ALT-14 What you can do to Save Money on Gas
With fuel prices soaring, we all start looking for ways to save on the cost of the gasoline we all depend on to get us where we are going. While the obvious consumer tactics of price shopping or use of discounts earned through various consumer and credit cards, there are some things you can do to minimize your automobile costs.
The first thing everyone should do is analyze their vehicle use. Do you own a $45,000 SUV with a fuel hungry V-8 engine, oversize off-road tires and tons of accessories so you can make your 20 mile commute to work and pick up a few bags of groceries? The average 4X4 seven passenger SUV gets fuel mileage in the mid-teens...most minivans (with more room!) get over 20 MPG with greater flexibility in interior configuration and increased utility. How much serious off-roading are YOU doing? Are your winter roads really so bad that you need 4 wheel drive to get around? Would a smaller SUV or car fill all of your transportation needs? Have you looked into some of the Hybrid engine options that are becoming more readily available? Only you can perform this analysis based on your needs, family size, vehicle usage and your willingness to pay a premium to drive the kind of vehicle that you prefer.
The second area of concern should be your vehicle maintenance schedule. All manufacturers have a schedule in their ownership packages but still most of us have trouble keeping the oil changed. Regular oil and filter changes contribute to how efficiently your engine works. Air and fuel filters also have an effect, always keep them clean and changed regularly. If you do own a 4X4 the transfer case and front and rear differentials have fluids that should be changed regularly.
Fuel system cleaning is something else to consider. The fuel injectors can build up deposits as well as your combustion chamber. You can clean these with some types of products available over the counter, but a better way is to find a repair facility that offers a fuel induction service that includes cleaning injectors, combustion chamber and the throttle body (similar to carburetors). This service is usually priced from $99-$149 and is available at better service facilities. Tires need to be properly inflated, regularly rotated and balanced and the RIGHT TIRE for your vehicle and driving needs. You might like the big tire with the heavy tread-but these tires require more power from your engine to turn and will rob fuel economy!
So you can't control the cost of gasoline....but if you have the right vehicle for your needs and keep all of the maintenance up, you can go a long way to keeping your transportation cost down!
