Whether you are planning on a cross-country road trip or just driving a few miles for groceries, the rising cost of gas, the dependency on foreign oil and the damage gas production and usage causes to our environment is something to think about. There is no way to completely reduce these problems, at least while still owning and using a gas-burning vehicle, but there are many ways to minimize them.
1. Top running condition – If your car is maintained at its optimum condition, including frequent oil changes, tune-ups and any necessary repairs, it will burn less gas. Make sure the gas cap is always tightly sealed and external trim is properly secured. The cost of these items could even be balanced out by the savings in fuel cost if you drive a great deal.
2. Good tires – Monitor the condition of your tires and replace them when they are starting to show wear. Even if they don’t show any problems, they should be replaced on a regular basis, depending upon the specifications of the tire. Make sure to maintain proper tire pressure as well; underinflated tires cause a huge waste of fuel.
3. Proper speed – Maintaining the speed limit is not only good for your safety, it’s good for your fuel efficiency as well. The optimum driving speed is around 55 mph, and every mile above 60 mph costs you.
4. Slow your stops and starts – Gunning the engine to hit 60 like a race car wastes gas, and waiting until you are upon a stop sign to stop pressing on the gas is not only dangerous but a waste as well. Always accelerate at a slow, even pace and anticipate stops by letting your car coast a while before you need to start braking.
5. Air conditioning – Whether or not to use the AC in your car should be dictated by the speed you are driving. When driving in town and making frequent stops, running the AC gets expensive due to the higher idling of your engine, so opt for windows down if possible. On the highway, however, having the windows down will create a wind-drag on your vehicle and have the opposite effect. It is best to keep all windows shut tightly and the AC running as low as is comfortable when driving at higher speeds.
6. Lighten up – Reduce the amount of weight in your trunk and on top of your car to reduce drag. Non-essential items in the trunk, such as sandbags, an old flat tire, canned goods or tools cause your engine to work harder and use more gas. If you aren’t specifically transporting the heavy items somewhere, then take them out. The same goes for items on top of your car. Remove luggage racks if possible, and do not use them to carry items unless there is no room elsewhere for them. Modern vehicles are designed to let the air flow smoothly over the car, but having items on top interrupts that flow creating a drag on the engine.
These are just a handful of the top things you can do to reduce your gas mileage. You can test out a variety of options for your car by keeping track of your habits and gas mileage or by installing a mileage meter. Learn more about ways to reduce your gas consumption through educational websites such as EcoDrivingUSA.com and DriveSmarterChallenge.org.
With gas prices much higher than they were just a few short years ago, many of us have stopped driving as much as we used to. Leaving your vehicle in the driveway is without a doubt the most effective way to avoid high gas prices. But we can’t stay home all the time.
Of course, not driving doesn’t necessarily mean staying at home. You can often ride a bike to your destination. If you live close to school, you could walk the kids there instead of driving them. And in cities, public transportation is cheaper and more economically friendly than driving a vehicle of your own.
When it comes to saving money on gas, the next best thing to avoiding driving is changing your driving habits. The way you drive plays a big role in your vehicle’s fuel consumption, and there are certain things you can do to get more miles out of each gallon.
* Drive at a steady speed. Speeding up and slowing down, even just a little bit, uses more gas than maintaining your speed. Use cruise control when possible, and avoid unnecessary fluctuations in speed when cruise is not an option.
* Avoid stopping at red lights when possible. That doesn’t mean you should run them, just that you should slow down well in advance. By the time you get to the light, it may have turned green, and you won’t have to stop. And accelerating when you’re already rolling uses less gas than accelerating from a dead stop.
* Keep the pedal off the metal. Speeding can be expensive, and not just because you could get a ticket. The optimal speed for fuel efficiency is around 55 MPH. If you drive faster than that, you’re using extra gas to maintain your speed. So stick close to the speed limit.
* Keep your car well maintained. A dirty air filter can seriously impact your fuel efficiency, as can underinflated tires. Perform maintenance as scheduled, and check tire pressure and fluids regularly. You can check your air filter by removing it and holding it up to the sun – if no light comes through, it needs to be changed.
* Avoid using the air conditioner at low speeds. If you’re on the freeway, however, running it may be more economical than rolling the windows down, because it doesn’t create wind resistance.
Not driving is the simplest way to save money on fuel. But when you need to drive, these simple changes to your driving habits can make a noticeable difference in your vehicle’s fuel consumption. An extra mile or two per gallon might not leave you with enough money to go on vacation right away, but over time the savings really add up.
Are rising gas prices killing your budget? How much do you have to pay for a gallon of gas? $3.20? $3.50? $4.00? $5.00??? MORE???? Where does it end???
The gas pump MONSTER is raising the prices of gas. Sure, they go up and down. They go up a dollar and down 50 cents…… to condition us to think 50 cents more is a good deal!
For those of us who have to drive back and forth to work everyday – in gas guzzling traffic – every penny hurts. What about traveling? A lot of people can’t even afford to fly to their travel destinations, but now even DRIVING to your travel destination is becoming unaffordable!
So with the ever-raising costs of filling your tank full of gas, there’s no shame in cutting every corner to save a buck.
All a person needs is the know-how, the tips and tricks, the truth and not the old rumors……of how to make that tank last until next payday! I’ve written it all down for you and put it in a report I like to call…
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