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eLearning Series:
Gas Prices Are Outrageous,
Save Me Some Money!
( 13 pages )
26. Tire maintenance
Not only should
you be maintaining the engine of your car, you should also be
paying attention to the tires that you are driving on.
• Purchase a tire
gauge and check your car’s tire pressure every month. When you
are driving around on tires that are under-inflated you can
reduce the fuel efficiency of your car by up to 2 percent for
each pound that the tires are under-inflated.
• Under-inflated tires wear out faster, which again contributes
to higher gas consumption.
• Not only will you save on gas consumption when you maintain
your tires, studies show that you will also save money on the
maintenance of your vehicle by up to $250 each year.
• The best time to check your tire pressure is when it’s cool
outside or in the morning after your car has been sitting for
several hours without driving.
• Use appropriate tires for each season. When you put away your
winter tires in the warm weather you’ll be able to use them
for at least two years.
Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml
27.
Keep a clean outer car
You can reduce
the amount of drag on your car when you keep the exterior clean
and waxed. This will add some gas savings into your pocket.
It may seem like
a small thing to do, and you most likely won’t notice any difference
at all in your fuel consumption, but keep in mind that every
little bit helps when it comes to reducing your gas costs and
saving at the gas pumps when you fill your car.
Many times when
you purchase your gas at a gas station that has a car wash you
can receive money off coupons to use when you wash your car.
This is a great
way to save money while keeping your car clean.
28. Service your vehicle
before the winter
As the colder weather
approaches you will want to make sure that your vehicle is in
the best condition that it can be to deal with the colder weather.
If you car needs
servicing and you decide to wait until the spring weather you
will find that your fuel consumption goes up dramatically. Keep
in mind that you may be putting snow tires on your car, further
adding to the decrease in fuel economy that you many experience
during the months of winter.
If you are traveling
greater distances during the winter months you may have to travel
over roads that are experiencing winter conditions. Plan your
trip accordingly by trying to travel when the roads are clear
and there is no forecast of snow.
29.
Remove snow tires
When it isn’t winter
and there is no snow on the ground you should replace your winter
tires with summer tires or all season radials.
Big snow tires
with deep treads use more gasoline than lighter tires. Many
times people leave their snow tires on all year round so that
they can avoid the hassle of taking their car to the mechanic.
The amount of savings
that you can get out of changing your tires each season should
inspire to make that appointment with your mechanic rather than
weigh your car down all through the year, even when there is
no evidence of snow. Store your winter tires in a place where
they are free from moisture and dry heat.
The better care
you take of your winter tires the longer you can keep them,
reducing the amount of money that you spend maintaining your
tires and your car.
The same applies
when you put your winter tires on your car and store your summer
tires or all season radials. You will want to make sure that
they are store correctly and are tightly covered.
Many people overlook
the important of maintaining tires when it comes to saving at
the gas pumps.
To maximize the
most savings that you can achieve at the gas pumps you need
to pay attention to all the details of maintaining and driving
your vehicle.
30.
Avoid rough roads
Driving on rough
roads, such as those made of gravel or dirt, will reduce your
fuel consumption by as much as 30 percent.
If there is an
alternative route that you can take you should consider taking
it if it isn’t going to add too many miles onto your trip.
On a side note,
if you are planning a camping trip and are driving a new model
car or truck you may want to think about leaving your car at
home and finding alternative travel arrangements.
The wear and tear
to a vehicle that is being driven over rough gravel road can
damage the underside of your vehicle, causing damage that you’re
not aware of for some time to come.
This damage, even
if minimal, could be a factor towards increasing your gas costs
and fuel inefficiency.
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