I call it MADNESS. The price of gasoline nears $4 a gallon. There are many reasons, true and not, as to why the price is climbing upward. I don’t suppose it really matters if it’s price gouging, speculation, increased use, or anything else. Right now what matters to most of us is how to get more mileage for each gallon of gas you buy and cut how much you have to buy. Does anyone else besides me remember when gas was 25¢ a gallon back in the 70s?There are many websites with good information on saving at the pump. You visit the Sierra Club, the Federal Trade Commission, the EPA, or commercial sites. What I’ve done is look at a lot of sites and thought through what we can do to use less gas.
I want to look at four different areas essential to easing the pain you feel at the pump. They include the driver, the car’s maintenance, how you use the car, and what type of car you use. If you take ideas from each category and put them to use, you should immediate decrease your gasoline bill (1).
Your car can use more or less gas. It depends on you and the care you give the vehicle. What can you do from the front bumper to the tires?
The Driver
Let’s start with the driver’s seat and steering wheel. It’s up to the driver to do her or his best to drive in a way that uses less gas. Drive the speed limit, use cruise control on the highway, keep a constant speed, drive to avoid sudden stops and starts, and don’t let the engine idle more than a few minutes.
There’s always somebody on the road that just can’t stand anyone ahead of them. They gun their vehicle to pass everyone. If that’s you, you might want to reconsider all that passing. It costs a lot of money in the long run. I’m always amazed at the people who pass me on the road then I get to wave hello to them at the next stop light.
Did you know that driving 55 on the highway can really save money? There’s a great article at the San Francisco Chronicle on this issue. For every mile per hour over 55 your mileage goes down 1% (2).
About That Car
There are times when you just forget about car maintenance, but that’s not helpful. It is important for you to get regular tune-ups, change the fluids, replace belts and hoses, and buy new filters according to the manufacturer’s time table. Your car stays in better condition, and you will save at the gas pump.
Your engine and all that stuff under the hood are important too. Don’t forget the regular tune up. You should use the oil recommended in the owner’s manual and change it when the manual tells you to.
Keep it light when it comes to your vehicle. The boot or trunk should be emptied of non-essentials. The weight there makes a big difference in gas mileage.
Don’t add extra weight to your car by using it for storage. Clean out unnecessary items. Here are two statistics to remember. A roof rack can reduce fuel mileage by 5%. Every extra 100 pounds carried in your vehicle reduces fuel mileage by 1-2% (2).
And let’s not forget tires. Tire alignment and balance keeps you rolling along and saving money. Be sure to check the tire pressure every other week. The correct pressure is given on the tire so that makes it easy. Try to replace worn tires because they can decrease your gas mileage too (1).What you put in your gas tank makes a big difference in mileage. The owner’s manual has recommendations for the correct octane level. If you no longer have a manual, you can find a copy online at the manufacturer’s website. Only if you have persistent knocking should you consider a higher octane gasoline (3). Forget gasoline saving devices; almost every one tested is worthless (1).
Car Trips
Avoid driving at times when you know there will be traffic congestion. Yes, I know that’s not always possible. There are, however, many times when you can either leave early or go late to avoid heavy traffic. Avoid doing errands or going shopping during peak hours for traffic. At one time, I was employed in the central business district of a medium sized city. My schedule was to come in at 8:00 a.m. and go home at 5:00 p.m. I asked my employer if I could come in at 7:30 a.m. and leave at 4:30 p.m. My boss said as long as I worked the hours I was contracted for, he had no problem with my idea. I was able to avoid rush hour and save gas.
Merge all your errands into one trip. After you do that, plan where to go when. I start with the place requiring the longest drive then work my way back home. In one day my list might include attending my book club at noon, returning a library book, picking up a prescription, buying some socks, purchasing some gas, and picking up something for dinner. Here’s my route: book club out on Cold Springs Road, library, gas station, retail shop, grocery, pharmacy. Since I live near the NC state line, this route makes sense for me (4).
For those of you who live in town, why don’t you either walk or bike to do errands and visit friends who also live in town? I’ve seen people drive across the street to do an errand instead of walking. Go figure.
How about carpooling? You can save a lot of gas if several people share a car and the expense of driving. There are other benefits of carpooling. It’s usually more fun and you can develop closer relationships. Just don’t fight over the radio station.
The Car You Drive
If you are in the market for a new vehicle, consider a hybrid or a small car that gets high miles per gallon of gas. There are even all electric cars that will get as much as 100 miles per charge. There are a lot of new cars that have an extremely high mpg. A few are the Toyota Prius, Chevy Volt, and Nissan Leaf. If you go to the link, there are many listed that might interest you (5).
If you are looking for a used vehicle that gets good gas mileage, there are plenty of them out there. A few of the older vehicles that have good gas mileage are Honda Civics, Geo Metros, and Opel Vectras (6). One of our vehicles is a 1990 Oldsmobile station wagon. That car gets 26 mpg on the highway and a little less in town.
Taking a Trip
Here’s one great tip. AAA has an online gas calculator. You can use it for free to determine how much the gas will cost you based upon your vehicle and where you’re headed. They use the current prices for gas in various areas of the country (7).
There are ways you can spend less money on gasoline. Use all or some of the ideas in this article, and you will see a difference.
Endnotes:
- http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt139.shtm
- http://articles.sfgate.com/2005-10-19/news/17396345_1_aaa-of-northern-california-gas-slow-traffic
- http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/autos/aut12.shtm
- http://www.livewellbelowyourmeans.org/index.php/component/content/article/54-10-ways-to-save-money-at-the-pump
- http://www.fueleconomy.gov/
- http://www.gas-saver-cars.com/cars-with-good-gas-mileage.html
- http://fuelcostcalculator.aaa.com/
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