ALT-24 What you can do to Save Money on Gas
The best way of all of saving money on gas is to not buy a car at all. Ask yourself do you really need a car. Can I use public transport. Can I use a bicycle.Can I walk. When you total up all the costs and not just gas purchases it could be far cheaper to go everywhere in a taxi rather than own a car over a given period of time.
If the answer is a resounding no and you must have a car then do your homework before you purchase a car. What may be the most economical car may also be the most expensive to insure and repair. Any savings on gas would be quickly eroded by those extra expenses .If you are trying to decide between a petrol or a diesel powered car then again do your homework. The extra money you spend on a diesel engine may take years to recoup from any savings to be made in lieu of a petrol engine. Similarly one of the main obstacles to overcome by the manufacturers of hybrid cars is the number of years it takes to recoup the extra cost of the vehicle from any savings to made on gas.
Once you have the car use it as little as possible. See if you can car pool with other car owners . Avoid short trips to the corner store by car if the distance is reasonable for you to walk. Make a list of things needed and places you need to visit before you leave the house.Plan the trip to do everything in one outing rather than several trips and plan each place to visit in order so that you don't have to back track .
Keep your car serviced and in top mechanical condition. A badly tuned engine, poor wheel alignment, brakes that are sticking , dirty air filter ,dirty fuel filter , worn spark plugs and allowing engine lubricants to go beyond the use by date all have the effect of making you use more gas than you need to. Ask yourself do I really need to carry that spare tire. How often has it been used. The more weight you can cut out carrying around in your car the better it is for economy. Get rid of as much weight as you can. While speaking about tires I suggest that you keep the inflated to the maximum pressure suited to your car as recommended by the tire manufacturer. Check water levels ,oil levels and tire pressures once a week.
Lastly examine your driving habits. "Haste makes waste" is a very true saying if you are inclined to speed off from stop signs ,red lights, speed along the highway , break suddenly and do not drive at a steady speed.
In the overall scheme of things it is hard to know what to believe when it comes to the world's oil supplies. Some experts say there is enough oil for the next twenty years. Some experts say there is enough for the next fifty years. What I do know is that gas is going to increase in price year by year. Any money to be saved by being frugal with gas is better off in my pocket than in the pockets of the oil companies.
