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Marshall, Missouri ~ Sunday, September 7, 2008
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Squeezing the most out of every last drop of gas
Posted Saturday, May 24, 2008, at 8:41 AM<< Previous | Read comments | Respond | Email link
The other day my wife, Amy, admitted that gas prices have gotten high enough that she's started driving with efficiency in mind. No more accelerating right up to the moment she applies the brakes.
Coasting is in. I got to feel a bit self-righteous about then. I'm a veteran of the late-1970s, early-1980s gas crunch. I was young and poor, generally had old, inefficient vehicles, and would savor each drop of gasoline like it was a fine and very ancient wine. And I never really got over it. I've always been a coaster. I'm not sure how much it helps, but I figure it can't hurt. We've got all this gravity laying around. Might as well put it to use, eh? There are, of course, other things besides coasting to save gas. If you're interested in getting every last mile, every last yard, every last foot and every last inch out of every last drop of gasoline, there are lots of tips floating around out there these days. Here are a few from Leon Schumacher, a University of Missouri professor of agricultural systems management specializing in fuel-economy research.
--Slow down. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Some truckers report up to a 25 percent increase in fuel economy when traveling at 60 rather than 70 mph. --Don't be an aggressive driver. Erratic speeding up and slowing down greatly reduces fuel efficiency. --Make sure you have clean air and fuel filters. Dirty filters choke off air and create a rich mixture so that the engine burns too much gas for the available amount of air. --Worn spark plugs cause misfiring, which wastes fuel. --Make sure your gas cap is on tight. Gas tanks with damaged or loose caps can lose fuel to evaporation. --Inflate your tires properly. Under-inflated tires may cost drivers a mile or two per gallon of gas. --Using cruise control can be an effective fuel saver on level but not hilly terrain. A typical motorist may lose 2 percent to 3 percent of fuel efficiency using cruise control on hilly terrain. It's a good idea to switch it on and off and allow your engine to take advantage of the terrain.
But Professor Schumacher might not be the last word on fuel savings. At least, Popular Mechanics has some advice to add, poking holes in a few myths about how to save a drop or two of precious gas:
Myth No. 1: Cold-Weather Fill-er-Ups Myth No. 2: The Clean Air-Filter Swap Myth No. 3: Going Premium Myth No. 4: Tire Inflation Myth No. 5: Cutting the A/C Myth No. 6: The Gadget Con Myth No. 7: Short-Stop Idling
http://www.popularmechanics.com/automoti...
I remember trying just about everything back in the old days. This time around, I'm going to stick mainly with coasting -- on my bike. Comments Showing comments in chronological order [Show most recent comments first] |
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there is also a way to reduce mpg of gas used,a great deal. Its proven and it costs 30 dollers or so depending on your car.
K and N washable air filters. Every single car ive ever had had this in it the second i bought my cars. My bigest saver a 99 chevy astro awd. Was getting 15 mpg. After the k N n filter it was 19 mpg.car now chevy impala went from 30 mpg to 34 mpg,ford escort zx2 from 35 mpg to 38.
kt_01,
Excellent advice. But I have a "but".
I highly recommend some research into this before investing in the K&N Filter. Some newer vehicles have very sensitive air/fuel mix sensors. Using the K&N can trigger the "check engine" light because it will affect the air/fuel mix. This is usually not an adjustable setting, and if you have your vehicle serviced by a dealer, they will likely take the thing out and throw it away.
Also, for the most effective use, it's more than just a matter of washing the filter. There is actually a special lubricant that is supposed to be applied to the filter as well after it is cleaned.
The K&N filter works for a lot of people. But depending on the actual make and model, it can fall under the "gadget con".
I had one more thought with reference to spark plug wires...
Once again, depending on the make and model, some vehicles can be as picky as a 5 year-old eatin' his veggies when it comes to aftermarket plug wires. I put a new parts store set on my guzzler and the stinking thing wouldn't hardly run, let alone get decent mileage. Took it to the dealer, had them replaced with factory wires, engine tuned right up and ran like a top--with a lot better mileage.
If you do this yourself, remember the auto parts "catch": Once you install it, it's yours. No returns usually.
Speaking of returns...I finally got my rebate check. I think I'm gonna invest it in 5 extra gallons of pusholine...
This doesn't necessarily fall under gas savings....but it is an energy savings tip nonetheless.
As we roll into the summer months those AC's and central air units will be firing up. I have found some savings by doing the following:
If you don't have new vinyl or insulated windows in your home, close your storm windows also...not just the inside windows (if you have storm windows that is.)
Open ALL the vents in ALL the rooms. Central air conditioning is not like heating in that it isn't as forced and ambient. CA works by drawing the heat out of your house...and the carpets and the furniture, etc. If you close the vents in an open room, that heat has to be drawn further through the system and your house to be removed.
When your AC or CA is running, go stand next to it. You should feel a very noticeable amount of heat coming out of it discharged outside. If you don't, get that thing serviced because it isn't working and you're just ticking the meter away.
Keep your filters and return air vents clean!! Dirty filters and clogged return vents add a lot of load to your system and severely decrease its efficiency. If you're mechanically inclined, pull the inspection cover off of your furnace housing to expose the A-coil. Make sure it is clean also. A dirty A-coil is an energy hog and it will be obvious if it needs cleaned--looks like hair growing on it:( It can also cause the freon lines to freeze up. If you're not comfortable with this, pay to have it done. Either way, make sure the ductwork around it is sealed tightly when you re-install the cover.
Programmable thermostats are pretty good money savers these days too, and relatively cheap. Set it a few degrees higher during the day if you're not home. You can program the fancy ones to kick the CA back on before you get back home:)
Remember, cold air falls. If you have a basement that isn't a living space, keep that door shut.
Last tip: Central air units create a lot of condensation. You'll note the drain line (usually a hose or a pvc line) that's constantly running water into a drain. This is perfectly natural. But those lines can crud up over time. If it does and that water backs up into your furnace, you could short out your blower motor and have a very expensive repair on your hands. This can also lead to rust and corrosion of vital parts of your furnace that you won't want to go bad when cold hits again.
Stay cool folks...and I hope we can all save a dime or two doing it!!