Gas Saving Tips
By Chris Channing
Gas is something that just can't be avoided- anyone with a
need to get somewhere across town or in need of travel will
likely have to shell out money in the process. With gas
prices becoming ever higher, it becomes important to get
thrifty in the process, so as to be economical on the matter
and save money as a result.
Contrary to popular belief, air conditioning isn't such a
gas hog when traveling at high speeds. Nevertheless, it is
common for those in need of fresh air to lower the windows
instead of turn on the air conditioning. This actually
lowers gas efficiency more, however, since the drag caused
from the lowered windows affects gas mileage more so than
the strain that air conditioning puts on the engine.
It's no wonder that older folk seem to have to get gas less
than others. This might be due to the fact that they travel
less, but also because the elderly tend to drive slower on
average. Driving slow and responsibly will increase fuel
mileage, as it helps keep unnecessary strain on the engine.
Slow acceleration and braking habits also help to give
vehicle owners increased fuel efficiency.
Even though car manuals sometimes claim that cars should be
run on the highest grades of fuel, this is not true. Cars
that can accept low grades of fuel should, since this gives
cheaper prices for just about the same amount of mileage.
Purchasing gas with a higher octane rating may help improve
mileage, but not enough to actually justify the price
difference.
When one's tires are low, there is a big loss in fuel
mileage per gallon. Under inflated tires will cause more
work to have to be done on the engine, meaning there are
fewer rotations of the tire per gallon of gas. This can be
such a dramatic chance in fuel efficiency that consumers
should constantly check their air pressures in their tires
in order to get the maximum benefit in fuel efficiency.
Lastly, it should be noted that when "warming up" a car, it
shouldn't take more than a minute or two before the car is
safe to drive even in winter conditions. There is no use in
warming up a car longer than necessary, as this burns extra
fuel. When wanting to listen to music while sitting idle, it
is also best to turn a car's ignition to the setting that
only drains the battery- but be careful not to do so for
long or the car may not start again.
Closing Comments
In the end, getting around the high gas price hikes isn't
going to be easy. But being economical and thrifty on the
subject can save consumers quite a bit of money over the
years. Until alternative fuels can be found, and renewable
"green" sources of energy may be used, following the
previously mentioned tips becomes important for both our
environment and wallets.
Learn more about how to save gas
and Save on gas
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