How long is your commute to work? Are you starting to see a rise in costs to commute? The average roundtrip commute can last anywhere from 1 to 3 hours a day. During this time your car is on and burning gas (unless you have a hybrid or electric car). With the price of oil pushing up the price of gas you can expect to pay an average of $60 to $100 dollars per week on gas. Not to mention the cost of maintenance. The cost of regularly scheduled oil changes and other needs will vary based on the type of car you drive.
With gas prices at or near $4 a gallon, saving money at the pump is becoming more complicated and frustrating. People are now looking at other ways to save money in order to compensate for the rising gas prices. A report by AAA predicts that “fewer drivers will take to the road throughout the summer months. Consumers are stuck with high fuel prices, higher airfares and a softening economy."
Maintaining Proper Fuel Efficiency
Are you willing to make a few minor changes in order to save on gas and increase fuel efficiency? Would you rather resort to pawning/selling household items or donating blood/plasma to compensate for the rising gas prices? By taking some time to properly maintain your vehicle, you can protect it and avoid losing 3% to 10% in fuel efficiency. When a vehicle is properly maintained and well-tuned it will use less gas. Set a reminder quarterly to change your oil and air filters. Also, check your tires and keep them properly inflated.
Here are a few ways experts have suggested to save money at the pump:
- Listen to the professionals…The US Department of Energy has reported that when you run errands, several short stop and go trips can use twice as much fuel as a fewer longer, multipurpose trips. Also, when taking road trips try to pack light. A heavy loaded roof rack on your car can reduce fuel economy by about 5%. This is compared to packing your load outside the car instead of inside. Because, for every 100 pounds you carry inside your car can reduce your car's fuel efficiency by up to 2%.
- Skip the premium fuel...Unless you drive an expensive high-end sports car that states that you can only use premium fuel, you should forgo the expensive gas and use Unleaded or if you must, use mid-grade fuel.
- Keep in mind that properly maintaining your vehicle is one of the most important things you can do to help achieve high fuel efficiency. Engine problems can decrease fuel economy by 4% to 6%, whereas forgetting to change your air filter or driving with a clogged filter, you can lose around 10% fuel efficiency.
By following these suggestions, you can get better gas efficiency from your car and hopefully keep more green in your pocket!
