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Boosting Gas Efficiency PLUS Cheap Gas in Your Area

By
Real Estate Agent

 

 


I suspect many motorists are feeling woe at the pump when they fill their vehicles with gas these days.  This morning when the fuel gauge on my car pointed to "E" saying it was thirsty, I felt the pinch!

However, we aren't entirely powerless.  There are tips and tricks, which can assist us in obtaining better gas mileage, and there are tools on the net to help us locate the best gas prices in our communities.

Here are a few tips I adhere to:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/drive.shtml 

Plan and Combine Trips

I think many Americans have a knee-jerk obsession with jumping in the car at the first perceived need.  But planning and combining errands and shopping trips can save money and time.   In addition, trip planning helps ensure traveling is done with a warmed up more efficient engine.

Road Trips

Avoid the urge to overload your vehicle with roof racks or cargo carriers when you are taking off on vacation or weekends.  It has been estimated that an extra 100 lbs in the trunk can reduce a typical vehicle's fuel economy by 1 to 2 percent.  And having the weight in a loaded roof rack, which suffers aerodynamic drag can decrease gas mileage by 5%.  It's not only airlines that cost you money for more baggage!

Tires Need to Be Properly Inflated

Gas mileage may be improved up to 3.3%, if tires are inflated to proper pressure.  Tires that are under-inflated lower fuel efficiency.  Your vehicle likely has a sticker found on the driver's side doorjamb, which will indicate proper tire pressure.  Some experts warn against using the maximum pressure printed on the tire's sidewall.

Make Certain Your Vehicle's Engine is Well Tuned

A car that is out of tune or hasn't passed an emissions test, can quickly decrease mileage efficiency by an average of 4%.  BUT fixing a significant maintenance issue, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can provide improvement of gas mileage by as much as 40%.

There is a great website sponsored by the Federal Government, www.fueleconomy.gov which offers great advice and tips that will likely help you in your quest to keep more cash in your wallet.

The following web resources can help you locate the cheap gas in your neighborhood:

Gasbuddy.com (by state and province): 

http://www.gasbuddy.com/GB_StateList.aspx 

Internet Auto Guide (cheap gas near you):

http://www.internetautoguide.com/gas-prices/index.html 



GetMobio (cheap gas prices on your cell phone): 

http://www.getmobio.com/learn/cheapgas


Motor Trend (cheap gas prices):

http://www.motortrend.com/gas_prices/index.html 


Fuel Economy (government website on gas prices): 

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/gasprices/states/index.shtml


I hope this helps!

Posted by

Myrl Jeffcoat ActiveRain Signature
  

Comments(17)

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Silvia Dukes PA, Broker Associate, CRS, CIPS, SRES
Tropic Shores Realty - Ich spreche Deutsch! - Spring Hill, FL
Florida Waterfront and Country Club Living

Myrl, there are days when I don't leave the house because I don't really have to, luckily in our line of work we can work from our computers whether they be located in an office or at the kitchen table.  I'm combining as many tasks into one trip as possible these days!

Feb 25, 2011 11:57 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Silvia - I often ask myself if there are other errands that can be lumped together when I use the car.  I think more folks are learning to do that these days!

Feb 25, 2011 12:11 PM
Debi Boucher
Real Estate Showcase Photography - Woodland Park, CO
"Realtor Showcase" - Real Estate Photography/Virtual Tours

Great post, Myrl :) Fortunatley, my car only requires the 'arm'.....

Feb 25, 2011 01:22 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Debi - OK, I need to try to figure that one out!  Is that arm used to thumb a ride, rein in a horse, hold a phone to call a cab, or to fly like a bird:-)

Feb 25, 2011 01:28 PM
Gloria Todor
Premier Property Sales & Rentals - Springfield, PA
& Doug Durren (484) 431-3686 in SE PA

Myrl, Good advice for all of us on this high cost road ahead.  Higher prices will spur on much needed creativity for alternative fuel sources and more efficient vehicles. 

Love the sign!  

