15 MAJOR WAYS TO SAVE GAS

Editorial Staff

As oil and gas prices remain high, several newspaper articles and TV news networks have introduced ideas to help consumers save gas and money. The Clarion Issue has looked and listened to many of these, taken the best ideas, and added a few of our own to help you, our loyal readers, make it through these tough times.

GET ANY “CHECK ENGINE” LIGHT CHECKED OUT This could be a faulty oxygen sensor, a fairly common cause of those unexplained “check engine” lights and can actually cost you up to 40 percent of your engine’s performance. If the light's on, get it checked now. It could pay for itself very quickly.

CHECK YOUR TIRE PRESSURE This point is on all short lists on saving gas. According to some government estimates, the average driver could boost their fuel efficiency by 25 percent just by keeping their tires inflated.

CHANGE YOUR AIR FILTER A clogged air filter can rob your engine of 10 percent of its efficiency. A new air filter can get that 10 percent back, usually for under $25. Check your lawnmower’s air filter too.

SLOW DOWN On the highway, stay close to the speed limit, and keep your speed as constant as traffic allows. Most cars reach optimal gas mileage at about 60 miles per hour. Speeding up increases wind resistance against the car, making the engine work harder and burn more gas. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), each 5 mph over 60 that you drive decreases fuel efficiency by up to seven percent. In town avoid speeding up rapidly after stops at red lights and stop signs and coast to stops. The EPA estimates that accelerating rapidly and braking hard can reduce your car's fuel efficiency by as much as five percent, and that may be a low estimate. Look at it this way, are you willing to spend money to stop at a red light sooner?

REGULATE THE A/C USE Some air conditioners rob an engine up to five percent of its fuel economy. There is some controversy about this one, many newer cars are able to compensate for the energy used by the air conditioner and do not suffer the same penalty for keeping the car cool. However, there is no need to blow the cold air past you with the fan on high if there is no one in the back seat. Do not use the ‘Maximum A/C’ in the early morning, late evening, night, or when weather conditions make it unnecessary to do so. There is no need to freeze to be comfortable.

KEEP YOUR ENGINE IN TUNE Most people can boost their car’s mileage by four percent with a simple tune-up.

GET RID OF EXTRA WEIGHT IN AND ON THE CAR A driver can save 13 gallons a year for every 100 pounds removed from the car of truck. Think about things in your trunk or truck bed: the two sets of golf clubs, the three 50 lb bags of dog food, the cases of water you will “bring in later.” Government estimates say that an extra 100 pounds in your car can reduce fuel efficiency by up to two percent. That is just an average; the smaller the car, the more extra weight makes the engine work harder. Also look at items outside your car, which add weight and cut wind resistance. Do you have a roof rack? Wind resistance is the enemy of fuel efficiency. Every time you drive it is making your car fight wind resistance and burn fuel. Most of the time, that is money you are spending to carry an empty roof rack. You could get a two percent boost by taking the thing off. You can always put it on when you need it. How much other stuff do you have on your car adding weight and negative wind resistance that could come off 95% of the time?

DO NOT IDLE YOUR CAR AT THE QUICK STOP Many people believe it cost more to turn a car off and on than to run it for a few minuets. That may have been true 20 years ago but not now. It is cheaper and safer to turn off the car for a quick errand into a Quick Mart than to run a car for three of four minutes.

CHANGE YOUR OIL ON TIME Changing your oil and oil filter when your car manufacture’s guide recommends you to do so (usually after 3,000 miles) and using the recommended grade gives you back one percent of your car's mileage rating. It will also extend the life of your car’s engine. Check the oil in your lawn mower too.

CARPOOL IF YOU CAN In a day when many people live more than 25 miles from where they work, carpools are a good way to save on gas and the wear and tear on automobiles. Here are a few tips for a successful carpool. Do not overload the car. Five adults in a compact car is a little extreme. A good carpool is usually three people. Agree on the rules: who will drive and when, will we stop for coffee, when do we leave for work and after work. Also remember to be flexible, unscheduled meetings do pop up; however, if you know you have a meeting and may run late, drive that day unless the rest of the pool is willing to stay late and catch up on paperwork.

COMBINE TRIPS AND MAKE A LIST When running errands combine trips to the store, dry cleaner, pharmacy, school, and other stops so you are not covering the same distance between home and the business areas of town more than necessary. When picking up the children from school or play, after asking about their day ask do they need anything (pencils, pens, poster board) or do they have any projects due (you may need to stop at the library). Make a list of stores you need to stop at, what you need to do, and the items you need to purchase. Mark the items off it as you accomplish it or buy the items. It would be bad to get home with the vodka, dry Martini wine, and realize you forgot the olives even though they were on the list; you just did not notice the olives on the list while you were in the store. Make the list, check it twice and remember to take it with you!

LOOK FOR TRIPS YOU DO NOT HAVE TO MAKE AND CUT THEM OUT Do you have a left over post office box you have to check three times a week even though your mail is now delivered to your home? Is the PO box an absolute necessity or have you just not got around to doing all the change of address paperwork? How many things do we have hanging in our daily or weekly routines that are carryovers and could be altered to conserve fuel? At over $3.50 a gallon it may be worth trying out a new dry cleaner, dance school, closer to home or even a new church if you really drive a long distance for that special service.


KEEP STAPLES AND SUPPLIES HANDY This includes more than dog food, rice, macaroni and cheese, and those little packs of cheese crackers or potato chips that go in the kids lunches every day that go in the pantry. Think of what do I have to make a 6:00 run to the store once a week for that I could buy on my weekly trip to the shopping center and save money on both gas and the price of the item. Items such as school supplies: pencils, pens, paper, folders, and other items could be kept in a box near where your children do their homework and ready for home or school use. Don’t forget the ‘surprise’ “I need poster board for a project due tomorrow” refrain. Have poster board, markers, and project supplies handy also.

DO NOT WASTE GAS GOING HOME If you are taking a child to a dance or karate lesson, sports practice, or some other activity stay and read a book. If you have other children read to or with them or take a ball or toy and play with them. This could be good ‘our time’ for you and your children. If you have to cook, become a master of crock-pot cooking for those days when you may be late getting home. Crock-pot cooking is easy and even saves on the home energy bill.

USE A SPOUSE FOR QUICK STOP ITEMS Today with cell phones and other quick methods of communication, it is easy to communicate with anyone anytime. If you see you need a gallon of milk or a loaf of bread call your spouse and have them stop at the local quick stop and pick it up as they pass it on the way home. You can save a trip, time, and a gallon of gas by doing so.

These are just a few ideas we saw in the various sources on the web and a few the staff discussed. If you have any you would like to add feel free to do so.