Gas-Saving Moment of the Day: Lighten Your Load

No, this does not mean you need to drop a few pounds (although you might), but you should check to see if you're carrying excessive weight in your vehicle. The added weight could put a dent in your fuel economy.

For example, my father drives around with his golf clubs in his trunk and therefore takes them everywhere he goes — just in case while visiting me he decides he wants to play nine holes in downtown Chicago in January.

Keep unnecessary weight out of your vehicle. The difference in gas savings may be slight, but over the long run it will pay off at the pump. Let us know what extra baggage you find yourself hauling around for no reason. What's the strangest piece of dead weight in your car right now?

Related:
Tips for Saving Fuel (Cars.com)
More Gas Saving Moments of the Day (KickingTires)

Comments

i've been driving around without my spare tire, tired-changing related tools, floor mats and trunk mats for months. while i'll freely admit, if i ever do get a flat, i'm doomed... but i have saved some money over these past few months.

plus, since the car is lighter, the car feels >SlightlySlightly< sooner.

also, i'm more willing to drive my car even when the fuel gauge is on "Empty". gas is also heavy - it is part water. when there is less gas in the tank, the car is lighter and thus more fuel efficient.

plus, since the car is lighter, the car feels >SlightlySlightly< sooner.

since the car is slightly lighter, the car seems to accelerate slightly faster, brake sooner. i really can't say balanced handling is improved.

[Wnedy]

I have a button making machine, a case of water, 2 bags of topsoil, and TONS of kids crap in my mini-van. I should get motivated to clean it out, heck, I can even take out a set of extra seats!

[Jay]

I've decided to rip out the entire interior except for the steering wheel and the driver's seat and downgrade the 18" rims I have to 14". I'm sure that will give me an extra 2 mpg "max"...

[Mark]

I've also removed everything from the trunk, including the trunk cover and spare tire, removed the floor mats, the stuff in the glove compartment, removed the passenger seat, doors, windshield, roof; taken out the dashboard, the hood, trunk, only put one gallon of gas at a time (no gas cap), half the oil and half the radiator fluid, removed the front brakes, and the vanity plate on the front of the car. So far I notice a SLIGHT improvement in mileage when I'm driving down the street with wind in my face

[Dan]

I just coat my car with that lubricant from "National Lampoons Christmas Vacation". I get like 3.7x10^16 mpg.

[Mom]

Hannah

[Paul]

I propose that cars.com does a test. Drive a car, van and truck with 100 lbs of weight in the trunk/bed.

Then drive the same course without the weight. Compare mileage.

Be sure to do both highway testing and city testing (As stopping and starting with the 100lbs will probably make a larger difference.

I'd be interested to see how much it would make a difference. Don't just propose it, see if it really will make a visible difference.

Paul

[Amuro Ray]

Paul,

That will be a MythBuster question. Don't ask cars.com to do it. Ask Discovery's MythBuster TV show!

1 thg that I've seen is that on some "performance" vehicle, they have deflated donut tires. That's saves u like 20-30 lb of weight (from the gas). Most towing companies will have the air compressor to inflate the tires for you...of 'coz, you'll have to sign up a car club company or have towing coverage with your car brand / insurance company.

:)

[Nic]

I took the 3rd row seat out of my Lexus LX470. I think I have used it once. Whether it has helped my gas mileage or not I do not care. It just makes me feel like it does. But it does weigh a ton.

[J]

Carrying a few text books as thick as dictionaries (1500 pages EACH!) could hurt my mileage by 1mpg.