By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard
Soaring fuel costs have hit Americans broadside, to say the least, and have forced many to make some major changes in their driving habits. With prices hovering near $3 per gallon, any advice on how to conserve fuel is welcome.
Many people have already visited the Internet for information, but for those who don’t have Internet access, here are some tips downloaded by County Executive Kenneth Roger’s administrative assistant Charlotte McGregor, which Rogers recently provided to county department heads in an effort to help them cut back on fuel costs.
Rogers hopes this information will prove valuable to local citizens trying to reduce their own visits to the gas pump.
Regular servicing — Keep your vehicle well maintained with regular servicing to keep it operating at peak efficiency. An inefficient engine, one with fouled spark plugs for example, won’t make optimum use of fuel. Be sure air and fuel filters are clean. A new oxygen sensor alone can improve gas mileage by 15 percent, according to an AutoZone representative.
Keep tires inflated – This may seem simple, but it is effective. Having tires inflated to the maximum recommended pressure can improve gas mileage by as much as 6 percent, while periodic wheel alignments can help improve fuel economy up to 10 percent, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Clean out that trunk, cargo area, or pickup bed — Another simple measure. Extra weight decreases gas mileage. According to AutoZone, every 200 pounds of unnecessary weight shaves one mile per gallon off your fuel mileage.
Change your driving style — Accelerate gradually, drive smoothly and with care and you could see as much as a 20 percent gain in fuel economy compared with what you’d get with an aggressive driving style. Skip those jackrabbit starts and sudden pedal-to-the-metal maneuvers if you want to save gas. Anticipate stops so you avoid sudden braking, and take a long view of the road ahead, coasting safely to an intersection in front of you where you see traffic stopped.
Don’t speed — A car or truck moving at 55 miles an hour can get about 15 percent better fuel economy than the same car going 65 mph. Use your vehicle’s navigation system, if you have one, when you travel to new locales. This can save you from getting lost and wasting gas.
Drive smart — Don’t be idle too long. Don’t waste fuel by sitting in that drive-thru lane. Park and go inside instead. Don’t let your vehicle idle as you sit outside your child’s school when you pick them up. Idling engines use more fuel than turning the engine off, waiting for your child, and then restarting the engine.
Cut back on air conditioning — When you’re in slow city traffic, keep the air conditioner off, if possible. Roll down the windows and open the air vents to keep you and your passengers comfortable. Even though the difference is slight, it does improve mileage a bit.
Plan ahead — Combine your errands into one trip, rather than making multiple trips from home. Organize your stops so they are near each other so you don’t have to retrace your path. You may even be able to park in one central spot and walk between some of your stops rather than driving and parking at each one. For large gatherings, like a family picnic or reunion, organize a carpool. Plan your trips so you go out during less-congested times of day. When there’s less traffic you are more apt to drive smoothly.
Note weather effects — Bad road and weather conditions have an effect too. Driving in a 20-mph headwind can reduce fuel economy by 6 percent. Driving up a mountain road with a 7 percent grade can cut fuel economy by as much as 25 percent. Driving on gravel or slush and snow requires a bit more fuel too.
By themselves, these ideas may not seem to make much of a difference, but add them all together and you can end up with a significant fuel savings, and these days, every gallon counts, by almost $3.
