| Except for the selection of the car itself, most | | | | Wal-Mart and Target have online stores. Of |
| tips on saving fuel will not save that much by | | | | course, be careful that the shipping on the item |
| themselves on a day-to-day basis. However, | | | | doesn't offset the fuel you save. Sharing errands |
| combining several tips with time can result in | | | | with your neighbors and carpooling to and from |
| significant weekly, monthly, and annual savings, | | | | work can save a lot.6. Automobile Maintenance: A |
| depending on the type of car you drive, the way | | | | properly maintained car tends to operate more |
| you drive it, how often you drive it, and where | | | | efficiently than one that is not. Tune-ups and |
| you drive it. Almost anyone should be able to cut | | | | regular oil changes both can contribute to |
| fuel costs dramatically by implementing as many | | | | increased fuel savings. Synthetic motor oils can |
| of the following tips as possible.1. Driving Habits: As | | | | contribute to more efficient engine operation and |
| a general rule, speed probably has the most | | | | last longer, thus saving on fuel costs while |
| effect on fuel economy. Most cars today begin to | | | | decreasing maintenance costs. Learning to do such |
| lose fuel effeciency significantly once you pass 55 | | | | simple things yourself as oil changes can also save |
| mph. The faster you go, the faster the fuel goes. | | | | a lot of money if you have been paying someone |
| If you have the option of driving 65 mph or 75 | | | | else to do them. Such simple things as changing |
| mph, for example, you will use over 20% more | | | | air filters and worn belts can also increase engine |
| fuel by driving the higher speed. You will drive a | | | | efficiency, thus contributing to fuel economy.7. |
| little longer going the slower speed, but the overall | | | | Alternative Transportation: Let's face it. Walking |
| savings can be anywhere from $5 to $10 per | | | | and bicycle riding have been common forms of |
| extra hour the trip takes. While this might not be | | | | transportation in other countries for years. Not |
| much of a savings on the next trip to grandma's | | | | only that, if you have been wanting to start an |
| house, people who drive a lot can save a lot | | | | exercise or weight loss program, what better |
| simply by slowing down, leaving earlier, and | | | | way than to make it a part of your daily activities |
| planning an effective route.One driving habit which | | | | such as the trip to and from work or the grocery |
| burns fuel, but which seems to be common is | | | | store which is a mile or so away? Public |
| rapid acceleration, staying on the gas until the last | | | | transportation such as intra-city rail lines and buses |
| minute, and then slamming on brakes. My wife | | | | can not only save money and fuel as your vehicle |
| and I often comment on the number of people | | | | is no longer sitting in the line of traffic, but the |
| who get to the red light ahead of us. Professional | | | | time that you would have to spend controlling |
| truck drivers often increase their fuel economy | | | | your vehicle is now given back to you. A few |
| by "playing the lights", that is, watching what is | | | | years ago, my wife got tired of commuting 45 |
| happening with the traffic lights ahead, and | | | | minutes each way, sitting in creeping traffic for |
| beginning to slow down when the light turns red, | | | | most of the time feeling frustrated and battling |
| rather than running up and braking rapidly. It | | | | road rage...hers and the other drivers'. She tried |
| requires less fuel to speed a moving vehicle back | | | | the bus for a week and not only saved money |
| up than it does to accelerate from a full stop, and | | | | on fuel costs, but arrived at work and back at |
| less fuel is burned approaching the light or | | | | home rested and calm. She soon had a small |
| intersection if the car begins slowing sooner.2. | | | | collection of books and tapes that went with her |
| Tires: Properly inflated tires, in addition to being | | | | for entertainment and relaxation on the trip.8. |
| safer than under or over inflated tires, can save | | | | Hybrids: It is obvious that choosing a fuel efficient |
| fuel. Use a tire gauge and check the tire for the | | | | car is one of the first and most important steps |
| proper inflation pressure. A tire, particularly a | | | | that can be taken in saving on fuel costs. Many |
| radial, can be badly under inflated and still appear | | | | companies are already producing hybrid vehicles |
| normal. Proper inflation will also help insure the | | | | which can produce fantastic saving compared to |
| longest life for your tires, saving you the costs of | | | | the fuel consumption of standard cars. While |
| early and frequent replacement, and saving the | | | | day-to-day driving results are not as good, test |
| environment in terms of the energy and | | | | vehicles have achieved over 70 mpg in city |
| resources needed to produce those extra tires.3. | | | | driving, the type of driving that eats fuel up. For |
| Use Higher Gears: This might not be of particular | | | | those who can't let go of their SUV or high-end |
| importance to those driving automatic | | | | vehicle, Lexus has entered the hybrid market as |
| transmissions, but getting a car up to cruising | | | | has Ford, which has a broad selection of hybrid |
| speed and putting it in the highest effective gear | | | | vehicles to choose from.9. Alternative Fuels: Much |
| available uses a lot less fuel. Beware, however, | | | | research is being done on fuels such as natural |
| accelerating too quickly. Shoving the pedal to the | | | | gas, ethanol, bio-diesel, hydrogen and hydrogen |
| floor in an effort to get to cruising speed quickly | | | | fuel cells. These show much promise for the |
| can, particularly with older cars, push more fuel | | | | future although they are not as commonly |
| through the system than is needed, resulting not | | | | available as gasoline, which can be used in hybrid |
| only in increased fuel use, but in fouling of the | | | | cars which are on the market today. Eventually, |
| engine due to build ups from partially combusted | | | | however, some of these technologies will be |
| fuel.4. Air Conditioning: We all used to drive with | | | | refined to the point where it becomes |
| the windows down, all the time. Use your air | | | | economically feasible to consider using them |
| conditioner when it is needed, and you could save | | | | regularly.The author is retired from the Army |
| a couple miles per gallon.5. Planning and Sharing: | | | | after 21 years of service, has worked as an |
| Planning any trip can result in fuel savings. | | | | accountant, optical lab manager, restaurant |
| However, many people overlook the short trips | | | | manager, over-the-road longhaul truck driver and |
| to the mall, the cleaners, and the bakery. Maybe | | | | truck driving instructor. He has been a member of |
| some of these trips can be combined into one | | | | Mensa for several years, and has written and |
| rather than several which require you to leave | | | | published poetry, essays, and articles on various |
| your house, for example, and get to your | | | | subjects for the last 40 years. His experiences as |
| destination and then return home from where | | | | a longhaul truck driver who owned his own truck |
| you begin your next trip. Shopping online is also | | | | led him to follow-up on various methods of saving |
| becoming more popular, and many things from | | | | money on operating costs while prolonging the life |
| televisions to cell phone service to groceries can | | | | of his equipment. |
| be ordered on line. Many retailers such as | | | | |