In a recent consumer survey, new car buyers are putting fuel economy as a top priority when purchasing a new vehicle. It’s no surprise, aside from safety and reliability, fuel economy has been the buzz phrase of this new millennium when looking to purchase a new car or truck. Automotive companies are designing and developing hybrid vehicles to address this one consumer need. When drivers are at the gas pump, they are thinking about what to drive to cut down on gas expenditures, but maybe they should be thinking about how they drive too.

There are many ways to cut down on gas consumption with any car on the road. Think about these tips the next time you are out on the road; you are in control of the amount of gas you use.

Gas money saving tips:

– Stop speeding. We’ve heard most of our driving lives, slow down. The faster you go, the more gas you use. Take your foot off the pedal, coast up to red lights and stop signs this will cut mileage up to 5%.

– Don’t idle. Idling wastes fuel, costs money and adds to air pollution. If you are stopped for longer than 60 seconds, turn off your engine.

– Unload. Removing extra weight from you vehicle’s trunk can reduce fuel consumption by up to 2%. For every extra 250 pounds your engine hauls, your vehicle loses approximately one mile per gallon in fuel economy.

– Reduce drag. Half of you vehicle’s energy is used by fighting air resistance. Remove any extra items attached to your car that compounds this problem i.e. luggage, ski and bike racks. Also, close the sunroof at high speeds.

– Maintenance. A dirty air filter will cause you to spend up to 20% more at the pumps. Also, dirty spark plugs can really cost, they can reduce your gas mileage by 12%.

– Tires. Properly inflated tires are not only safer, they can add to gas mileage up to 25%. Keep them balanced and aligned as well, for greater mileage.

– Gas octane levels. Using the proper octane level for your particular vehicle will save money. Note- premium gasoline in a vehicle that is designed to run on regular does not improve performance; it is just a waste of money. Check your owners manual to know what the lowest octane rated gas that is tolerated by your particular vehicle.

– Keep the gas cap on tight. Improperly sealed gas caps are the greatest contributor to gas emissions. Apparently, 147 million gallons of gasoline is vaporized every year in North America.

– Use cruise control. Driving speeds fluctuate regularly; using cruise control when appropriate will keep your driving speed steady, keeping your gas consumption to a minimum.

Lastly, saving money on maintenance at a local garage may seem to make better financial sense, but that’s wrong. When you need repair service, remember that the dealer service centers have the most up to date training and diagnostic equipment. They have the specific tools for your vehicle type for its top performance. Also, dealer operated service centers must recycle oils and any other fluid your car uses to control fumes and toxic emissions. Your auto dealer may seem a bit pricier than Joe down the road, but in the long run you will save more money, and have a more fuel efficient and environmentally safe vehicle in your control.

Author Bio: Visit http://www.harrisauto.ca for new vehicles and used vehicles and auto financing.

Category: Automotive
Keywords: new cars,new trucks,used cars,used trucks,auto finance