| Tips for saving on your ballooning gas bill | | | | force doesn't really matter, but when you |
| I recently set a record that I'm not happy about. | | | | approach highway speeds, a 60 MPH cruise will be |
| I was actually able to put $53.00 worth of gas | | | | much more efficicent than a 70 MPH cruise. Now |
| into my mini-van. Holy smokes, that really hurts! | | | | be careful when using this technique. You don't |
| I'm sure you are setting similar records on a | | | | want to block traffic, but you don't want to be |
| weekly basis. At this rate, it's going to cost more | | | | driving along in the left lane doing 85 MPH either. |
| to fuel up your car than to pay for the car itself! | | | | It's a waste and it doesn't really get you to your |
| Well, unless you walk everywhere, you're going to | | | | destination that much faster. Did you know it |
| have to keep buying gas, but there are some | | | | takes 30% more gas to drive 70 MPH then 50 |
| things that you can do to reduce your fuel | | | | MPH? |
| expense. Some of these you've probably heard | | | | 6) Consider a different vehicle. A HumVee gets 8 |
| before, some of them may be new! | | | | MPH, a Ford Aspire gets 47! (I had a Ford Aspire |
| 1) Don't jump off the starting line. Your car is a | | | | and loved it). If you're a single driver going back |
| mass which has to be accelerated (by gas and | | | | and forth to work daily, consider a more practical |
| your engine) and decelerated (by your breaks). | | | | vehicle. My 'other' car is a 500 cc Honda |
| Rapid acceleration uses more fuel than more | | | | motorcycle which gets 55 MPG. I'm no SUV nazi, |
| gradual acceleration. If you're a city driver and | | | | so if you need a big car, by all means have one. |
| you have to start and stop frequently, try | | | | But if you don't, then be a good steward of your |
| accelerating more slowly than you're used to. You | | | | money and consider something smaller. |
| don't want to hold up traffic of course, but you | | | | 7) Don't use the expensive gas. Most people think |
| don't need to jump like a stock car racer when | | | | that if high octane gas is more expensive, then it |
| the light turns green. For city drivers, this | | | | must be better. Right? No, that's wrong. High |
| technique can increase your MPG by 10% | | | | Octane gas burns differently and can be used in |
| 2) Keep your car tuned up. An engine in tune, | | | | cars that 'knock', but all modern cars are designed |
| with good spark plugs and plug wires, good ignition | | | | to use the lower octane fuels. Do yourself a |
| timing and a clean fuel filter, runs better. More of | | | | favor and use the cheap stuff. If your car is |
| the chemical energy stored in the gasoline actually | | | | knocking badly, then instead of using the |
| gets converted to motion and less gets wasted. | | | | expensive gas, get your car tuned up because |
| Get your car tuned up annually. A car that is | | | | knocking is an indication of a condition called, |
| poorly tuned can get 25% LESS gas mileage than | | | | 'detonation' and this is related to an engines timing. |
| the same well tuned car. That kind of waste will | | | | 8) Plan your travel. Wow, this one is simple and |
| easily pay for an annual tune up. | | | | can have a dramatic effect on savings. Try to |
| 3) Make sure your tires are properly inflated. This | | | | get all your errands done in one trip. It can save a |
| is actually a very important tip. If tires are under | | | | lot of time as well as gas and money. |
| inflated, the tires present a much larger surface | | | | 9) When you see a red light ahead, don't maintain |
| area to the road. Larger surface area = more | | | | your speed then brake quickly at the last minute. |
| drag and resistance that the engine has to | | | | Instead, take your foot off the gas and allow |
| compensate for. Over inflated tires can actually | | | | your car to decelerate slowly. Your engine will be |
| increase mileage because they present the lowest | | | | at idle during those extended decelerations and |
| rolling resistance, but can be dangerous and will | | | | your brakes will thank you. |
| wear poorly. So make sure your tires are inflated | | | | 10) Use your cruise control when on the highway. |
| right to where they're supposed to be inflated. | | | | The cruise control will assure that you use |
| Look an the sidewall for a PSI rating. You should | | | | continuous gas pressures all the time and you'll |
| check this monthly. Any full service gas station will | | | | avoid the speed up / slow down / speed up / |
| do it for you as well. | | | | slow down patterns of drivers that don't use |
| 4) Turn off the Air Conditioner and use your | | | | cruise control. Avoid the accelerations is what |
| windows or vents if it's cool enough. The AC is | | | | saves you gas. Set it and forget it. |
| driven by an AC compressor which places a large | | | | 11) Visit enter your zip code and find the gas |
| drain on your engine when it is engaged. It can | | | | stations in your area that are selling the cheapest |
| reduce milage by 4 or 5%. Some may argue that | | | | fuel, then buy from them. This is a great service |
| having your windows open to the cool the car is | | | | and can easily save you .10 or more on each |
| a bad idea, because it changes the aerodynamic | | | | gallon of gas. |
| shape of your car, and this is true at higher | | | | Using these 11 tips, it's reasonable to expect that |
| speeds. Below 40 MPH, open windows will have a | | | | you can save 10%, 20% or more on your gas |
| negligible effect on your cars aerodynamics. | | | | expenses. Until the US starts drilling for oil here in |
| 5) Slow down. As a car goes faster and faster, it | | | | the states, we're all going to have to learn ways |
| takes more force from the engine to push the | | | | to save on gas. |
| car through the air. At lower speeds, this extra | | | | |