10 ways to save on gas
One of the things that worries me nowadays is the ever-increasing cost of gas. With spiralling world crude prices and the impending effect of the expanded VAT, we'll be spending a bigger chunk of our budget on gas.
Already, our gas consumption has practically doubled. My P500 used to go a long way, now it just buys me about half the mileage. So if you're a motorist like me, what can you do to save on gas? Here are 10 ways experts say can cut your gas consumption and stretch your money farther:
1. Don't be idle.I admit, I often let the engine run, with the airconditioning on, while waiting for my wife to get down from her office. Well, that's bad. It's actually more wasteful than restarting the engine. So, if you have to wait more than a minute, open the car windows and turn the engine off. In the same way, make your warm-ups short. Half a minute is long enough, so drive off.
2. Don't be fast and furious.Don't rev up your engine, even if you think you're Vin Diesel. And be gentle. However, with the kind of traffic -- and crazy bus, jeepney, and cab drivers -- we have, we end up slamming the brakes and accelerating too fast to catch up for lost time. But hard stops and fast starts waste fuel. So keep enough distance and don't tailgate, and keep your cool. Think of your gas and brake pedals like you're stepping on eggs -- accelerate and brake gently. Drive at a steady speed, fast enough but not too fast (I'm sure you can sense if you're working your engine too hard). But don't drive too slow either. And if you're driving an automatic, switch to overdrive when driving fast. If you're driving a manual shift car, switch to high gear when driving fast. And place the gear on neutral when at a stand still (instead of just stepping on your brake pedal). Driving right can improve fuel consumption by 5 to 10 percent.
3. Gas up properly.For one, be more conscious which gas station to patronize. The difference maybe just a few centavos per liter, but it adds up. I like Petron because pump prices are usually a bit lower than the Shell and Caltex. And this is new to me: buy gas at cooler hours, like early morning or at night, to reduce gas evaporation. Also, avoid buying higher octane gas than necessary. And try to fill 'er up to avoid water condensation (though some advise against this, as it adds to the weight). But don't overfill the tank to prevent evaporation.
4. Don't be a drag.If you're like me, your car can sometimes look like a trailer, with all sorts of stuff dumped in the backseat or trunk. Take out stuff you don't need. Every extra 100 pounds of excess weight reduces fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent. A joke: lose weight.
5. Use the A/C wisely.If you're driving in the countryside or the highway, you're not saving gas by shutting down the air condition and rolling down the windows for fresh air (if you're in Tagaytay, not EDSA). You're actually using up as much as 10 percent more gas due to air drag. But if traffic is stop-and-go, you can do that to save money. On second thought, you don't want to die from pollution or heat stroke. But early morning or at night, when it's cooler, and if traffic is light, you can switch it off and roll down your windows just a bit to let outside air in, without causing too much drag. Consider switching it off also when you're quite near your destination. And when you park, find a shaded area or get a windshield shade. That way, you don't have to turn the A/C at full blast. And if it's too hot inside, a greater amount of evaporative emissions take place.
6. Take care of your tires.Make sure your tires are properly inflated, otherwise it will take your engine more effort and energy to run. It's costly too, adding six percent to fuel consumption for every pound the tire is underinflated. And make sure they're properly aligned. When you have to replace your tires, consider steel-belted tires radial tires, which can increase gas mileage up to 10%.
7. Tune up.Get a regular tune-up (especially if your car is not exactly spanking brand new), as recommended by your car manufacturer (check the manual). That includes changing your oil and filters regularly, to keep the engine running smoothly. Poorly tuned engines increase fuel consumption by 10 to 20 percent.
8. Plan your trips.It's obvious, but you have to start planning your trips and your routes better. The less often you have to drive and the shorter the distance, the better. If you can join a car pool, do so. If the distance is just short, try walking. And if you can, avoid rush hour traffic by leaving earlier or later. You save gas, you save time, and it will keep you from going insane. And if your work allows you to telecommute a few days a week, that would be perfect.
9. Consider a more fuel-efficient car next time.If you're buying a new car, remember that automatic transmissions burn more fuel than manual ones. SUVs are obviously gas-guzzlers. Larger enginesburn more gas.
10. Reconsider buying energy-saving devices.
You've probably been tempted like me to buy energy-saving devices you've seen or read about, like the Khaos Super Turbo Charger. But do a little more research or ask from people who've bought devices like this. This blog
entry makes a convincing case against it.
Keeping these tips in mind should go a long way in saving you money and cutting your gas consumption.
