Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Here's How You Can Save Gas
The price of gasoline has increased more than 70 cents in the last year alone. Listed below are the most important myths and truths to saving gas and money.
5 Gas Saving Myths
Keep buy Ritalin windows up and AC off to avoid drag
It's been rumored that keeping your windows down while driving increases the drag on your car and therefore uses more gas. It has also been said that using the AC in your vehicle empties your gas tank Both of these ideas are myths, and have home owners insurance quotes effect on your gas tank. Consumer Reports performed a study and found that using your air conditioning while driving decreases your fuel efficiency by less than 1 mile a gallon, and having the windows down affects your efficiency even less.
Restarting your car uses more gas than idling
If you are going to be idling for a minute or more, it's much more cost effective to turn your engine off - since most vehicles these days have fuel injection systems. Ftc.gov says by avoiding excessive idling you can save up to 19 percent, as well as cutting down on pollution.
Fill Your Tank when it's more than half full
Some believe that if you fill up your gas tank before it reaches the half way point, it will eliminate some of the vapors in the tank which evaporate. NBC debunked this myth, stating "Your gas tank has a very tight fitting cap, it's a locking cap and it creates a vacuum in your tank and your system, it doesn't really allow air to circulate inside of your tank."
Fill up your tank during the coolest part of the day
The idea is the gas tanks are stored underground, so the cooler it is the more dense your gas will be and the more gas you'll get for your dollar. MSNBC researched this idea and found that temperature has little to no effect on the amount of fuel you are getting. It is more important to observe the price of gas than the time of day or temperature.
Purchase the most expensive type of gas and you will get more miles to the gallon.
The higher octane gas you buy the better fuel efficiency you'll get - right? Wrong. While some old cars or ones with high rev engines require a higher octane fuel, most vehicles do not and you can generally use regular unleaded fuel. Make sure to check out your manual and purchase the least expensive gas your car takes. Otherwise, you will be pouring money down the drain, or into your tank. ABC News says all gas, brand name and no name, comes from the same refineries so don't pay attention to the brand either.
5 Gas Saving Truth
Don't keep heavy things in your trunk
By keeping your trunk clean and removing heavy items, the Department of Energy estimates you can save 3 to 6 cents a gallon.The Environmental Protection Agency or EPA suggests putting items inside of your car or trunk instead of on the roof to reduce drag.
Use Cruise Control when possible
The Daily Green says average car insurance of the best ways to save gas is to use cruise control. Avoiding the increase in speed that can gradually happen on a commute saves money, and needing to slow down more often wears out your brake pads.
Don't keep your car out in the sun
Park your vehicle under a tree or building and consider a windshield shade to block out the heat. Jim Kliesch, research associate at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and vehicle analyst for GreenerCars.com says" If you let your car bake in the sun there's going to be a greater amount of evaporative emissions that take place than if you park in the shade."
Don't top your gas tank off when filling up
The EPA gives several reasons for not topping off your gas tank at the pump. One reason is you end up paying for gasoline that is most likely fed back into the station's tank because yours is full. The second reason is because fuel needs space to expand, so the excess gas will generally be evaporated into the car's vapor collection system.
Keep the ice and snow off your car
Planetgreen.com suggests scraping your entire car off on those winter mornings, not just your windshield. The extra snow and ice can easily add up in weight and reduce your fuel efficiency. Keep your entire car scraped off, and you won't have to worry about decreasing your fuel efficiency.
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