Want To Save Money On Gas?

from JoeUser Forums

Pretty much everyone is complaining about the high fuel prices right now, but few are actually doing anything about it.  It's pretty easy for most people to cut back on what they spend to fuel their vehicles but from what I see out here on the roads every day, in all parts of the country, very few people are actually doing it.

The single biggest impact one can have on their fuel cost, and the easiest one to do, is to simply slow down. The faster one drives the more fuel their vehicle is burning per mile. It's simple physics. Yet, every single day I see people who simply refuse to slow down.

People are so used to driving 10mph or more over the speed limit that they have convinced themselves that they simply can't slow down. That's pure bull.  One doesn't need to drive so sllow as to impede traffic, just slow down and drive the speed limit.  You'll be amazed at how much money you'll start saving on fuel.

Since fuel prices have shot up I drive the speed limit wherever I am, with the exception of places where the speed limits are 70mph or higher, where I set my cruise control at 65mph. That's fast enough to not impede traffic but still burns less fuel than running 70+. My fuel milage has risen significantly.

If your car has a cruise control use it as much as possible. This will help you maintain a steady speed and will also save lots of fuel.

Accelerate smoothly and gradually. Quick accelerations waste an amazing amount of fuel.

Don't take unnecessary trips. Find things to do closer to home, consolidate your errands, and walk when possible.

I delivered a load in Egg Harbor, NJ yesterday, which is just outside of Atlantic City. Traffic was light going in but was one long back-up coming back out. There were literally thousands of cars streaming out of Atlantic City going home after spending the weekend there. What a huge waste of fuel.

Slow down folks, you'll not only save money but you'll be more relaxed as well as a lot safer. Speed not only kills but it costs a lot of money too.

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3,373 views 24 replies
Reply #1 from Stardock Forums Top

good stuff Mason, thanks for the tips. 

 

 

Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
good stuff Mason, thanks for the tips. 
 
 
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You're welcome, common sense really.
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
If your car has a cruise control use it as much as possible. This will help you maintain a steady speed and will also save lots of fuel.
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This doesn't work in my area. Driving up and down mountains with the cruise on has a negative effect on gas mileage basically because it contrasts your initial statement. No need to SLAM on the gas as cruise controls will do going up hill.

Some other simple checks for improving gas mileage is....clean air filter, properly functioning O2 sensor, run injector/carb cleaner through your engine to maximize combustion efficiency. These are some extra tips I learned in college (I was driving approx 60K/yr).

The easiest as MasonM said. Ease off the pedal.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
what about air tire pressure?
Reply #5 from Stardock Forums Top

Yeah I wanna save money on gas.  But I don't want to slow down.:P

Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
what about air tire pressure?
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I've heard that as a tip however, I've yet to experience any conclusive evidence that a difference of 5-7PSI yielded any loss/increase of gas mileage. It may not be conclusive but I would included that in proper car maintenance. Those 4 pieces of rubber contacting the road are IMO the most important step to safety.
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hey MasonM,

I've heard there are a few big-rigs out there that have HHO hybrids. Have you come in contact with any of these? I've been wanting to experiment with this but haven't yet.
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
This doesn't work in my area. Driving up and down mountains with the cruise on has a negative effect on gas mileage basically because it contrasts your initial statement. No need to SLAM on the gas as cruise controls will do going up hill.
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Modern cruise controls on fuel injected engines don't have that affect. They apply only as much fuel as is needed to compensate for the grade. If yours does this, perhaps it's either an older model or a less expensive control.

Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
what about air tire pressure?
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Having under inflated tires does increase rolling resistance a bit, and is a dangerous situation especially in hot weather as you increase the odds of a blow-out. The effect on fuel mileage is minimal compared with simply slowing down.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top
Yeah I wanna save money on gas.  But I don't want to slow down.
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Yeah that's the typical attitude.
Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
Hey MasonM,I've heard there are a few big-rigs out there that have HHO hybrids. Have you come in contact with any of these? I've been wanting to experiment with this but haven't yet.
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Yeah there are some kits that one can put on a rig to add hydrogen to the fuel mix. So far the results aren't all that spectacular. There is a slight increase in power and a small increase in fuel mileage, but hardly enough of either to make it practical or cost effective.

Yet.

Eventually I expect to see some sort of hydrogen fuel cell or diesel/hydrogen hybrid to become standard, once all the bugs are worked out.

Diesel/electric hybrids are being tested and are in production for things like garbage trucks, but are still not all that practical for long haul applications.
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
If we don't start, soon Papa Federal.gov will do it for us with a new law of 55 MPH on all highways.
Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
If we don't start, soon Papa Federal.gov will do it for us with a new law of 55 MPH on all highways.
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Yeah, they're talking about a national 65mph speed limit, but somehow I doubt it'll get past the talking stage.
Reply #14 from JoeUser Forums Top
Modern cruise controls on fuel injected engines don't have that affect. They apply only as much fuel as is needed to compensate for the grade. If yours does this, perhaps it's either an older model or a less expensive control.
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Could be.... I have 98 Dodge Dakota not sure which category that would be in.
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Great article Mason. Kinda funny how I can use common sense for many of these ideas but not all. I love cruise control when on the highway. Bets idea ever invented. I try to keep my tires with good pressure as often as possible but it's not a habit I've made. I am, however, one of those who always drives above speed limit, not sure, why. Maybe has to do with keeping up with traffic. But lately I have been slowing down to close to speed limit or speed limit, not only because of how I have heard a lot about saving gas if I do but because I have also noticed many cops giving out tickets on the street I most frequently use lately.

