The days of cheap gas are gone folks and most likely $2.85 a gallon gasoline will never be seen again in this century! So what do you do? Stop eating or get a horse and buggy? Probably neither if those extreme solutions are worthy of serious thought. Instead, start learning to simplify your life, become a conservationist not just a consumer.
Here is a list of real ways to make those $80 and $100 fill-ups last longer, as you also learn to walk, ride a bike and take public transportation again.
- Make sure your vehicle has properly inflated tires. Check the PSI of each tire with your car manual. Keeping the correct tire pressure in your wheels saves a lot on gas use and will extend that tank of liquid gold.
- Keep your vehicle engine maintained properly: tune-ups, fluid level checks, regular oil changes, air filter checks and fuel filter checks. This type of good engine maintenance extends the life of your vehicle besides keeping it fuel efficient.
- Drive at or 5 mph slower than the suggested speed limit. Why? Lots of reasons, but the money savings in gas is a big reason to drive slower. Driving at 60 mph instead of 75 mph will save you 15% at the gas pump.
- When taking long road trips, use the cruise control switch. Driving at a steady constant speed saves big time on gas. You may get 2 -3 more gallons of drive time from a tank of gas, when you do not have throttle stops and starts constantly (like in commuter traffic).
- Remember the heavier your vehicle the more gas you use (just like the airlines, who are thinking about charging by a person's weight for a flight or limiting your luggage), so empty the trunk of junk and non-essential emergency items. You will get better gas mileage with a lighter vehicle.
- Turn off the air-conditioner when you can (early morning drive time or when doing errands around the neighborhood). You use 20% more fuel when your vehicle air conditioner is on than breathing "au natural" air vented from outside.
- Stop idling your car! Correct folks, turn the car off when sitting there talking with someone or when you are waiting for the car wash. Tell your family and friends to be on time when you pick them up from work, school or events. The amount of gas you waste idling your engine waiting is enormous and could probably rake you back and forth from work for several days each week.
Basically, you must change your lifestyle and learn to conserve gas energy. If you really want to save money on gas, then stop using it frivolously, stop being wasteful and put the money you save in the bank each week not on the oil companies bank account.
