According to our recent poll, the
rising cost of fuel has caused many families and individuals to
restrain from driving habits that we've been so accustomed to. Before
the fuel cost skyrocketed we wouldn't think twice about hopping in
our car for a 50 or 60-mile trip, perhaps to a zoo or other
recreational area for a leisurely Sunday outing with our families.
But by the statements of those who
responded to our poll, it appears that these leisurely drives are
being limited or in some cases, families are simply staying home
more.
In order to combat his high fuel
expense, M. Cooper from Saint Louis Mo, a consultant that drives
20,000 mile plus per year recently traded in his Ford Taurus for a
new Honda Civic that gets 41mpg.
Another consumer stated the fuel prices
have drastically changed their life style, they've quit going out to
dinner, going to the movies and even cancelled their vacation plans.
What once cost him 42.00 to fill up his truck, now cost $110.00. We
have a lot less money than we did before this all started. We've
drastically reduced the amount of driving, only when necessary and
have attempted to combine trips, we do not do any extra driving
unless it is for school or work, so we stay home much more and do not
have extra money NOW!
Matt Downer from Downers Grove,
Illinois seems to have at lease somewhat of a positive spin on the
situation. I've become a lot more in shape because I walk everywhere
or bike, I think it's a blessing in disguise, America is the most
obese country in the world and maybe this will slim it down a bit,
also a lot fewer fuel emissions if people don't drive the earth won't
die.
What ever your thoughts and opinions
are for the recent climb in prices, I think it's clear that until the
prices come down, the majority of the everyday working class people
will be forced to continue to deprive themselves of even the most
basic luxuries.
While we can't control the price per
gallon, we can at least follow a few basic guidelines and reduce our
cost, albeit a minimum amount, but at $3.00 per gallon, even a
minimum amount will help our pocketbooks.
Listed below are UsedCarWise.Com's
Top 10 tips for increasing your fuel mileage.
1. Set the tire pressure to the
recommend psi as per the tire placard or label of your vehicle.
(Always adjust tire pressure with cold tires)
2. Avoid excessive idling times, such
as warming your car up in the mornings (It serves no purpose anyway)
3. Instead of going thru the drive thru
at fast food chains, go inside to order. This will of course avoid
excess idling while in line.
4. Remove any excessive weight from the
trunk or bed of your truck (This doesn't include over weight spouses
either)
5. Remove luggage racks for aerodynamic
reasons.
6. Make sure the steering and
suspension system end is aligned properly, a mis-aligned steering
system will cause excessive drag and reduce fuel mileage.
7. Use Cruise Control while driving at
highway speeds.
8. Reduce your speed by 5mph, this may
be the biggest saver of all, and if you think about it, 5mph will not
get you to your destination much quicker. (Just be prepared for 1
finger hello's and horn honkers)
9. Make sure your vehicle is properly
maintained, especially the air filter. If your check engine light is
on, have it corrected as soon as possible, it could be a defective
sensor or other mechanical fault that will severely impact fuel
mileage. Always use the proper grade of engine oil as well, the wrong
grade can impact fuel mileage by 1% or more.
10. Avoid jackrabbit starts and
aggressive driving habits.
While the above tips may not be new,
they certainly bear not just repeating, but adhering to as well. And
with the cost of fuel at record highs, we need all the help we can
muster.
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