gasoline savings

[mom-from-missouri]

From an email I received:

Driving Tips to Save Money

Take 20 cents a gallon off the price of gas – just by driving 10 mph slower. Each 5 mph in speed adds 10 cents to the price of a gallon of gas.


Turn off your air conditioning to save gas? It doesn't matter. If you open your windows, you increase drag. Overall, it's the same amount of gas whether you use the a/c or not.


Let your engine idle when you stop at the store for 5 minutes instead of turning it off. This is wrong. You save more if you turn the motor off – even for a few minutes.

[cercis]

The first isn't always true. There is a point where you're going so slow that you actually cost yourself more gas. I've mapped my route to have the fewest stops, but I still only go 20-30mph and get 21mpg compared to 30-35 on highways at 65-70mph. Part of that is that I do have a few stops that are unavoidable (including turning off the car every 2.5 miles) but even when I didn't have those stops, it was less than 25mpg for those speeds.

The 2nd also depends on the car. I won't roll my windows down no matter what (unless I'm tooling along city streets at 20mph) I can't stand the wind in my hair. But I don't run the AC all the time. I get the car cool enough to be liveable and then turn it off. If it gets too hot, I'll turn it back on for a few minutes.

The 3rd is true. The rule of thumb I heard is 1 minute for most new cars. If you will be stopped less than one minute, leave it running (so dropping someone off or picking them up), if it will be longer than one minute, turn it off.

[fultron]

Regarding the AC/open windows argument, here's a snippet of an article I recently posted about saving money on gas:

Use the air conditioner judiciously. There are two schools of thought on this one. The first says you will burn less fuel with the windows down and the AC off. The second says that driving with the windows open creates drag, which wastes more fuel than would be used if the AC was on and the windows up.

So which one is true? Well...both of them really. The car will consume more fuel with the air conditioner on and the windows down, up to about 45-50 miles per hour. As you drive faster, the drag caused by the open windows will actually cause higher fuel consumption.

So the rule of thumb is this: keep the AC off and the windows down when you are cruising around town and on city streets. Once you reach the highway or about 50 mph, roll up the windows and turn the on the AC.

[cicy33]

I have done both with the air and I have noticed that I get more miles if I don't use my air. I only put down the driver window and sometimes turn on the vent. One of the reasons that using your air causes worse mileage is because when you go to take off your car will be really sluggish so you push harder on the gas. take off easier and it might be better on mileage. or turn off the air to take off?

[PRICEPLUS]

I try to use the AC as little as possible. I close the windows on the highway. I guess I am in agreement with fultron on this matter!

[stone]

Wow....I thought that no A/C always ended up being better. Thanx for the info.

[akaivyleaf]

There isn't more wear and tear on expensive engine components by shutting off the car and restarting it? It creates a lot of stress to completely start a car, versus moving it from park to drive. So I"m debating about that one...

[tuscan minoque]

Sure I love my a/c for it is relaxing but...it burns alot of gas especially when I leave my car idling.So what do I do?At night I drive without the a/c only if it don't rain and at day I use it,But I'm wrong for it burns more gas in the day than at night.So what is my solution?I decided to use it spearingly a bit here and there and I save more gas that way.

[tuscan minoque]

[I don't agree with that part of wear and tear of the engine by starting it,virtually that is impossible the only thing that would wear is the starter let's say after 50,000 starts,i don't think you would reach that in three years.But your engine won't wear by starting it not even the spark plugs wear out by starting it.But here is and advice,if your car have a starting problem please give it atleast 3 minutes after five turn overs for this would saved the life of starter and maintain your battery energy.The life of the engine depends on how you service it and drive it,that's where the life of the engine comes in.

[PrincessPerky]

AC, People who get carsick, NEED air. Though it can be gotten with full windows open, then you might as well have the AC on (costwise). So in order to save you all from a crazy swerving car, I use the AC .

DH on the other hand when he is alone in the car he is ok with just his window open a bit, but with all of us there, we have to use the AC to prevent puking kids (and wife) which I am certain no matter how well he managed without puke in the car...once the first kid goes everyone follows.

I have a problem when shopping at a complex, you have to get in the car and drive 10 minutes when it would take you the same amount of time to walk to the other store at the other end! but then you also have to walk back with your 'stuff'. Might be a money saving thing to know you will have to walk back with the 'stuff' .

[mom-from-missouri]

I sometimes drive with the vent on, instead of the AC if it isnt too hot.
As for the shopping thing--I continued to use the stroller even after the kids didnt necessarily need it--to put my packages in. I had a triplet stroller and a twin stroller, then later used 2 twin strollers. (3 kids, and 2 adults in this set up). Lots of room for packages, diaper bag-or as they were allittle older, the necessary things needed for 3-5 year olds in the event of an accident or a 'straving or boredom fit'. They are wonderful in the mall-each adult pushes one. As for the kids, if they were not riding in them, I used the wrist leashes--ran them thru the back of their overalls. People did critize me for it, but if one runs off--are you supposed to leave the other 2 to chase her down? You put a leash on a dog so it wont get run over--if i dont want my dog it, why my kid?? It saved a lot of trips back and forth the the car, or having to move the car, and also worry that a theif saw you put all those packages in it, then leave it again..

[Fern]

Instead of saying you'll always get better mileage by driving 10 mph slower, what i've heard is that the optimum rate of speed for best gas mileage is between 45 and 50 mph. If you're in any of the lower gears, you're going to get less mileage per gallon.

[Fern]

PS Driving more slowly would seem to be the most obvious way to save gas, yet people are still whizzing by me on the highway doing 75 or better.

[terry1156]

Strip your car of everything that is not needed. I'm bad in this area and tend to keep a lot of stuff in my car. That extra weight means worse gas mileage. I also have a cargo rack that is a pain to take off and put on so I leave it on more than I should. Those things really hurt gas mileage. I can add a few miles per gallon when it isn't one (it's off right now)

[Luv2shop]

I use my chase perfect card and get 3% cash back on gas.

[sweeps]

Luv2shop: Consider switching to Chase Cash Plus Rewards. 5% cash back on gas stations, supermarkets and drug stores. Or get the Citi Platinum Dividend Select card for the same deal. Maximum reward is $300/year on each.

[Luv2shop]

Thanks for the information
I have both of those cards. I will have to start using them. Have a Great Holiday!

[mjrube94]

I just received my Shell Mastercard through Citibank today. They're running a promotion where you receive 15% rebate on Shell gas and Jiffy Lube, 3% on all other purcahses for 2 or 3 months (I forget which). After that, it's 5% on Shell, 1% on everything else. We spend over $300/month on gas, and Shell stations are pretty convenient, so I'm hoping this adds up...

[pyotr]

Don't forget to use and contribute to gasbuddy.com

[Jason]

I always purchase my gas at Wal-mart/Murphy USA stations. I save 3 cents a gallon. My previous job required me to commute 164 miles round trip a day. I saved hundreds of dollars over the years just by that 3 cents a gallon.