In the past week we have seen the price of gas raise not just a few penny’s per gallon. We not seen those gas prices rise five cents. We have seen those gas prices from 14 to 17 cents in just one week. This all because of events that are occurring in Middle East.
As much as I would like to do something to lower gas prices, I cannot. That leaves me with only one alternative. I must tighten my belt and find ways to make a gallon of gas go further. This can be done is three ways;
Combining Trips – Plan out the day and look at how we can reduce trips. The time of day can also help you stretch every gallon of gas. Driving when traffic is light and during on heavy commute time will reduce the time standing still with the engine running.
Commute – If you and a neighbor take the same car to the grocery store to do weekly shopping. There are alternative means of transportation. Mass transit, riding bicycle, and carpools are ways of getting around will all have to learn to do more.
Car Maintenance - The little things done make make the biggest difference in the long run.
- Replace your air filter regularly. If your car cannot breathe makes your car work harder.
- Dirty oil cuts is makes the car’s engine use more gas to get one mile.
- Most modern day cars have a fan belt that have a spring tensioner. There are one or two secondary belt that require manual tightening. These belts should give a little to finger pressure when the engine is not running.
- Spark plugs give the fire to engine that makes the gas burn. If the spark plugs are worn or mis-firing. If the spark plugs are firing properly, you can give up to 2 miles per gallon over mis-firing spark plugs.
- Big trucks and SUV’s cost more run. A reduction of 200 pounds in a vehicle’s weight can improve fuel economy by nearly 5 percent.
- Car air conditioner makes the car engine work harder to turn run the air conditioner.
- On long driving trips the use of the cruise control can save gas. On the open road at a steady driving speed will stretch you gas mileage.
- Air pressure in you tires is another biggy. Consult you owner’s manual and the tire manufacture. Here you can effect anywhere from 3 to 19 percent difference in gas miles per gallon.
In closing there are a couple more tips the experts say will stretch a gallon of gas.
- Let your car idle while running into a local Stinkers or Maverick wastes gas.
- Revving the engine at stops along with gas peddle to the floor starts uses extra gas. In addition, to much raw gas gets pumped the engines cylinders. This can wash away a film of oil that protects the cylinders and thus increase engine wear.
Gas prices are not expected to come down for sometime. I don’t expect many of us are going to be earning a lot of extra money in the near future. This means we are going to have to look for ways to stretch the use of every gallon of gas we pump into our vehicles. If you have any other idea than what I have listed here. Leave a comment and let me know.
