By Deborah Cross- Extension Agent
Driving everyday to and from work and even driving across Louisiana I see gas prices are falling in most places. But with our economy that way it is we still need to search for ways to save on our gasoline bill for other financial needs.
Maybe the best way to save at the gas pump is to change our driving habits and maintaining our car. Now I am not going to nag you about driving 55 to save energy because most cars are designed to be more fuel efficient at highway speeds and driving too slow can place you at risk for an accident.
Here are some tips that my family and I use to save at the gas pump.
·Look father down the road. Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t accelerate when approaching a stop light. Glide until you get the green light and then accelerate moderately. This not only saves gas but also your brake pads.
·Travel the highway speed. Exceeding the speed limit by a mere 5 mph results in an average fuel economy loss of 6 percent.
·Know when to use the air. Air condition can decrease you fuel efficiency as much as 12 percent in stop-and-go traffic, so lower the windows. But at high speeds, driving with the windows open can decrease the overall fuel efficiency of the vehicle.
·Travel light and pack smart. Extra weight decreases fuel economy. Hauling an extra 100 pounds in your vehicle reduces fuel economy by up to 2 percent. Place luggage inside rather than on the roof or trunk to minimize drag and increase mileage.
·Pick your lane and stick with it. Traffic studies have shown that changing lanes doesn’t result in significantly reduced travel time. So choose you lane and turn on your cruise control.
·Drive during off-peak hours when possible. Sitting in traffic isn’t much fun for you or your car. Try adjusting your schedule to avoid the traffic jams. This will save you a lot of fuel.
·Carpool when possible. If you can carpool with a friend to and from work this will save gasoline money and also helps relieve driving stress.
·If you live in the city take a bus whenever possible.
·Walk or ride a bike for short trips that are close to home. It is great exercise and you might also save time by not having to circle the parking lot for a close parking space.
·Take care of your car. Do regular maintenance such as oil changes.
·Keeping your car tuned up is necessary. Maintenance can save you up to 165 gallons of gas per year.
·Make sure tires are properly inflated. Once a month check your tires for proper pressure. For every pound of pressure below recommended levels, fuel economy drops 1 percent. Keeping your tires properly inflated means a savings of about a tank of gas per year.
·Plan your trips and errands so you drive fewer miles.
·Talk to two or three insurance agents about lower cost insurance for your car.
·Check ads for sale prices on motor oil, antifreeze and windshield washer fluid.
·Don’t top off your carat the pump. This is wasted money, and bad for the environment because the extra fuel evaporates within 10 minutes of driving.
Lastly, don’t just buy a new car to save money on fuel. Especially if you own your current car outright and there is nothing major wrong with it. It’s hard to burn a new car payment worth of fuel savings each month. Remember a new car loses thousands of dollars of its value as soon as it is driven out of the dealer’s lot.
For more ways to save money for your family go to www.lsuagcenter.com.