Cutting Car Costs

Fuel

With gas prices rising, it has become more important than ever to save energy (and money). Here’s how:

Check Tires: Properly inflated tires do make a difference in fuel consumption. Check yours at least once a month when they are cold. Fill them to the figure recommended by the manufacturer, not the figure printed on the tire itself (which is usually the maximum tire pressure, not the recommended one.)

Make the Grade: Check the grade of gasoline recommended for your vehicle and stick with it. Using premium gasoline when your vehicle doesn’t need it is like burning money.

Lighten the Load: The lighter your vehicle, the more efficient your gas consumption will be. If you’re using your trunk as an extra closet, get rid of the junk – maybe even have a garage sale!

Don’t Go Too Low: Driving your car until it is empty before you refill means your car frequently has to use the dirtiest gasoline, which can lead to poor performance and even engine damage. Fill up long before the gasoline warning light comes on.

Slow Down: Coast to a stop as much as possible. Sudden stops not only wear the brakes faster, but can use up more fuel as well. On the highway, keep in mind that faster speeds use more gas.

Keep Cool: Running the air conditioner on the highway can save fuel, because it puts less drag on the vehicle than keeping the windows open. For a local run around town, though, rolling down the windows and turning off the a/c will usually be the cheaper choice.

Shop Wisely: Driving across town to get the cheapest gas may or may not save you money. To find out where the cheap gas is locally, visit www.gastips.com. Keep in mind how much you are saving per litre and how far you are driving to get that discount. The savings may not outweigh the gas you are using to travel to the cheaper gas station and it may not be worth the hassle either.