How Do You Save Gas?

With the gas prices as high as they are in our community, we are always looking for ways to save gas. There are alot of little simple things that we can do to make the tank of gas last longer.

My husband is a mechanic on large equipment on a stip mine. He also does mechanic work on the regular pick up trucks that the mine ownes. He is always amazed at how people waste gas. The truth is that many of us simply do not know how to save gas, we just drive.

1. Check your tires. Your owner’s manual has important information on your tires, including the correct air pressure that should be in them.Often car owners never take the time to read the owners manual. Having underinflated tires can cost you as much as 1 mile per gallon. Radial tires have 50 percent less road resistance, so they give you 3 to 19 percent better miles per gallon.

2. Do you check your spark plugs on a regular basis? Do you even know how to check them? Badly worn spark plugs can cost you as much as 2 mpg. This is probably a job for a trained technician.

3. You should always change your oil on a regular basis. Dirty oil cuts back engine efficiency, so make sure your oil is changed according tot he car manufacturer’s recommended schedule. You can change your own, and buying your own oil is much cheaper. There’s a drain plug under your engine that will come out readily with a wrench. Have a bucket or oil pan ready to catch the dirty oil, and remember to dispose of it safely

4. If your fan belt is too tight, your engine is working too hard and wasting gas. The belt should give a little to finger pressure when the engine is not running. if it doesn’t, you can easily adjust the tension with a wrench.

5. Even if you are not a mechanic, you can easily take care of a few items without going to a service station. One of them is the air filter. A clogged air filter leaves your engine gasping for breath and means you’re probably running with a “rich” mixture, that is, more gas and less air. Many department and auto stores carry air filters, and they are simple to change. A clogged air filter can cost you 1 mpg. Replace your air filter regularly


6. Only carry things that you need in your car. Heavier cars are more costly to run. A reduction of 200 pounds in automotive weight typically improves fuel economy by nearly 5 percent.

7. The air conditioner uses alot of gas. Try using the air conditioner in your car as little as possible. It uses a lot of gas. Roll down the windows and get some fresh air!

8. We always use the cruise control on the interstate but on the country road, it is not safe. Using cruise control can save gas. If you drive on the open road often, staying at a constant speed will save fuel.

9. It uses alot of gas to stop and go and slow down and speed up. So if you are taking a trip, start early in the day while traffic
is light. Plan to stop for meals at times when traffic is heavy

10. The best way to save gas is to walk when it is possible. The vehicle has been a way of life for most Americans. There are many alternatives. These include mass transit, bike paths, and car pools. In our area, there is no transit so that is not an option for us.

What are the ways that you save gas?