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Senior Citizen Shopping, Discounts
No Senior Discounts on Gasoline but There are Ways
Seniors Can Save
By David Smidt, SeniorDiscounts
Aug. 2, 2007 - Rising gas prices are affecting all
of us. This week we are discussing some techniques you can use to help
save gas. Some of these may be obvious, but they are probably worth
repeating and will hopefully save you some money.
Purchasing Gas:
● Use non-brand name gas. Most non-brand name gas
stations use the exact same product as the brand names.
● Use the correct grade of gas. Premium grade is
not always the best for your car. Find out what grade is recommended by
the manufacturer of your car and use the lowest grade at or above the
recommended grade.
● Don't top off. Studies have shown that the "top
off" usually remains in the hose or is lost to evaporation.
Car Maintenance:
● Check the tire pressure. Under-inflated tires
can lower gas mileage by 0.4% for every 1 psi drop in pressure. This can
save you up to $.08 per gallon.
● Change the air filter regularly. This is an
inexpensive way to improve your gas mileage by as much as 10%, or a
savings up to $.25 per gallon.
● Keep your car tuned. Fixing a car that is out of
tune can improve its gas mileage by an average of 4.1 percent. If your
car has a faulty oxygen sensor, your gas mileage may improve as much as
40 percent or a savings of $.08-$.80 per gallon.
● Use the recommended grade of motor oil. You can
improve your gas mileage by 1-2%, a savings of about $.03-$.06 per
gallon, by using the recommended grade of motor oil.
Driving:
● Avoid sudden stops and acceleration. Rapid
acceleration and braking burns more fuel and is harder on your vehicle.
● Minimize air conditioning use. When possible use
the vents to bring in outside air, unless driving at highway speeds. At
those speeds it is better to turn on the air and close the windows.
● Drive the speed limit. Gas mileage decreases
rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like
paying an additional $0.15 per gallon for gas.
● Avoid excessive idling. Turn off the engine if
you anticipate a lengthy wait. Instead of idling at a drive-up window,
park the car and go in. Idling burns more gas than restarting the
engine.
● Combine errands. Several short trips taken from
a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip
covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
● Avoid carrying unneeded heavy items. An extra
100 lbs in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by 1-2
percent.
Traveling:
● Use the cruise control. Using cruise control on
the highway helps you maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, will
save gas.
● Use the overdrive gears. When you use overdrive,
your car's engine speed goes down and saves gas.
● Keep windows closed when traveling at highway
speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your gas mileage by 10%.
● Keep items in the vehicle. A loaded roof rack
can decrease your fuel economy by 5%.
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