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Tuesday, 12 April, 2011 8:46 PM
Rising
Gas Prices: Don't Panic, Get Perspective
Combat
High Prices by Following a Few Simple Steps from the Car Care Council
Photo
credit: www.ken-jennings.com
There
are several things you can do to lessen the burden of high
gas prices. |
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BETHESDA,
Md. -- Prices at the pump are moving upward in time for
spring and summer road trips. While many motorists may panic as
gas prices continue to rise, a little planning, perspective and
a few simple steps from the Car Care Council can go a long way to
combat the soaring price of fuel.
"It's
easy to be alarmed by the cost of gas, but when motorists take a
look at the big picture, they'll see that much of the increased
cost can be offset by adjusting driving habits and implementing
a proactive vehicle preventative maintenance plan," said Rich
White, executive director, Car Care Council. "Fuel economy
is related to vehicle maintenance, yet when gas prices rise, some
motorists think they can save money by putting off needed maintenance.
What they don't realize is that neglecting their vehicle can end
up costing more."
The Car
Care Council offers these gas-saving maintenance tips:
- Keep
your car properly tuned to improve gas mileage by an average of
4 percent.
- Keep
tires properly inflated and improve gas mileage by 3 percent.
- Replace
dirty or clogged air filters and improve gas mileage by as much
as 10 percent.
- Replace
dirty spark plugs, which can reduce mileage by two miles per gallon.
- Change
oil regularly and gain another mile per gallon.
Driving
behavior also impacts fuel efficiency. The council offers these
gas saving driving tips:
- Observe
the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 mph.
- Avoid
excessive idling. Idling gets zero miles per gallon. Warming up
the vehicle for one or two minutes is sufficient.
- Avoid
quick starts and stops. Aggressive driving can lower gas mileage
by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city.
- Consolidate
trips. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice
as much gas as one longer multi-purpose trip.
- Don't
haul unneeded items in the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk
reduces fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent.
"A
20 cent increase in the price of a gallon of gas results in roughly
$2 more per week the average commuter must spend," continued
White. "Simple, inexpensive maintenance and altering the way
you drive can save as much as $1,200 per year in gas, going a long
way to offset soaring fuel prices and keep more money in your wallet."
The Car
Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care
Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of
regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a
copy of the council's Car Care Guide, which is now available electronically,
or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.
Source:
Car Care Council
Related
Story: Five
Tips to Save Big Bucks When Buying a Car
Photo
credit: www.americanguardianwarrantyblog.com
Keep
your tires properly inflated to improve gas mileage by 3 percent.
Photo
credit: www.buzzle.com
Replace
dirty or clogged air filters and improve gas mileage by as much
as 10 percent.
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