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Saving Gas in a Crunch

Volatile gas prices call for fine-tuning driving habits

During the last gas crisis in the Persian Gulf in the 1970s, American motorists could only squeeze 15 miles out of a gallon of gas, however, that gallon only cost 38 cents. Today, gas prices have spiked to more than five dollars a gallon in some areas of the country—and light trucks, the most popular selling vehicles, are thirsty vehicles.

Tips

Getting more out of a tank of gas will have an economic thrust for American drivers if prices at the pumps keep going up. Motorists can add 25 percent to the life of a tank of gas with a few simple adjustments to driving habits and auto maintenance.

> Underinflated tires can cut fuel economy by up to two percent per pound of missing pressure. Check your tire pressure at least once a month. Worn spark plugs and dirty air filters also increase your vehicle's thirst.

> Carrying a heavy load of unnecessary items in the trunk can increase the fuel needed for daily trips.

> Slowing down the pace of driving can slow down the drain on fuel. Rabbiting through traffic will deplete a tank of gas much faster than a steady pace.

> On long trips use cruise control. A steady pace uses less gas. Look at your personal fleet and use the most fuel-efficient vehicle for the majority of your driving. Go a step further and consolidate small trips into one by shopping ahead online or through newspaper and magazine ads to pinpoint your shopping destinations.

> When you are looking for deals on gas, remember that you can save almost 24 cents a gallon by filling up at the self-serve rather than the full service pump. Don't feed your car mid-grade or premium gas unless it is recommended in your owner's manual or to prevent knocking in an older vehicle.

> When caught in heavy traffic, don't let your engine idle for more than a minute. Idling consumes half-a-gallon to one gallon of gas per hour and wastes more fuel than restarting the engine.

> If your car is parked in the sun, roll the windows down and let the hot air escape during the first few minutes of driving before you turn on the air conditioner.

> Periodically calculate the vehicle's fuel economy performance. A loss of fuel economy could mean mechanical trouble.