Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Got gas? 7 gas-saving driving tips


Ten four, back door. Put the pedal to the metal and let it roar.
~ Cledus Maggart and the Citizen’s Band

Got gas?
7 gas-saving driving tips
Not so much anymore — gas is too expensive. Today we are looking for ways to save money at the pump and modifying our driving habits may help. Why? Good driving habits typically translate into more efficient fuel consumption. But did you know you can potentially boost the overall fuel efficiency of your car as much as 30 percent?1 Here’s some how-to tips:
  • Perform routine maintenance Stay on schedule with oil and filter changes and tune-ups. Your car needs the right proportions of air and fuel to run efficiently.
  • Monitor tire pressure — Not only are they dangerous but underinflated tires tend to decrease mileage.
  • Combine short trips — Warm engines run more efficiently than cold ones so combining short errands into one trip may save gas and time.
  • Avoid aggressive driving — “Jack-rabbit” starts and hard braking can increase fuel consumption by as much as 40 percent and reduce travel time by only four percent.1 Not a good trade-off.
  • Drive at moderate speeds — Stay at or under the speed limit and drive at a consistent rate of speed. Try to use cruise control on long trips.
  • Travel light — Extra weight in the car creates a drag on the engine and consumes extra gas.
  • Avoid excess idling Idling uses a surprising amount of fuel — more than restarting the engine.
  • Ride share — When possible, car pool with others to save fuel.
  • Walk more, drive less — Approximately 50 percent of car use is for trips within 3 miles of the home so consider biking instead for some of these short hops.1 Or drive to a central location and walk to all of your errands. You’ll be saving fuel, reducing pollution, and perhaps skip a trip to the gym.
Bottom line: Slowing down is the easiest way to cut your fuel bill, and coupled with some of the simple gas-saving tips above you could potentially save hundreds of dollars and reduce gas emissions and other pollutants. Slow down.