Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Gas Saving Tips


In addition to the fuel savings provided by www.gasbuddy.com, WFMY News 2 (www.digtriad.com) has provided a list of Ten Fuel Saving Tips. Although many of these may seem like common sense, I know that I often forget to put these into practice! If you have a fuel or money saving tip you can email them to pennypinchingpaul@gmail.com

Happy Saving!

Ten Fuel Saving Tips
1 Avoid High Speeds
As your speed increases, your aerodynamic drag increases in an exponential fashion. Driving 62 mph (100 km/h) vs 75 mph (120 km/h) will reduce fuel consumption by about 15%.
2 Do Not Accelerate or Brake Hard
By anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20%.
3 Keep Tires Properly Inflated
Keep tire air pressure at the level recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. A single tire under inflated by 2 PSI, increases fuel consumption by 1%.
4 Use A/C Sparingly
When the air conditioner is on it puts extra load on the engine forcing more fuel to be used (by about 20%). The defrost position on most vehicles also uses the air conditioner.
5 Keep Windows Closed
Windows open, especially at highway speeds, increase drag and result in decreased fuel economy of up to 10%.
6 Service Vehicle Regularly
Proper maintenance avoids poor fuel economy related to dirty air filters, old spark plugs or low fluid levels.
7 Use Cruise Control
Maintaining a constant speed over long distances often saves gas.
8 Avoid Heavy Loads
Remove the sand bags from your trunk in the spring and pack lightly for long trips.
9 Avoid Long Idles
If you anticipate being stopped for more than 1 minute, shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time.
10 Purchase a Fuel Efficient Vehicle
Purchase a Fuel Efficient Vehicle