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Tips for Senior Citizens to Reduce Gasoline Cost

Aug. 24, 2005 – Senior citizens, many strapped for cash, are among those hit the hardest, when costs spiral out of control. With gasoline prices at record high levels, the Alliance to Save Energy and the American Automobile Association have issued suggestions for saving on auto gasoline usage. SeniorJournal.com has picked those that seem to fit the needs of senior citizens best, and added a few of our own.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help from a friend or neighbor, if some of these suggestions are not understood clearly.

Proper Maintenance:

• Keep your car properly tuned up to improve gas mileage by about 4 percent.

• Improve mileage by up to 40 percent by replacing a faulty oxygen sensor.

• Keep tires properly inflated to improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent and to extend the life and ensure the safety of your tires.

• Use the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil to improve your gas mileage by another 1-2 percent.  Select motor oil with “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol to be sure it contains friction-reducing additives.

• Check and replace air filters regularly.  Replacing a clogged or dirty air filter can improve your car’s gas mileage by as much as 10 percent, and a clean filter keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your engine.

• Purchase less expensive regular unleaded gas, if your vehicle does not require premium or midgrade fuel. Check your vehicle owner’s manual.

• Shop for low gasoline prices locally, but don’t waste gas driving to a distant filling station to save a few cents.

• Don’t race a cold engine to warm it up and avoid extended idling to warm up the engine.

• Spark plugs must be in good condition. Some will last for 100,000 miles, but many need to be replaced more often.

Good Driving

• Curtail aggressive driving.  Speeding, rapid acceleration, and rapid braking all waste gas – and curb mileage by as much as 33 percent at highway speeds, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).  Nix jack-rabbit starts, opting instead for slow acceleration from a dead stop.

• In addition, speeding cuts fuel economy 7 to 23 percent, as gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 mph.  Each five mph you drive over 60 is like paying an extra 15 cents per gallon.

• Avoid idling, which gets 0 mph.  Cars with larger engines typically waste even more gas at idling than cars with smaller engines.

• Combine your errands into one trip and plan your routes carefully to drive fewer miles and use less fuel.

•  Use overdrive if available. Use your vehicle’s overdrive gear when appropriate to reduce engine speed, save gas, and decrease engine wear.

• Use cruise control to help cut fuel consumption by maintaining a steady speed during highway driving.

• Don’t use air conditioning, if it is not really needed. Maybe just the blower will keep you cool. Air conditioning dramatically reduces fuel economy. Most air conditioners have an “economy” setting that allows the circulation of unchilled air - just a fan, which does not affect fuel economy. Many also have a “maximum” or “recirculation” setting that reduces the amount of hot outside air that must be chilled. Both settings can reduce the air conditioning load — and save gas. Fan speed does not affect fuel economy.

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  Editor's Note: Reader Nelson T. Henne was not happy with our suggestion on air conditioning and sent us this additional information:
  Consumer Reports' auto-test department reports that the air conditioner reduces your car's fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent. So to achieve maximum fuel efficiency, motorists should avoid using the air conditioner at speeds below 40 mph and travel with their windows down, says Gabe Shenhar, senior auto test engineer at Consumer Report's auto-test department.
  "But as your speed increases to 45 mph, or highway speeds wind drag becomes an issue," says Jason Toews, co-founder of GasBuddy.com. “Driving with the windows down increases the drag on your vehicle, resulting in decreased fuel economy by up to 10 percent. Drive at speeds over 55 mph with windows down and you'll decrease fuel economy by up to 20 percent or greater."

Choosing a Car

• When buying a new vehicle, think high gas mileage. Check out the DOE website, www.fueleconomy.gov, and the ACEEE website, www.greenercars.com, for information on fuel-efficient vehicles.  Learn about current electric drive vehicles on the Electric Drive Transportation Association website, www.electricdrive.org. 

• Get a $2,000 federal tax deduction this year (2005) when you purchase a hybrid-electric car.  Next year, the deduction drops to $500.

• When renting a car, ask for a model that gets better fuel economy.  Also, remember to fill up the tank before returning the car to the rental company, which always charges much higher gas prices – and sometimes an extra gas surcharge.

• If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets better gas mileage whenever possible. 

• Vehicles equipped with four-wheel drive may use more gasoline than other vehicles, especially if the four-wheel-drive system is engaged during routine driving.

• A vehicle with an automatic transmission may use more gasoline than one with a manual transmission.

• The choice of a smaller engine usually means better gas mileage.

• Some trucks, vans and SUVs come in several sizes and configurations. Models with a shorter bed, abbreviated cargo area or smaller cab are lighter and generally consume less fuel.

• A light exterior color, light interior cloth seats and tinted windows can reduce heat buildup and reduce the need for air conditioning.

• Cruise control may be a fuel-saving option if you drive a lot on open roads.