Coasting to better mileage

Recently a listener sent us an article about how to improve your gas mileage by coasting as often as possible.

Yes, it will help and if you get really good at it you can see a significant improvement in fuel economy. The problem is that there has to be active participation on your part as the driver, shifting into neutral at every opportunity. Now ask yourself, why did you buy an automatic transmission?

To get the most benefit from the coasting program you need to shift into neutral every time you slow down. You need to anticipate traffic signals and coast up to red light. When stopped in traffic, waiting in line or for a train to pass, you need to shift into neutral, or shut the engine off.

This means paying close attention to the traffic and road ahead of you, something that we are supposed to be doing anyway, and being an active partner in driving your car. That will exclude cell phones, coffee cups, shaving or putting on makeup as you drive.

What sort of mileage increase could you see? Some claim as much as a 50% increase. More realistically you could expect about a 10 to 20% increase in economy by paying attention and coasting at every opportunity.

Personally, I don’t do it. I will shift to neutral at prolonged stops, and may even roll down the windows and shut the engine off if it is a nice day, and a good neighborhood. As for going to neutral on every slowdown, I just can’t do that. I guess I am too leery of the other drivers and what they may do so I like to have my power ready to go instantly if needed. Besides, that’s when I turn the page on the newspaper I’m reading.

The biggest single improvement you can make in fuel economy is to drive sensibly. Accelerate modestly; keep it under 70 mph, and try to drive as smoothly as you can with few variations in the throttle. Keeping the gas pedal steady and letting the car slow down a little on overpasses actually saves fuel compared to having the cruise control on and letting the car accelerate up the hill.

Of course keep the tire pressure adjusted properly, keep the air filter clean and have the routine maintenance such as spark plugs and injector service done on a regular basis.

If you drive as if there is a full cup of HOT coffee sitting on the dash you will improve your mileage.

Street Racing Team!

Ever wonder what the letters stand for in a car’s name? Well here is one that tells the truth about the car it rides on, SRT!

Dodge produces several cars with the SRT badge on them. Starting with the Caliber SRT 4 and going all the way up to the brute horsepower of the Viper SRT 10, Dodge has developed a really great line of performance cars. The number denotes the cylinders of the engine and between the 4 cylinder Caliber and the 10 cylinder Viper there are several V8 models that will add the thrill back into driving, including the Magnum SRT 8, the 330C SRT 8 and the all new Challenger SRT 8 that produces 425 strong horses. They went one step better than just providing a mean street machine.

Every SRT model comes with a driving school included to teach the new owner how to handle the power and potential of the machine. Dodge teamed up with the Richard Petty Driving School and holds classes at race tracks around the country for the proud owners of their SRT line. The full day driving experience includes hot laps, acceleration and braking instructions, cornering and maneuvering skills that will help the owner get the most from the car he bought and also help him to be a safe driver of a mean machine.
Recently I had the thrill of driving the Viper SRT 10, the Challenger SRT 8 and the Caliper SRT 4. While the Viper is by far the most powerful and exciting (read dangerous) car of the bunch even the Caliber 4 cylinder model has more than enough power and driving performance to get the uneducated driver into trouble. The Challenger SRT 8 was a wonderful combination of a very driver friendly car and high performance. The car can be calm and sedate while you take your Mom to the store, and erupt in a burst of Hemi power at the touch of the throttle.

Over the past generation or so we have lost many of the driving skills that were taught in the”good old days” such as how to avoid or correct skids. Traction and stability controls as well as anti-lock brakes have almost eliminated the need for the new drivers to learn what it is like to slide sideways down the road. If you have one of these cars you definitely need to learn to drive!

It wouldn’t be a bad idea for everyone to take a course like this.

To learn more about Driver Training and Driver Education visit the site for Texas Education Agency, Driver Training Division.

The AAA Texas website also has information available on driver training and driver education.

Vehicle Vacation Travel Safety Checklist

Tires — Air pressure, tread wear, spare
Check the air pressure in all your tires, especially the neglected spare. To get an accurate reading, check pressure when tires are cold, meaning they haven’t been driven on for at least three hours. It’s a good idea to keep a tire pressure gauge on hand in your vehicle for this purpose. You can find the correct pressure for your tires listed on a label inside the driver’s doorframe or in the vehicle’s owner’s manual — the correct pressure is not the number listed on the tire itself.

Also, take five minutes to inspect your tires for signs of excessive or irregular wear. If the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch, it’s time to replace your tires. If you find irregular tread wear patterns, it means your tires need rotation and/or your wheels need to be realigned before you leave. For more information on tire safety and pressure, visit the “Tires” section of www.safercar.gov, a vehicle safety resource of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Belts and Hoses — Condition and fittings
Look under the hood and inspect all belts and hoses to make sure they are in good shape with no signs of blisters, cracks, or cuts in the rubber. High summer temperatures accelerate the rate at which rubber belts and hoses degrade, so it’s best to replace them now if they show signs of obvious wear. While you’re at it, check all hose connections to make sure they’re secure.

Wiper Blades — Wear and tear on both sides
After the heavy duty imposed by winter storms and spring rains, it’s likely that your windshield wipers are ragged from use and ready to be replaced. Moreover, like rubber belts and hoses, wiper blades are susceptible to the summer heat. Examine your blades for signs of wear and tear. If they aren’t in tip-top condition, invest in new ones before you go.

Cooling System — Needed servicing and coolant level
Carefully check your coolant level to make sure it’s adequate. In addition, if it’s time to have your cooling system flushed and refilled (or even nearly time), have it done now. On a long road trip in summer heat, you’ll want your cooling system functioning at peak performance to avoid the possibility of your engine overheating.

Fluid Levels — Oil, brake, transmission, power steering, coolant, and windshield
Obviously, you’ll want to check your vehicle’s oil level. And as with coolant, if it’s time or even nearly time to have the oil changed, now would be a good time to do it. In addition, check the following fluid levels: brake, automatic transmission, power steering, windshield washer, and coolant. Make sure each reservoir is full and if you see any sign of fluid leakage, take your vehicle in to be serviced.

Lights — Headlights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers, interior lights, and trailer lights
See and be seen! Ensure all the lights on your vehicle are in working order. Check your headlights, brake lights, turn signals, emergency flashers and interior lights. Towing a trailer? Be sure to check your trailer lights too. Failure of trailer light connections is a common problem and a serious safety hazard.

Air Conditioning — Sensitive to heat? Check AC performance before traveling
If you’re traveling with someone sensitive to heat, you may also want to ensure that your air conditioning system is functioning properly. Lack of air conditioning on a hot summer day can adversely affect people who are in poor health or are sensitive to heat, such as children and seniors. If the air is not blowing cold, it’s a good idea to have the system repaired before you go, especially since emergency, on-the-road repairs can be more costly than those you plan in advance.

Summer Safety Alert!
Remember: Never leave children unattended in parked vehicles — especially during warmer weather. Even on a relatively cool summer day and with windows partially cracked open, temperatures inside a vehicle can soar, rapidly causing occupants to suffer from heat illness or even die from heatstroke.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration