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With the most expensive unleaded petrol now at $3.00 a gallon, many motorists were horrified at how much it costs to fill up their tank. But there are ways of making gas go further. Here are some ideas on how to cut the cost of fuel:
Step 1:

Find your cheapest station. The difference between the most expensive and the cheapest price per liter can be as much as 5% or more. Some stations change their prices during the day to try to attract new customers at less popular times (some outlets drop their prices after 9 or 10 pm). Check it out! Some stations have a special one day a week (their slowest day). In many cities, radio stations let you know each day where the cheap prices are. You can find websites that claim to find the lowest prices in your area, but often these aren't updated frequently enough.

Step 2:

Pump up your tires. Under-inflated tires create more rolling resistance and so use more fuel. Go to your local gas station and use their pump - it is normally free. Usually, you can find the recommended tire pressures on a plate on you car door. Stay inside this recommendation.

Step 3:

Lose weight. Every extra 50kg (110 lbs) will increase your petrol consumption by an average of 2 percent, according to some British sources. So keep all your golf clubs - or anything else littering your boot - at home. Take out the winter kit when Spring comes. Get rid of the mega tool kit (when was the last time you needed it?) How much winter mud is married to your underbody...get down there and check.

Step 4:

Streamline. Roof racks and bicycle carriers create extra wind resistance and so increase fuel consumption. If you do not need it, take it off.

Step 5:

Turn off the air conditioning. It increases your petrol consumption by as much as 10 percent - so if it is only mildly warm, put the fans on or wind down your window. That said, if you are traveling over 60mph having the window down increases drag which increases your fuel consumption - so air conditioning would be better.

Step 6:

Stick to the limits. The faster you go, the more fuel you use. Driving at 70mph uses up to 9 percent more fuel than at 60mph and up to 15 percent more than at 50mph, according to transport authorities.

Step 7:

Change your oil. Clean oil reduces the wear caused by friction of moving engine parts, helping to improve fuel consumption. You should change the oil in a gasoline car once a year or every 7500 miles. For a diesel engine, it is recommended you change the oil every 6 months or 3000 miles.

Step 8:

Drive smoothly. Acceleration and deceleration are what use the most fuel - so try to slow down gradually at lights, avoid heavy braking and try not to rev too much. Anticipate. Think ahead. Pretend there is an egg between your foot and the gas pedal. Stop-and-go is a killer. Try to drive when the traffic is lighter. Go to work earlier and come home earlier as an example. Avoid rough surfaces. Gravel or heavy dirt surfaces can increase your fuel consumption by up to 30 percent - not to mention the affect on your paintwork. If there is a route involving smooth paved road, even if it is slightly longer, then take that.

Step 9:

Rather obviously... use your car less. Combine short trips - such as buying the paper, dropping off the recycling, or collecting the kids - rather than making multiple short trips. Walk...it's amazing who you might meet.

Step 10:

Get rid of the family tank. Fuel costs are on the rise and the time has come to really think about why you have a car. It is an appliance. Get the smallest and most fuel-efficient car you can find that works for your family numbers. If you can't control your ego, paint fire strips down the side.

Comments

Gas has now reached $4.00+ a gallon.

This will get worse and worse.......unless you are an environmentalist. We need new habits now and after 7 or 8 decades of "King Kar" in North America....our world is really going to change! Good points made here...I hope other folks send in some ideas too.

The best way to squeeze the most out of a tank ofgas ia:
!.keep your vehicle in good running condition,even dirty,and or old spark plugs can make a difference. Keep oil checked to make sure it's atthe proper level and clean enough.Keep your tires filled up enough and properly alligned.
2.Don't go too fast and keep your speed consistant.Going too fast eats up your gas just as speeding up and slowing down does,best to drive on the freeway.
3.Drive along side of a big truck it tends to cary your vehicle.
4.Use airconditioner as little as possible.
4.Put 6-10 mothballs to every gallon of gas.It stretches your gas.
5.Take the bus as much as you can.

I kept my suburban because it was paid for, but bought a Hyundai because it's so good on gas. Good tips.

"4.Put 6-10 mothballs to every gallon of gas.It stretches your gas."
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Not recommended! Mothballs are often paradichlorobenzene, not
naphthalene. The former would form HCl and oxychlorides upon combustion
which would be very corrosive to the engine cylinders. Even if it is
naphthalene, the ignition system whether old fashioned carburetor or new
fashioned solid state, is not "expecting" an aromatic hydrocarbon. The
fuel/air combustion mix is going to be very smokey and possibly foul up the
engine, the fuel injectors (if present), and make a mess of you catalytic
converter. Sounds like a good way to mess up an engine to me.

Vince Calder

source: http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/chem00/chem00485.htm
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Size can definitely help. Plus if you can drive a manual it is a good idea. We drive an old Nissan that is really small and it gets about 36 miles to the gallon with about half the miles in town and half on the freeway. We keep her maintenance up. The only problem is it has a small back seat and is only a two door. So, as my son gets older and his legs get longer, I find myself getting closer and closer to the dash!

Great tip on shopping around for the cheapest gas. GasBuddy.com is one of the sites you hinted at for checking prices in your area. It might not be 100% up to date, but there's a usually a trend where the cheaper gas stations continue to be a good deal.

Inflating the tires is the easiest tip in your list...in a similar category, make sure your front-end is aligned properly. Creates the same kind of rolling resistance as underinflated tires.
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bill