<p>I admit I like driving- generally, except in Bellevue ( where every other vehicle is a Hummer or a Navigator ) , and except on long trips in freeway traffic, and in cities where I am unfamiliar, and where there are alot of one way streets & I can’t make a left turn, and…</p>
<p>But I have been trying to consolidate my trips, which saves time * and * gas. I also turn my car off when idling at a bridge or a train ( and I guess I better take the bike rack off my car)</p>
<p>Plus while H " has to" put premium gas in his car ( still don’t know if I think that it is necessary), I am very smug to walk or ride the bus where I can.</p>
<p>There is a method of increasing gas mileage called hypermiling. It involves increasing the tire pressure of your car’s tires to the maximum allowed by the manufacturer. Has anyone tried that one? I am unsure how it affects safety.</p>
<p>Really. Anticipate traffic lights, leave a good following distance, don’t go over 55, go faster down hills to help you get up speed for the incline, don’t use cruise control, have correct tire pressure and replace oil as expected.</p>
<p>I used to have a plymouth voyager that had an overhead console that not only had a compass and temp gauge, but it would show your current fuel usage,I would make a game out of trying to improve it.</p>
<p>I sure miss the compass, the one I have now is much harder to read.</p>
<p>( that could be another way to save gas- don’t get lost!)</p>
<p>^^ My Chrysler Town & Country has that MPG gauge and I’m constantly watching it. Although I do get pretty pitiful mileage overall, it is fun to try and improve it as much as I can!</p>
<p>I have seriously slowed down. I was a believer in getting somewhere as fast as I could (and have the tickets to prove it). Now I am a center lane driver and sometimes even occupy the right lane!</p>
<p>I really don’t do anything to attempt to save gas while I’m driving. With the majority of my driving it would make little real difference and besides, I’d rather enjoy my driving. </p>
<p>The article indicated to ‘turn off the A/C’. This is generally of little value on modern cars with a savings of probably less than 1mpg.</p>
<p>Properly inflated tires, change oil and oil filter on schedule. The filters are there for a reason and if they’re clogged it makes the engine work harder. Change cabin filter when necessary. Use a/c and keep windows closed (aerodynamics). Don’t carry any extra weight more than necessary (ie, don’t use the trunk or back of the van like a mini storage on wheels). Plan your trips/route (go to post office on way to work, bank on way home, etc, avoid getting home only to go back out for something you forgot). Go to movie theater closest to house. Walk/bike whenever possible (good for both gas mileage and losing weight - which is also good for gas mileage!).</p>
<p>“Do ‘slider’ parking. Makes it easier to take off. This may involve parking farthest from the store entrance - but hey walking is good for you.”</p>
<p>I have always done this. I hate it when I am exiting and I am behind a car that is waiting for a close parking space.</p>
<p>You slide in a parking spot such that when you have to go, you don’t have to back out in reverse.</p>
<p>The suggestion of riding slip stream is also very dangerous. In the wake of air stream the pressure is low, and if you encounter high pressure bubble you could lose control. Have you noticed that when on a two lane road, how your car shakes when a fast moving vehicle on the opposite lane passes you?</p>
<p>His talk of buying Arco gas is also a nonsense. First of all, Arco is cash and debit only. There are many credit cards that give you 5% discount on gasoline so that makes it about even. Second the techron and V-Power are just not buzz words. Those stuff really work. The additives are differentiators between Chevrons, Exxons and Shells. I used to work for an oil company and I have seen the tests of using discount gas and name brand gas. The gunk build up on your valves or the gum in your fuel injectors using discount gas is quite high. You pay now or you pay later.</p>
<p>Over inflating is not very good either. He says that it will reduce the contact area between road and tire. That may not make much difference on a dry pavement, but on a wet pavement you also lose traction.</p>
<p>I am a cheap-skate. cheap-skating is my hobby, but when it comes to safety I don’t take any chances. I never buy discount tires. Always Michellins. Remember tires are the only thing between you and the road.</p>
<p>Recently, I saw on a TV show that Tires have a shelf life - about 12 years. After that the ‘glue’ starts deteriorating. In UK they can not sell new tires that are more than 6 year old.</p>
<p>You can find out the age of your tires. Every tire has an imprint (birth certificate) of when it was manufactured. Look for a four digit number that will be in the same line as DOT and some other numbers (some manufacturers put this on the inside wall). The first two digits represent the week of the year and last two digits represent the year. So a number 2506 would mean the tire was manufactured in the 25th week of 2006. Always check this number when buying tires. If you buy tires from a high volume dealer, this should not be that big of a concern.</p>
<p>Simba, can you elaborate on what actions you take in furtherance of being a cheap-skate. I view this as a positive personal trait and have been trying to move further in this directions but not with as much success as I would like. I view this as a positive trait because being a cheap-skate can mean more money to put into savings. Saving and investing is something I also view as a positive personal characteristic.</p>
Yes, and not to mention that you’ll destroy your suspension system over time. The tires are the first part of a car’s suspension system… if you make them rock hard then you’re passing on all those vibration and bumps directly onto the rest of the car thus making it do more work than it was designed to do. </p>
<p>The old “don’t use the AC to save gas” myth is also a load of nonsense. In fact, at higher speeds (e.g. highway driving) you’d probably use less gas with the AC than with your windows open since opening the windows places a huge amount of drag on the vehicle.</p>
<p>Turning off the AC will result in higher mileage. But only if you leave the windows up. The aerodynamic drag of open windows uses about the same amount of energy and reduced fuel efficiency as running the AC with the windows up. So take your pick.</p>
<p>Open window will also increase the noise level, ruin your hair (more shampoo).</p>
<p>Razorsharp: I don’t do anything in particular. I pay premium for safety, food and health stuff. But basically, I reduce my ‘wants’ and try to buy my needs. In addition, I don’t buy anything on credit card unless I have the money to pay in full. I use different credit cards depending up on the kick-back %. Since I pay in full it is free money. Do more on-line shopping.</p>
<p>I try to shop harder for big ticket items. For airline tickets, car rentals and hotels I look for deals way far in advance. For example, For 08 all of my son’s airline tickets have been purchased. Even for airlines, I like airlines like Southwest. They don’t charge for changing dates, only the current fair in effect.</p>
I did not.</p>