Here is some fuel saving advice to help you reduce the cost of driving and lower your utility bills. We will be looking at ways to lower your cost of driving your car or truck first and then some fuel saving tips to help reduce your electric bill or your cost of heating your home each month.
1. Don't Drive - walk. Let's be honest. We, as Americans, are lazy for the most part. I know many people who will get in their car and drive to the store which is only four blocks away.Why not just put on a good pair of walking shoes and stroll to the grocery store and get your snacks or whatever. If you are not running the car engine,you are saving fuel.
In the same light, if it is a little too far to walk, then ride a bike. Same principle. You will be getting needed exercise, save on wear and tear of your vehicle and you definitely will save on fuel.
2. Watch Your Driving Habits. When starting your vehicle, let it warm up just enough so it will not stall in traffic. Usually a 2 minute warm up is sufficient.
When stuck in traffic, shut your engine down. Anything over 1 minute in stalled traffic warrants turning off the engine. You will save fuel and avoid carbon build up.
Don't be a Leadfoot. My wife is on me about this one. When the light turns green, I "floor" the accelerator until the next stop. Best fuel saving advice is to start out smoothly and accelerate slowly. When coming to a stop, anticipate the traffic light and let gravity and drag slow you down. You will save on brakes and the deceleration will give you traveling distance without the consumption of wasted fuel.
Drive the Speed Limit. For fuel saving advice, this one is classic. According to AAA, "the biggest fuel saver is driving the speed limit and driving sensibly.
Rapid starts and stops and exceeding the speed limit will dent your pocketbook. Just by adhering to one of those, the Department of Energy estimates that drivers can save anywhere between 15 and 98 cents a gallon, again assuming pump prices are at $2.97 a gallon.
Maintain Proper Tire pressure. Make sure your tires are properly inflated for starters. Besides posing a safety hazard, underinflated tires can reduce your fuel economy slightly, based on Edmunds.com's 2005 study.
Removing excess weight from your car can also help save you gas. The Department of Energy estimates that drivers can save anywhere between 3 and 6 cents a gallon (assuming gas prices of $2.97 a gallon) just by removing those golf clubs and other unnecessary weight from your trunk.
Use Cruise Control. If your car comes equipped with cruise control, make sure you use it, especially on long trips. Edmunds.com's study revealed that using cruise control at highway speeds offered an average fuel economy savings of 7 percent.
3. Fuel Additives and Devices. This one brings on a lot of debate. According to Consumer Reports, "There have been additives, special magnets and even a pill that has promised to improve a car's fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent in some cases.
While the promise of stretching your gas dollars seems awfully lucrative, especially when they cost under $20, most of these products provide a negligible, if any, improvement in fuel efficiency, said Rik Paul, the automotive editor for the publication Consumer Reports.
Consumer Reports and the government's Environmental Protection Agency, have tested dozens of these products finding that none of them offer any significant improvement in fuel economy.
"With all the pressure car companies are under, if one of these inexpensive devices dramatically did improve fuel economy, they (automakers) would be all over it," said Paul.
However, there are others who would strongly disagree. Some additives have demonstrated good results and have some credible testimonies to back up the claims. Along with additives, the hot product on the market for 2007 is the hydrogen generator or HHO generator such as found with Water4gas or SaveFuel.
A very thorough website that deals with the topic of fuel additives and devices is Tony's Guide to Fuel Saving Very informative and will definitely ruffle a few feathers.
If you have any information or input regarding fuel saving additives or devices, both negative and positive, I would love to hear from you. Also, any other fuel saving advice that you have, please let me know.
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