Saving on Gas
In one of the green magazines I subscribe to, 15 ways to help save on gas this summer:
1. Buy the least-expensive gas you can find. Smart consumers can find the cheapest gas available every day by comparison-shopping in their neighborhoods or by searching on the Internet at GasBuddy.com. Drivers can also take advantage of wholesale shopper’s clubs and money-back rebate cards.
2. Choose the right octane gas. High-octane fuel can cost as much as 20 cents a gallon more than regular unleaded. But unless you’re driving a Maserati, you don’t necessarily need to pay the premium. Use the octane suggested by the manufacturer, nothing higher.
3. Pay cash. Occasionally gas will be cheaper if you pay for it with cash. Get to know the gas vendors in your neighborhood and who offers the best bargains.
4. Gas up in the morning or in late evening. You get more gas for your money when temperatures are cooler outside.
5. Buy gas before getting on the highway. Gas will be cheaper in your neighborhood than it will be on the road.
6. Pump up your tires. Keeping your tires properly inflated will increase fuel efficiency by 3.3 percent, and gain the U.S. more oil than what’s projected to be in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
7. Get a quick tune-up before you leave. Have your car’s oil, transmission, and spark plugs checked to improve gas mileage throughout your road trip. You can improve your car’s fuel efficiency 4.1 percent by getting a tune-up.
8. Don’t start the engine until you’re ready to go. You can waste a lot of gas idling while everyone else is still packing up last-minute items for the trip. Wait until all your passengers are in your vehicle and then turn on the ignition.
9. Put away the roof rack. A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to meet your traveling needs with a smaller, gas-saving car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent. Reduce aerodynamic drag and improve fuel efficiency by placing items inside the trunk whenever possible. Don’t leave the roof carrier on permanently.
10. Don’t speed. Every 5 miles per hour you drive above 60 miles per hour is like paying an additional 10 cents a gallon for gas. This one is difficult for me
11. Use cruise control. Using cruise control on the highway helps maintain a constant speed that usually will help improve fuel economy by 4 to 14 percent.
12. Know when to close the windows. At highway speeds, it’s more fuel-efficient to use internal venting or air conditioning than to drive with the windows down, which can actually slow your vehicle. At slower speeds, such as in the city, keep the windows down and avoid air conditioning, which uses more gas.
13. Use shades. Reflecting sun shades made especially for cars, vans, and trucks can be spread inside the front windshield and above the dashboard to deflect heat from the car and help keep it cool when it’s parked, especially if you haven’t been able to park in the shade.
14. Cool off before you turn the air conditioning on. You’ll use less gas if you roll the windows down and let a hot car cool off a little before cranking up the A/C.
15. Turn off the car. Idling gets 0 miles per gallon and generates air pollution that turns into smog in summer months. Cars with larger engines usually waste more gas idling than do cars with smaller engines; drivers of idling SUVs may as well just throw money out the window. If you find yourself waiting in long lines at toll booths or to pick up the kids at camp, turn off the car until you can move along.
Also view some Gas Price comics I posted a while back 
Entry viewed times. Posted in Natural Living, Politics
2 Responses to “Saving on Gas”
April 7th, 2007 at 2:29 pm
[…] July of last year, I posted a list of ways you can Save on Gas. […]
May 29th, 2008 at 10:06 am
I live on the SW coast in Florida and the prediction for
hurricanes doesn’t look to promising. Since gas prices are approaching $4 a gallon, I set out searching for an alternative.I discovered how I can save $1.00 a gallon on my gas,reduces my emmissions up to 80%,fuel burns more efficiently and increased my horsepower.I am very happy with these results in helping to stop Global Warming.
Thank you,
Bob Hardick
North Port, FL 34286
941-426-1425