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This is going to be a forum where I’ll be discussing my tips and tricks of the auto industry trade. I’m gonna try to keep things relevant, current and generally interesting. Feel free to post your questions or comments, and I’ll be glad to respond. Together we’ll make your vehicle experience a better one.
To start things off, I wanted to post an article I think we can all appreciate around tax season. It’s on saving money. Gas money, specifically. These are some simple tips that can really make a difference. And these days, any extra money I can save I’m glad for. The article is from http://www.ehow.com but the information came from one of my more trusted vehicle buying resources, http://www.edmunds.com.
10 Ways to Save Gas
By Emily Patterson, eHow Contributor
The best way to save money on gas is to carpool. However, there are many other ways to save on gas. In addition to saving money, when you change habits to save on gas, you increase the resale value of your car, because most of the ways to save on gas either reduce mileage or improve performance of your vehicle.
1. Regular Oil Changes
o Get your oil changed every 3,000 miles or more frequently. Make sure the garage where you have your oil changed uses the type of oil that is recommended in the owner's manual of your car. Motor oil is a lubricant for the parts in the engine. Fresh oil increases gas mileage by reducing friction in the motor.
2. Alignment
o Potholes, snowy conditions, drag and pull from rain and puddles can cause the front end of your car to become out of alignment. When the car is out of alignment, there is more friction on the tires. When you have your oil changed, ask your mechanic to check the alignment. Improper alignment also leads to uneven wear on the tires. Your tires will last a lot longer by maintaining proper front-end alignment.
3. Tire Inflation
o Purchase a tire pressure gauge and check the inflation of your tires. The proper pressure for your tires will be printed on the side wall of the tires. Under- or overinflated tires require more power to turn due to additional friction. Maintaining proper tire inflation also decreases wear on the tires, so you will need new tires less often.
4. Combine Trips
o Do errands in one trip. Use a grocery list to make sure you get everything you need at one time instead of running to the store a few times a week. Plan stops at the grocery store on the way home from work or when returning from scheduled activities that are close to the store.
5. Driving Habits
o Accelerate slowly from a stop such as a red light or stop sign. Plan ahead for hills so that you have a higher speed before inclines and take your foot off the gas for declines. Reduce the amount of time your foot puts pressure on the gas pedal.
6. Lowest Price Gas Station
o Watch gas prices at all of the gas stations you pass regularly. You will notice that when gas prices increase, one station in your area will usually be the last one to increase their prices. In addition, some gas stations offer a few cents off per gallon for a cash price as compared to a credit price.
7. Short Engine Warmups
o Reduce the time spent warming the engine or idling. During most of the year, a 20- to 30-second warmup is all that his required to lubricate the engine. However, during colder winter months a longer warmup is necessary.
8. Route Planning
o Plan the route to your destination based on the number of stops, turns, hills and distance. The shortest distance is usually the one with the best gas mileage. However, if a route is only a few miles longer without traffic lights and stop signs, it may give you better gas mileage. To find the route that uses the least amount of gas, change routes for one week and monitor your gas.
9. Air Filters
o Replace the air filter in your car when you have the oil changed. You can do this simple task yourself and avoid a mechanic fee. Check the owner's manual for the air filter needed for your car. If you do not have the owner's manual, a salesperson at a local auto parts store will be able to tell you which air filter is needed by looking up the make, model and year of your car.
10. Remove Excess Weight
o Remove all unnecessary weight from the car. On the inside, remove any extra items in the car from the passenger area and trunk. On the outside, remove luggage or other types of utility racks that are not in use. In addition to saving gas by reducing weight, removing exterior racks will reduce wind drag, which decreases gas mileage.
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