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Everyone who drives a vehicle feels the crunch of high gas prices when fueling up for the day or week, but it appears that consumers may get a break at the pump with the current trend of falling gas prices. The average price for a gallon of gas at $3.539 is 16 cents less than last year, which is 40 cents less than the high for prices this year. This is primarily due to a decrease in the demand for gasoline in the United States. Even though prices are currently falling, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries has decided to reduce production in an attempt to increase the price of oil, which will likely send prices back up. It’s never too early to take steps to lessen the impact high fuel prices have on your personal budget.
Alternatives to Driving
Reduce the amount of fuel you consume by driving only when you need to. Instead of driving to the store take a walk or ride your bike. You’ll also get some exercise in while getting to and from your destination.
Reduce the Amount you Drive If you must drive to your destination because it is too far to walk or bike or you need to take the kids with you, plan your trips out ahead of time and combine them if possible. Instead of going to the grocery store, coming home, going to the park and then coming home before going to the library, do one right after the other so you reduce the amount of gas you’re using. You will still go everywhere you need, but you’ll use less gas in the process. You can also try carpooling with a co-worker to reduce the mileage you need to drive to get to and from work every day.
Keep Your Car Maintained
Maintaining your car not only allows it to run better but also produces better fuel economy. Inflate your tires to the recommended level to reduce the friction against the road for better gas mileage. Remove the luggage rack or any other accessories that contribute to drag against your vehicle. Use the proper type of oil recommended by the manufacturer for your car to reduce friction in the engine, which contributes directly to fuel economy.
Manage your Driving Style
The way you drive also contributes to how well your car does on fuel efficiency. The most gas is needed to accelerate, which is why stop and go traffic in cities results in poor gas mileage. Instead of tailgating someone and braking constantly, try to keep a steady and slower speed. This has the potential to improve mileage from 10 to 20 percent. Only use your air conditioning at higher speeds because the compressor increases the load placed on the engine. Opening your windows increases air flow but increases turbulence at higher speed, which makes it better to open windows when in cities and use air conditioning when on highways. It may also make sense to find an alternate route that doesn’t have a lot of stop and go traffic or stop lights, even if it is technically the shortest.
Fuel Efficient Vehicles
It may not be a viable option to save money immediately, but switching from an SUV to a coupe or sedan with better fuel economy will save you money. You can also go with a hybrid vehicle when you decide it is time to purchase a new vehicle.
Author Bio: This article was written by Karl Stockton for the team at Compare Insurance Quotes. Contact them to learn more about their quotes on travel, health, life insurance and more here ׀ apply online.