Backing my idea with an episode I watched from the Mythbusters, I tend to drive with my windows down as often as possible (which I have for over 15 years) rather than have the A/C on. I enjoy the fresh air and the wind in my face plus I get to hear the noises around me better as to avoid accidents or give emergency vehicles passage. But when it is extremely hot, I sometimes have no choice or I might get overwhelmed and cause an accident, I can be a bit sensitive to extreme heat. According to the show, windows open, though causing more drag than closed windows, is actaully more gas efficient.

We never really traveled much but we have reduced what we would drive but sometimes can be boring.
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
I gave up Beans. So far, a lot less gas. ;)
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
Could be.... I have 98 Dodge Dakota not sure which category that would be in.
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Yep, you have one of the old style "all or nothing" type of cruise controls. Modern cruise controls in cars are modeled after the highly sophisticated cpu controlled cruise used in big rigs and they improve efficiency quite a bit.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
I tend to drive with my windows down as often as possible (which I have for over 15 years) rather than have the A/C on. I enjoy the fresh air and the wind in my face plus I get to hear the noises around me better as to avoid accidents or give emergency vehicles passage. But when it is extremely hot, I sometimes have no choice or I might get overwhelmed and cause an accident, I can be a bit sensitive to extreme heat. According to the show, windows open, though causing more drag than closed windows, is actaully more gas efficient.
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This is partially true. If you're driving around town at low speeds then rolling down the windows is more efficient than running the ac. But, if driving at highway speeds the added drag caused by the loss of aerodynamics burns more fuel than rolling them up and using the ac.

Reply #19 from JoeUser Forums Top
I gave up Beans. So far, a lot less gas.
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I could never do that! :LOL:
Reply #20 from JoeUser Forums Top
This is partially true. If you're driving around town at low speeds then rolling down the windows is more efficient than running the ac. But, if driving at highway speeds the added drag caused by the loss of aerodynamics burns more fuel than rolling them up and using the ac.
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My choice is easy - no A/C in the car at all. And only three of the windows will open.

My other choice is back roads v. highway. If I take the back roads, the distance is shorter and I'm going lower speeds - but it takes 5 minutes longer. So I'm burning gas for five additional minutes. Am I burning less gas than going on the highway? If I am, I wouldn't mind taking the scenic route every day.
Reply #21 from JoeUser Forums Top
This is partially true. If you're driving around town at low speeds then rolling down the windows is more efficient than running the ac. But, if driving at highway speeds the added drag caused by the loss of aerodynamics burns more fuel than rolling them up and using the ac.
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Oh I cant drive with the windows open on a highway, too noisy for me. I can barely hear my music at times. In that I can agree.

My choice is easy - no A/C in the car at all. And only three of the windows will open.
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Ouch, as i said I am a bit sensitive to heat so I have to have it sometimes. Especially living in Florida.

My other choice is back roads v. highway. If I take the back roads, the distance is shorter and I'm going lower speeds - but it takes 5 minutes longer. So I'm burning gas for five additional minutes. Am I burning less gas than going on the highway? If I am, I wouldn't mind taking the scenic route every day.
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I wouldn't mind backroads, that idea works great in my town in Puerto Rico and in most areas of Miami. But here in West Palm Beach, no good. Hardly any of the small streets go all the way thru in any direction and many community areas are closed in due to the many canals in South Florida with only 1 or 2 streets to go in and out. Worst of all is the stop lights, mostly on the main roads, they are not synchronized in any way to make driving easier. One can wear out their breaks here easily. they make the highways look so much more tempting even when going but a couple of miles.

Reply #22 from JoeUser Forums Top
My other choice is back roads v. highway. If I take the back roads, the distance is shorter and I'm going lower speeds - but it takes 5 minutes longer. So I'm burning gas for five additional minutes. Am I burning less gas than going on the highway? If I am, I wouldn't mind taking the scenic route every day.
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That would depend on a number of factors including whether or not you're having to do stop and goes, running a steady speed versus speeding up and slowing down, and what percentage of the total time that extra five minutes constitutes.

Driving at a constant speed will always be more efficient, and driving at a slower constant speed is obviously more efficient than faster (and reduces wind drag), but running the car for 10 minutes versus five minutes will obviously burn more fuel.
Reply #23 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'll have to do an experiment, see how long I need before I fill up going one way and then the other way... It's either a 25 or a 30 minute trip, and there's stop and goes on the 30 minute route, a lot more than the 25 minute.
Reply #24 from JoeUser Forums Top
I'll have to do an experiment, see how long I need before I fill up going one way and then the other way... It's either a 25 or a 30 minute trip, and there's stop and goes on the 30 minute route, a lot more than the 25 minute.
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Yeah that's the only way to know for sure, but based on what you wrote here I'd say you would probably get better mileage on the highway as you avoid the stops and starts.