ALT-9 What you can do to Save Money on Gas
Recently, automobile gas mileage regulation was adjusted for an average fuel economy of 35 miles per gallon. Automakers have until 2020 to fully implement this change. This means there are a few years to bridge the gap and the single most effective way to save money on gas is not to drive followed by owning a highly fuel efficient vehicle. However, for many people this is not the simplest and most cost affective solution. For this reason one has to assess things like geography, vehicle type, fuel, lifestyle, driving habits etc. to find ways to save on gas. Believe it or not, there are a few things that can be done to save on gas money.
-If one lives in a major city with a strong public transportation system this is an excellent way to save on gas if the cost of the public transportation is lower than the gas costs that would be incurred driving. Some city buses offer free transportation on days with high ozone alerts to reduce emissions and metros are very efficient and timely where available.
-Carpooling is another good choice. Carpooling networks can be found on the Internet www.erideshare.com and carpoolworld.com are two of several online carpool searches. This can be a fun and cost saving way to save on gas.
-If there are ethanol stations in one's city, all cars can handle a 10% ethanol content. This will increase a cars fuel economy as the ethanol will add mileage to one's vehicle gas consumption.
-Another way to save money is by driving consistently. Not starting and stopping abruptly, accelerating through yellow lights, overtaking other cars, idling etc. all improve a vehicles gas consumption. Also, limiting driving time by combining errands into one or trips a week will limit car use and gas mileage.
-Vehicle features like tire pressure, aerodynamics, windows, cruise control, and gear shift timing also all affect consumption on gas through altering the amount of friction a vehicle is exposed to.
-Auto maintenance such as oil changes and tune ups will not only help extend the life of one's vehicle but also improve engine performance and therefore gas mileage.
The more of the above things one does, the better one's chances of saving money on gas. Changes in technology could bring improvements in gas mileage sooner rather than later, but in the meantime good sense and practicing some fuel economy tips could help one save a little extra money, help the environment and improve the life of one's vehicle.
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