The bad news is that a recent article in the Financial Times said that the average price of a gallon of gas in the United States may soon reach $3.00. The good news is that rising gas prices have made many Americans start looking for ways to either drive less or make their cars use less gas. That's good news, because these ways to save fuel and ways of thinking will help cut down on the pollution caused by fuel emissions. Still, the question is what we need to do to spend less on gas and get cleaner air in return. Here are a few ideas:
Tune up your car.
A car that has been well taken care of will use less gas than one that hasn't been:
- Change your motor oil at the intervals suggested by the manufacturer and make sure to use the motor oil with the right "weight" (viscosity). Change the oil filter and check the engine air filter when you change your oil. You may not have to change the air filter every time you change your oil, but it should be checked every time.
- When you buy gas, pay attention to the octane rating on the pump. It should be in the range recommended by the company that made your car.
- Make sure your tyres are properly inflated. Check the user's manual for your car or look for a sticker that tells you the right tyre pressure. If you need to buy new tyres, look for ones that are labelled LRR (Low Rolling Resistance). Proper tyre inflation and LRR tyres will help you save the most fuel.
- Get a "tune up" for your car when the manufacturer says to. On modern cars, a "tune up" mostly means replacing the spark plugs, checking the timing of the engine, and looking at the spark plug wires.
Smart driving
How, where, and when you drive are all important things to think about if you want to save money on gas and keep the air clean:
- The one who goes slowly and steadily wins.
- Plan your route if you have to drive! Sometimes the busiest traffic is on the shortest route, so it's smart to take the longer, less-traveled route to save gas and avoid slow traffic. If you can, plan your work hours so that you can drive to and from work when traffic isn't as bad.
- Is it really necessary for you to drive? You don't need your car keys every time you go to the store. Walking a few blocks will save you money on gas and keep you healthy. More than two or three blocks? If your trip is less than two or three miles, get out your bike or buy one. Think about taking the bus or carpooling to and from work as other ways to save gas besides your ignition key. If you can work from home for your job, do it!
"When pulling away from a stop light or stop sign, go easy on the gas pedal and gradually increase speed. Jackrabbit starts are really bad for fuel efficiency, and sudden stops don't help either. If you find yourself slamming on the brakes, you are driving too aggressively; slow down and "mellow out." When you finally get on the highway, drive at the speed limit and use your cruise control, if you have one.
Some more ways to save gas
- If you're ready to trade in your car for a new one, give a hybrid or a car with the best gas mileage rating you can find serious thought.
- Don't mess up the way your car moves through the air by putting luggage or other things on top of it.
- Travel as light as you can. The more stuff you put in your car, the less gas mileage you will get.
- If you rent a car, you'll have to buy your own gas, so rent the car that uses the least gas.
- Keep your car windows closed. In the summer, air conditioning won't affect your gas mileage as much as open windows.
Gas prices are likely to keep going up for a long time, so use some of these tips to save money and protect the environment.