Gloria

Feb 25, 2011 02:36 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Doug and Gloria- I am a firm believer that we need to wean ourselves from fossil fuel, and get on cleaner more efficient alternative fuels.  Our dependence on foreign oil that comes out of desert sand piles has cost us in ways we don't even understand.  We will never be totally independent as a nation, until we do.

Feb 25, 2011 03:10 PM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

LOL Debi & Myrl --Debi must have an economical car, doesn't take an arm and a leg to fill...only an arm.  As for us, up here in the mountains, it's a good distance to town and we have to combine our trips.  My husband's work truck cost $100. to fill, and all businesses who rely on fleets to get their work done will certainly be suffering through this.

Feb 26, 2011 12:58 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Mary - Thank you so much for explaining that to me. . .I am a blonde, who was having an extremely blonde day:-)

Feb 26, 2011 03:15 AM
Mary Douglas
United Country Ponderosa Realty, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado - Red Feather Lakes, CO
REALTOR, Red Feather Lakes, Colorado

Myrl, you might be pulling my leg...but Debi is blonde too.  I'm bilingual- I speak blonde :-)  Happy to help LOL

Feb 26, 2011 05:04 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Well Mary - It even get's worse for me.  I just read my own graphic up there, and it is finally all beginning to make sense. . .As long as it doesn't cost us our first born.  My first born, isl grown now and weighs about 130 lbs.  I'd hate having to try putting her back.

Feb 26, 2011 06:17 AM
Ellie McIntire
Ellicott City Clarksville Howard County Maryland Real Estate - Ellicott City, MD
Luxury service in Central Maryland

Myrl- the annoying part about this horrific increase is that the gas companies purchased the product they are selling to us MONTHS AGO. Any excuse they can find to double their profit margin they take! It's just a shame we can not boycott buying gas altogether.

Feb 26, 2011 11:30 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

Ellie - I suffer the same frustrations you do!  I continue to believe that alternative energy is the way for the people to take their power back.  If that means the middle east becomes a mere sand pile once again, so be it!

Feb 26, 2011 11:43 AM
Andrew Mooers | 207.532.6573
MOOERS REALTY - Houlton, ME
Northern Maine Real Estate-Aroostook County Broker

Your real estate buyer has the same worry, woes in the wallet. So more than ever do real full motion videos to save that real estate buyer and your time and gas in the whittling down process. The local event videos entice them to come from out of state for a visit anyway. Without them, they may look at recreational vacation property a few states closer. Needing less gas stops. Your suggestion of plan trips is always a good idea even if gas was under $2 a gallon to free up time to use more efficiently. Make a list of don't have to do it today for north, south, east and west. You save hours and do more than one task on the treks out of the office.

Feb 26, 2011 11:50 AM
Juli Vosmik
Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Myrl, we've practiced planned driving since the last time the prices went to $4.00/gallon.  Not only does it save gas, it saves TIME - another precious commodity. 

I love what Ellie said - drives me nuts as well.  And your response, Myrl - take away the dollar, take away the "power.".

Feb 26, 2011 03:25 PM
Fred Carver Real Estate Consulant
Retired BC Realtor - Victoria, BC
Accredited Real Estate Consultant

Hi Myrl....Great advice for everyone, Gasoline now is a huge expense to our Day to Day Living Costs.

Feb 26, 2011 03:25 PM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Myrl - very timely with all the middle east issues pushing the price of gasoline here went over $1.20 a litre 0r about $4.55 Canadian for a US gallon this past week

Feb 26, 2011 04:15 PM
Barbara-Jo Roberts Berberi, MA, PSA, TRC - Greater Clearwater Florida Residential Real Estate Professional
Charles Rutenberg Realty - Clearwater, FL
Palm Harbor, Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor

Gas is still cheaper in this country than in most (unless you live in the Middle East); wouldn't it be great if we could all drive autos with alternative fuel...too bad the government didn't get behind that movement LONG ago!!!

Feb 28, 2011 03:21 AM
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