Gas Saving Techniques

Compiled by Clark Barrow
#1 cheapest!!For short trips; try walking to places that are close instead of driving.
Avoid High Speeds- Slow down!As your speed increases, your aerodynamic drag increases in an exponential fashion. Driving 62 mph vs. 75 mph will reduce fuel consumption by about 15%. It takes 20% to 30% more gas to drive at 70 mph than 50 mph. (
Do Not Accelerate or Brake HardBy anticipating the traffic and applying slow steady acceleration and braking, fuel economy may increase by as much as 20%. Aggressive Driving wastes fuel – potential for major saving if you don’t drive like a maniac. Facts according to Edmunds.com, up to 37 percent in savings, average saving of 31 percent. 
Keep Tires Properly InflatedKeep tire air pressure at the level recommended by your vehicle manufacturer. A single tire under inflated by 2 PSI, increases fuel consumption by 1%. 
Don’t Carry Junk in Your TrunkSimply get all those newspapers, cans and other baggage out of your car and trunk. Reducing the weight of the car increases mileage over the course of a tank of gas. This costs you nothing to fix and maybe you’ll find some missing treasure hiding in there. 
Use the cruise controlEffective way to save gas – Maintaining a constant speed over long distances often saves gas – up to 14 percent savings, average saving of 7 percent (According to
Do it all at once!A lot of short hops that let the engine cool down at home between trips can use twice as much gas as starting the car once and making a big sweep to all your stops, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
Use A/C SparinglyWhen the air conditioner is on it puts extra load on the engine forcing more fuel to be used (by about 20%). The defrost position on most vehicles also uses the air conditioner. 
Keep Windows ClosedWindows open, especially at highway speeds, increase drag and result in decreased fuel economy of up to 10%. 
Will rolling down windows save fuel or not?The experts say when driving around town, turn off the AC and roll down your windows. However, keep the AC on and windows up when traveling on the highways.
Car poolReduce travel monotony and gas expense – all riders chip in to help you buy.
Service Vehicle RegularlyProper maintenance avoids poor fuel economy related to dirty air filters, old spark plugs or low fluid levels. 
Avoid Long IdlesIf you anticipate being stopped for more than 1 minute, shut off the car. Restarting the car uses less fuel than letting it idle for this time. Idling, burns about a half-mile worth of gas every minute, according to the California Energy Commission. 
Fill up when it is colderGasoline expands by about one percent in size with every 15 degrees in temperature. So filling up with 10 gallons of gas that’s 30 degrees hotter would cost you about 80 cents worth of gas at today’s prices.
Tailgate up or down?You do NOT save more gas with the tailgate down in a pickup truck. You SAVE more gas with the tailgate up.
The shortest distance between two points is always straightUse alternate roads when safe and travel the shortest distance Compare traveling distance differences – remember that corners, curves and lane jumping require extra gas.
Check Your Air Filter and Replace Every 12,000 MilesThe Energy Department estimates you could save as much as 22 cents per gallon by replacing a bad air filter. 
Use the Right Motor OilMany people think it’s OK to simply dump any motor oil they find into their engine. While the motor will continue to work with a different grade of oil, it won’t work quite as efficiently. You can save a couple cents per gallon by using the exact oil recommended for your car in your owner’s manual. 
Regular tune-ups ensure best economyCheck owner’s manual for recommended maintenance intervals. Special attention should be given to maintaining clean air filters… diminished air flow increases gas waste.
Expensive Devises don’t work!!!The Environmental Protection Agency and Federal Trade Commission have tested products that claim to boost fuel economy and found they generally don’t improve vehicles’ efficiency — and they sometimes actually harm performance and increase emissions. The dozens of products tested include some air-swirling gadgets, magnetic devices and liquid-injection systems, though not specifically the Fuel Saver 7000, Water4Gas, Magnetizer, Turbonator, Spiral Max or Cyclone. And drivers, beware: In some cases, installing certain devices can void cars’ factory warranties.
Purchase a Fuel Efficient VehicleWhen buying a new vehicle; examine the vehicle’s rated fuel efficiency. Usually choosing a small vehicle with a manual transmission will provide you with great fuel economy.
Clark BarrowThe Herman Cain ShowNews/Talk 750 WSB