| Yes - I know that headline might provoke you a | | | | removing all the caked on dirt makes your car |
| little bit. | | | | 'slicker' - which reduces drag by a little bit. This |
| That's OK. | | | | tip is better for appearance than big gas savings. |
| This article will show you how to cut your gas bill | | | | 8. Change all your car's fluids - |
| right now - TODAY - if you'll simply pay attention | | | | Go to a local oil change place and tell them to |
| to these tips and now begin using them. | | | | change every fluid in your car - not just your oil. |
| Of course, you'll probably see a few tips you | | | | This includes all engine fluids, radiator, transmission, |
| might have heard before. | | | | axle grease, etc. |
| Why? | | | | 9. Read popular car magazines for even more tips |
| Because they still work, always work, and are | | | | - |
| even more important now that gas is approaching | | | | Most of the popular car magazines offer |
| $3.50 a gallon (or more) in many places. | | | | gas-saving tips these days. Read the front |
| In fact, you might have at some point heard | | | | covers and tables of contents to find the best |
| most of these tips before now. The real issue is | | | | articles for you. |
| "Are you faithfully doing every one of these?" | | | | 10. Try to drive downhill - |
| The average person is probably not doing 1/3 of | | | | As silly as this sounds, when possible drive downhill |
| them. Remember - even though some of these | | | | instead of uphill so gravity powers your car |
| have a direct associated cost savings - how much | | | | instead of gas. I tried it, and within reason you |
| 'associated cost' is filling your gas tank these | | | | can at times make this happen. A small tip, but |
| days? | | | | a tip nonetheless. |
| OK - let's get started ... and these tips are in no | | | | 11. Don't race up to stop lights and turns - |
| particular order ... | | | | I'm amazed every day as people who blaze past |
| 1. Get your car tuned - | | | | me just in time to slam on their brakes at the |
| Sure - everyone tells you to do this. But have | | | | red light up to which I'm coasting or the turn I'm |
| you done it? Poor tuning wastes gas. This can | | | | approaching. Why in the world would you speed |
| improve your gas mileage by 10% or more. | | | | up to a place that requires a full stop? Baffles |
| 2. Regularly check the air pressure in your tires - | | | | me ... |
| Another one you've probably heard before. The | | | | 12. Don't blast off the line - |
| fellow who sold me my new tires told me that | | | | Smart people say to act like there is an egg |
| tires lose 2 or 3 pounds of air per month by | | | | between your foot and the gas pedal. Don't |
| themselves. Low air pressure wastes gas. | | | | race away from a stop, and don't stomp on the |
| Look on the door in your car for proper tire | | | | gas pedal except to avoid an emergency situation |
| pressures, and keep it to the 'high' side of the | | | | (only if safety permits.) |
| range you're given. This can be another 10% | | | | 13. No lead foot - |
| savings. | | | | This goes with #12 above. In general, be easy |
| 3. Regularly change your oil - | | | | on your gas pedal. Use the least amount of |
| Another one you've probably heard. Whatever | | | | pressure to attain and maintain your desired |
| your manufacturer recommends, pay attention to | | | | speed. And try to keep a steady pressure |
| it. Personally, I used to change my car's oil | | | | instead pushing in, pulling back, etc. |
| every 3,000 miles. Once I switched to synthetic | | | | 14. Time the red lights - |
| oil, I was told to increase the frequency between | | | | Pay attention to traffic lights from as far away |
| changes. | | | | as your eyes permit, and try to adjust your |
| Also try to use synthetic oil. Rarely will your | | | | approach speed so you get there when it's green |
| auto manufacturer say not to use synthetic oil, | | | | and you don't have to stop. |
| but be sure you understand before you begin. | | | | 15. Don't speed - |
| Synthetic oil costs more, but lasts longer, and | | | | For all the reasons you already know, as well as |
| reduces friction in your engine better. You'll treat | | | | for safety and gas usage, don't speed. Ever. |
| your engine better while getting higher gas | | | | Obey all the speed limits. In general, the slower |
| mileage. In my car, now I go 6,000 miles | | | | your speed, the less gas you use. |
| between oil changes instead of 3,000, and enjoy | | | | 16. Don't burn your clutch on hills - |
| all the other benefits for basically the same cost. | | | | Your clutch is not designed to be your brake. |
| 4. Carefully plan your errands - | | | | When you burn your clutch on a hill, you trash |
| This is one tip lots of people miss, and it ties into | | | | your clutch and burn extra gas. Also, don't sit at |
| another tip below. Basically, don't run any | | | | red lights with your clutch pedal in, as that also |
| errands that aren't mandatory today. Put them | | | | toasts your clutch, shortening its life. |
| off till you need to do them. | | | | 17. Don't block intersections - |
| Use the phone when you can, instead of driving | | | | This is mostly just decent manners, but you also |
| somewhere. Avoid high-traffic hours, days, and | | | | create a traffic jam for everyone, wasting |
| other times of congestion (see below.) Add in | | | | everyone's gas - not just yours. |
| errands when they are part of your regular daily | | | | 18. Don't drive 10 miles out of your way to save |
| commute to and from work. | | | | a penny a gallon - |
| 5. Try to avoid rush hour - | | | | Think about this ... if your gas tank holds 12 |
| I'll get some heat on this one. If your employer | | | | gallons, is empty, and you drive all over the place |
| allows flex time, investigate that. Otherwise, if it | | | | looking for the best deal on gas, you save twelve |
| helps you to go to work 15 minutes early and/or | | | | cents if you find it for a penny cheaper per |
| leave 15 minutes 'later' - do it, even if you don't | | | | gallon. It costs you more than that just to find |
| get paid for the time. | | | | the cheaper gas. |
| Why? | | | | 19. Stay in the right (slow) lane - |
| You can either sit in traffic, get frustrated, use | | | | To keep the speeders off your tail - and keep |
| your gas for nothing, and maybe even overheat | | | | yourself safer - stay in the right (outer) lane on |
| your car ... or you can sit like a 'dedicated | | | | 4-lane roads so the speeders can have the faster |
| employee' at work and be comfortable. This one | | | | (left inside) lane. |
| can save you perhaps 25-50% of your gasoline | | | | 20. Use your imagination - |
| by itself. | | | | If you'll give these tips some thought - and put |
| 6. Always turn right when possible - | | | | forth a little effort - you'll not only cut your |
| I hadn't thought of this one before I read it | | | | gasoline bill by as much as half ... you'll also come |
| somewhere. Consider that when you turn left, | | | | up with your own ways to further reduce your |
| you sit in the turn lane and wait for a break in the | | | | costs to operate your car. |
| traffic or the light to change. In many places | | | | These tips WILL reduce the amount of gas you |
| you can turn right on red, and you're not turning | | | | burn. Period. The rest is up to you. If you |
| 'against' the traffic when you turn right. This tip | | | | want it bad enough - it's here for you, and you'll |
| takes some thought, but can make a significant | | | | be able to discover other ways to save even |
| difference in time and gas savings. | | | | more money once you start paying attention to |
| 7. Try to keep your car clean - | | | | these tips. |
| It's more fun to drive when it's clean, and | | | | |