Item
Tires properly
inflated
Check and
replace air filter
Recommended
motor oil
Engine properly
tuned
Drive
sensibly1
Observe the
speed limit2
Remve excess
weight
Loaded
roof rack
Every 5 mph
over 60 mph
Fuel Economy
Benefit
Up to 3%
Up to 10%
UP to 1-2%
Up to 4%
From 5-33%
From 7-23%
From 1-2%/100 lbs
Reduce FE by 5%
Gas Savings
Up to $0.2/gal
Up to $0.40/gal
$0.05-0.08/gal
$0.16/gal
$0.20-1.32/gal
$0.28-0.92/gal
$0.05-0.08/gal
$0.20/gal4
$0.20/gal
($0.09/gal)5
Annual Car
Savings
$67.92
$226.40
$28.30-44.48
$84.90-90.56
$113.20-735.80
$158.48-520.72
$28.30-44.48
$88.80
$50.94
Annual SUV
Savings
$86.52
$228.40
$36.05-57.68
$115.36
$114.20-951.72
$201.88-663.32
$36.05-57.68
$115.40
$64.89
Total Annual Dollar Savings: $1,656.86 for cars, $2,400.97 for SUVs.
All values are based on a gasoline price of $4/gallon.
¹ Assuming that driving sensibly is no "jack-rabbit starts" and no wide-open throtle accelerations.
² The assumption made for observing the speed limit was that people generally speed across all types of
driving, both city and highway. For example, going 35-40 mph in a 25 mph speed zone and going 70
mph on a highway that is limited to 55 mph.
³ This estimate is based on a comumer carrying a tool kit and a set of golf clubs. These two items were
actually measured and came out at a weight of 90 pounds.
⁴The fuel economy savings estimate for a loaded roof rack was not given full credit in the analysis.
It was not reasonable to assume that a consumer drives all year log with a loaded roof rack.
So, the assumption was made that 3,000 mils of the average 15,000 miles per year was
done with a loaded roof rack. Then the credit was given for 12,00 miles not driving with a
loaded roof rack.
5 The EPA estimate did not specify the assumption on the losses associated
with adding 5 mph increments over 60 mph. To make this estimate more
realistic, the assumption was made that the benefit of going slower
only applied during highway driving, which according EPA is
45% of the time.