 5W-30 can lower your gas mileage by 1-2 percent. Using 5W-30 in an engine designed for 5W-20 can lower your gas mileage by 1-1.5 percent. Also, look for motor oil that says "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

Fuel Economy Benefit: 1-2%
Equivalent Gasoline Savings: $0.04-$0.08/gallon

Note: Cost savings are based on an assumed fuel price of $4.08/gallon.

Data Sources
Estimates for fuel savings from vehicle maintenance, keeping tires properly inflated, and using the recommended grade of motor oil are based on studies and literature reviews performed by Energy and Environmental Analysis, Inc., Washington, DC.
Air filter savings based on Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). 1981. Automobile Fuel Consumption in Actual Traffic Conditions. Paris, France. These tests were performed before the introduction of computer-controlled, fuel-injection engines. DOE is currently studying the fuel economy effects of clogged air filters on more modern engines.

Sioux Falls Ford Lincoln Mercury awarded Corporate Donor of the Year by Southeastern Behavioral Healthcare

Sioux Falls Ford Lincoln Mercury was awarded Corporate Donor of the Year by Southeastern Behavorial Healthcare. Southeastern Behavorial Healthcare serves the Sioux Falls community with 3 programs. First, a counseling center for the homeless and drug addicted located in downtown Sioux Falls. Second, an in-home conseling service that works with many referals from County Social Services, and third a program called Education and Intergration. Education and Intergration is where children who have mental and/or behavorial problems receive schooling that helps them to achieve a functional level where they can intergrate into the community. The programs helps these children to be able to attend school. Many of these children are placed by school districts as they are unable to provide services for them.

Sioux Falls Ford Lincoln Mercury has been honored to sponsor the Festival of Trees for the past 7 years. Last year we were also very excited to surprise SE Behavorial Health with a vehicle donation. Thank you to SE Behavorial Health for recognizing us as your sponsor of the year, we feel honored and appreicate working with such a great organization in the Sioux Falls community.

Sioux Falls' Most Hot Rides

Sioux Falls Woman magazine has just named the Ford Flex and Ford Mustang as part of Sioux Falls' Most Hot Rides. The Ford Flex and Ford Mustang were 2 of the 4 vehicles named Sioux Falls' Most Hot Rides, the other two vehicles were the Mercedes-Benz C-Class and the BMW 1 Series. Here is what they had to say about the Ford Flex and Ford Mustang.

Ford Flex:

The 2009 Ford Flex is the largest model in Ford's growing line of crossovers. With accommodations for up to seven passengers and a length of 202 inches, the Flex is definitely a family friendly vehicle. While it could be compared to a minivan, the Flex's bold new styling suggests that it is anything but a traditional minivan. While it's prominent edges initially give the Flex a nostalgic persona, racing grooves built consistently into the exterior and other design elements add to the vehicle's refreshing uniqueness. Ford has made comfort a priority, investing in the necessary engineering to make the Flex the quietest in its class. The Flex also features voice-activated communications and a Ford Sync entertainment system - specifically designed for cell phones and digital media players. Developed with Microsoft, Ford Sync can include a hard drive that will hold up to 2300 songs. And an additional feature, families on the go will appreciate the refrigerator that chills more than six or combinations of half-liter and 20-ounce bottles faster than the kitchen refrigerator.

Ford Mustang

Over thirty years ago, the U.S. Congress recognized the Mustang as "living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West, which continue to contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people." No wonder Ford chose the name, Mustang, for it's high performance sports car in 1964. And in the face of family-oriented SUV's and other large vehicles-the spirit and speed of the Mustang continues to entice buyers. As a coupe or convertible, the Mustang marries ergonomics with classic taste with its older style gauges, three-spoke steering wheel and dual-hooded dash. The available comfort package features heated front seats and power front passenger seat. Even though this thoroughbred is ready to run and continues to excel in performance, the Mustang has earned both a perfect rating for front-impact protection from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the highest possible for side-impact tests from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Cabela's Reviews the '08 F-450 Super Duty

Ford is the Official Truck of Cabela's, the largest direct marketer in the world and a leading specialty retailer of hunting, fishing, and outdoor gear. The 2008 Ford Super Duty and F-150 are currently on display at 16 Cabela's stores nationwide. To see Cabela's Field GuideStory review of the '08 F-450 Super Duty, click here.

Cabela's currently opperates 26 destination stores covering, almost 4 million square feet of retail space and drawing more than 45 million people per year. The Dundee store is a top tourist attraction in Michigan.

Cabela's will open two more stores in 2008: Scarborough, Maine and Rapid City, South Dakota. Look for more openings in 2009.