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15 Gas Saving Tips

Nov 01, 2007

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In the recent years the oil prices has more than doubled. Because of political disputes, conflicts in oil-producing areas as well the rise in consumption, the crude oil prices, and thus the fuel prices, will not drop significantly in the next years. If drivers would know and follow some tips on economy driving, millions of dollars would be saved in fuel cost.

These tips do not require any additional equipment purchase and can be followed by anyone, no matter the type of vehicle you are driving.

A common mistake people do is to warp up the engine in excess. Modern cars do not require you to warm up the motor for a long period. You can reduce the fuel consumption if your warming up period is reduce to up to 45 seconds.

After you have warmed the engine, do not forget to disengage the choke, because if it will get stuck, the engine will receive a wrong mixture of fuel and air and it will function abnormally.

Avoid as much as you can starting and stopping the engine repeatedly. You can idle the car, as one minute of idling your engine will result in the same fuel consumption as staring the motor.

Do not rev your engine needlessly. And do not make another common mistake, to rev the motor prior to shutting it down. If you so this, fuel will be consumed in vain and oil will wash down from the cylinders, leading to a loss of oil pressure.

When you start the car from a dead stop, accelerate slowly until you reach the desired cruising speed. Do not press the acceleration pedal to more than ¼ of its travel, as it will pump gas in vain.

Another trick is to buy fuel when the weather is the coldest during the day, usually early mornings or the evenings. you get more this way, because when cold gasoline, is denser. The pump will only measure the total volume of gasoline, not its density.

Chose the best type of gasoline on the market, as it will be cleaner than other types.

Never fill the gas tank past the first click of the fuel nozzle of the car.

There are also tips on driving your car in an economic manner.

Avoid speeding. If your car exceeds 40mph, you force your engine to work in excess to break the air resistance.

The speed limits are imposed for safety reasons, but respecting them can bring you fuel economy. You will save up to 21% more fuel if you travel with 55mph compared to driving with 70 miles per hour.

Remember, keeping you transmission in a low gear will eat up more gas than running in a higher one. Cars with manual transmissions let you decide the gear you want to travel in and obtain better fuel economy. But do not under-rev the engine, as it will prematurely wear off.

Drive as much as you can with your windows up, because at high speeds, having an open window can raise your fuel consumption with up to10%.

Try to impose a steady rhythm to the car. If you do a lot of accelerations and slowing downs, you will end up wasting fuel.

Remember to think the road in advance and when approaching areas that will impose you to change the speed, such as a hill. Accelerate until the hill’s base and save fuel by not forcing your engine while climbing the hill itself.

Dennis runs Car Dealer Check a website dedicated to Car Dealer Reviews and informing people about good car dealers.

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Hybrid vs. Diesel

Oct 30, 2007

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In these days of soaring gas prices, it seems that everyone is looking to increase their gas mileage. In the past, those looking to drive the most fuel-efficient vehicle had just one option: diesel trucks and cars. Diesel vehicles use significantly less fuel than cars that run on regular gas.

There is an option to diesel vehicles. Recently, hybrid vehicles have been appearing everywhere. No longer are they just slightly odd-looking compact cars. Hybrid technology can be found in everything from compact cars to SUVs. Are you better off with the old, diesel standby or do hybrid cars really offer more?

Diesel vehicles
For years, the gas-conscious consumer chose the diesel vehicle. These earlier diesels were generally noisier, dirtier and handled the road more poorly than their gas counterparts did. In fact, five states currently do not allow the sale of diesel vehicles due to strict emissions standards.

However, this image of the diesel vehicle is very outdated. Modern diesel vehicles are much cleaner than their earlier counterparts are. Low-sulphur diesel fuel and new technology that helps trap emissions particles are making diesel engines cleaner than ever before. In addition, modern diesel vehicles handle nearly as well as their gas-powered cousins and are less noisy as well.

Fuel efficiency is still paramount when it comes to driving a diesel vehicle. With their average nine miles per gallon increase over gas-powered vehicles, diesels are a viable option for the fuel-conscious consumer.

Hybrid vehicles
Hybrid vehicles are the newcomer to the mileage game. These vehicles run on a combination of gas and electric power, and they promise vastly increased gas mileage and lower emissions.

While these vehicles deliver on the promise, there are a few shortcomings as well. The first and most glaring disappointment is that many drivers find that the advertised mileage and the actual mileage the car achieves are vastly different.

For instance, the Toyota Prius advertises gas mileage of 55 miles per gallon, according to U.S. government reports. However, when Consumer Reports magazine tested the car under actual driving conditions, the mileage achieved was only 44 miles per gallon. While this is still excellent gas mileage, it is far less than advertised.

In addition, the sheer price of hybrid vehicles can be daunting. While a diesel vehicle generally costs an average of $1000 more than its gas-powered version, a hybrid vehicle costs several thousand dollars more than a gas-powered car. The Honda Civic Hybrid base price is $4800 more than the standard Civic with the same options and amenities.

Given that the gas mileage on the hybrid is about 30% greater than on the standard vehicle, it would take an average driver at today’s gas costs more than twelve years to recoup the cost difference. However, one must consider that some of this additional cost can also be recouped with the one-time federal tax credit. In addition, some states and even employers offer rebates to those who drive hybrid vehicles.

Given that the gas mileage on the hybrid is about 30% greater than on the standard vehicle, it would take an average driver at today’s gas costs more than twelve years to recoup the cost difference. However, one must consider that some of this additional cost can also be recouped with the one-time federal tax credit. In addition, some states and even employers offer rebates to those who drive hybrid vehicles.

Find the best deal on the auto insurance coverage you need. Visit us today for money-saving tips and receive free quotes for cheap auto insurance online from respected insurance companies.

Article Source: http://www.totallyawesomearticles.co

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