 It
doesn't take a genius to figure out it's summertime. According to AAA, 37.5 million
Americans began their summer vacations and hit the highways this July — a nine-year record. As air travel will be down 2 percent from last year, approximately
500,000 travelers expect to go by other modes of transportation as compared to
400,000 in 2002.
With
gas prices lower than this time last year, road trips can certainly help save
vacation money in a tight economy. As families pile into their PT Cruiser "Woody
Wagons," turn on the Eagles tunes and begin creating memories only a Griswold
could rival, they should keep the good times rolling...literally...by following
these simple tips for getting the most out of every gallon of gas:
-
Avoid
high speeds/use cruise control — increasing your speed uses more fuel. Avoid
unnecessary idling — it wastes fuel.
-
Avoid
jackrabbit starts and sudden stops.
-
Remove
excess weight from the trunk — extra weight decreases gas mileage.
-
Keep
your tires properly inflated — under inflated tires can reduce fuel efficiency.
-
Use
overdrive gears if you have them — reduces engine speed and improves fuel consumption.
-
Use
your air conditioner sparingly — increases gasoline consumption.
-
Check
and replace air filters regularly — clean air filters keep impurities in the
air from damaging the engine and can improve fuel economy.
-
Get
a tune-up and change your oil regularly and right before a long trip.
-
Use
gasoline formulated to give better mileage
Some
oil companies, like Shell, recently announced its new better-mileage fuel, which
is specially formulated to improve fuel economy by reducing friction in the engine.
The new Shell formula, which is offered in all three grades — regular, plus and
premium — can add up to 125 miles per year for a customer driving 12,500 miles
per year. And as we all know, every little bit helps in today's economy.
For
more information on Shell's new formula please visit: www.shellus.com
or www.localshell.com.
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