Acid Rain - Get Better Gas Mileage

Motor vehicles produce from one-third to one-half of nitrogen oxide emissions in North America. That's why individuals can help stop the acid rain problem. The less gas we use, and the cleaner the gas, the fewer nitrogen oxide particles will be spewed from tailpipes. Of course, we would all benefit by driving less, but if you must use a car, here are some ways to make sure its impact on the environment is as benign as possible:

• If you are considering buying a new car, got one that is fuel efficient - that gets at least the average number of miles per gallon. The standard for 1990 cars is almost 28 miles per gallon, but you can buy cars that get 40 mpg or 50 mpg. The more miles you get per gallon, the fewer emissions your car will produce.
• Consider a manual transmission as opposed to a automatic transmission. You will use less gas.
• Make your car more fuel efficient by having it tuned up every 5,000 to 10,000 mile. Make sure the fuel filters and spark plugs are clean. Change the oil regularly. You will increase the fuel economy of your car by as much as 15%.
• Check once a month to make sure your tires are inflated to the maximum pressure intended by the manufacturer. It is estimated that about half of American cars have underinflated tires. Because underinflation increase resistance, it wastes gas.
• If you need new tires, check out steel-belted radials, which can increase fuel efficiency by 5% to 10%.
• Do you really need that air conditioner? It uses gas even when it's not running, it will use as much as a gallon of gas per tankful, increasing your fuel consumption anywhere from 10% to 20%
• Try to reduce the number of car trips you make. Combine several errands into a multipurpose trip. Avoid making many short, single-purpose trips.
• Idling wastes gas. If your car is properly tuned, you shouldn't have to warm it up for several minutes after starting the car. You should be able to wait just a few seconds for the oil to circulate, then drive away. Don't leave the car idling while you are stuck at a train crossing or waiting for a passenger. It takes less gas to restart the car than it does to let it run for more than 30 seconds.
• Avoid jerky starts and stops, which waste fuel. Accelerate and decelerate smoothly and gradually. Minimize braking by slowing down as you approach a red light. It may turn green before you come to a complete stop. Remember, it takes more gas to move the car from a full sto than from even a very slow speed.
• On the highway, try to maintain a steady speed. Fifty-five miles per hour is bes. You will use about 20% more gas at 70 mph than at 55 mph.