Ways to cut your fuel costs
Gas prices is something that appears to be on everyone’s mind right now.
Unrest in the Middle East has caused the price of oil to skyrocket over the last few weeks. Not only that, but the state of our economy and the value of the U.S. Dollar has also increased our fuel prices at the pump.
Everyone is trying to find ways to cut their fuel costs. So here are a few tips to do that from AAA:
• Slow down. Even a five-mile-per-hour decrease in speed can affect your gas mileage. Watch your tachometer to gauge engine performance.
• Keep tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can cut fuel economy by a half percent per pound of pressure below recommended levels.
• Don’t let the vehicle idle for more than a minute. Idling consumes half -a-gallon to one gallon of gas per hour and wastes more fuel than restarting the engine.
• Accelerate gently, brake gradually and avoid hard stops.
• Combine errands into one trip or go to the one location to take care of as many errands as possible.
• When traveling, avoid excess weight and reduce use of car top carriers and trailers. Additional weight and vehicle add-ons have a negative effect on aerodynamics, causing engines to work harder and burn more gas.
• Car pool when possible.
We can all cut our fuel consumption if we take a little time to do these simple, but life-changing things.
Brent Maze is the managing editor of the Hartselle Enquirer.
