Edmunds.com Helps Consumers Combat Higher Gas Prices With 10 Tips for Improving Fuel Economy

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 12, 2004 -- Consumers tired of rising gas prices but not ready to trade-in their gas-guzzling vehicles or to rely solely on public transportation will benefit from the "10 Tips for Improving Fuel Economy" from the editors at Edmunds.com, (http://www.edmunds.com/), the premier online resource for automotive information. The full article can be found at HERE!.

"Everyone who drives regularly has felt the pinch of the rising gas prices, with no apparent end in sight," said Karl Brauer, editor in chief of Edmunds.com. "However, there are some very simple steps everyone can do, regardless of what type of vehicle they drive, that will allow them to get better gas mileage."

   10 Tips for Better Fuel Economy:

   1.  Follow the Recommended Maintenance -- A well-maintained vehicle will
       operate more efficiently.  Fouled spark plugs, dirty air filter or a
       clogged fuel filter will diminish fuel economy.
   2.  Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated -- Under inflated tires require
       more energy to roll, requiring more frequent fill-ups.  Properly
       inflated tires can improve fuel economy by 3.3 percent.
   3.  Take a Load Off -- Heavier vehicles require more energy to move.
       Empty trunks and remove luggage/ski racks when not in use.
   4.  Don't Drive Aggressively -- Hitting the gas pedal hard after
       stopping, slamming on the brakes and speeding all decrease fuel
       efficiency.
   5.  Use the Highest Gear Possible -- Lower gears use more power, so
       switch to a higher gear when driving at a steady speed for manual
       transmissions and avoid using "sport" mode in automatic
       transmissions.
   6.  Use Cruise Control -- Selectively -- Cruise Control is a great asset
       on flat roads, but isn't the most efficient on hilly terrain.
   7.  Think Clean -- Keeping your car washed and waxed improves its
       aerodynamics, therefore improving fuel efficiency.
   8.  Avoid Excessive Idling -- An idling car burns fuel.  Whenever
       possible, turn car off while waiting, or go inside instead of using a
       drive through.
   9.  Think Before You Ventilate -- Air conditioning consumes more fuel,
       while rolled down windows decreases aerodynamics.  Roll down windows
       if in slow-moving traffic; use the air conditioner if traveling at
       high speeds.
   10. Combine Your Errands -- Cold engines use more fuel than warm engines.
       Combining errands means the engine will be warmer for more of the
       trip.

  About Edmunds.com, Inc.

Edmunds.com is the premier online resource for automotive information. Its comprehensive set of data, tools and services, including Edmunds.com True Market Value(R) pricing, is generated by Edmunds.com Information Solutions and is licensed to third parties. For example, the company supplies over 800,000 pages of content for the auto sections of AOL and NYTimes.com, provides weekly data to Automotive News and delivers monthly data reports to Wall Street analysts. Edmunds.com was named "best car research" site by Forbes ASAP, has been selected by consumers as the "most useful Web site" according to every J.D. Power and Associates New Autoshopper.com StudySM and was ranked first in the Survey of Car-Shopping Web Sites as reported by The Wall Street Journal. The company is headquartered in Santa Monica, Calif. and maintains a satellite office outside Detroit.