Don't Let Gas Prices Spoil Your Summer Travel - Tips to Save Gas
As gas prices set records and you spend more and more at the gas pump, you realize the driving vacation you were planning will be more expensive than ever. It is so much more expensive you might be thinking of not taking that driving vacation at all. Do not fear, you can travel and not break your budget on gas by following a few simple tips.
You can control your gas consumption. Remember, you the owner and operator of your car, are the best fuel saving device. There are some basic tips that you can follow to ease your gas burden while traveling.
An easy thing to start with is to lighten your load. Get rid of all the extra things you have in your trunk. Take out that 60 pound bag of cat food you bought three weeks ago. Remove your surplus tool kit. Run that box of paper to the recycling center right now, instead of leaving it your car for another few weeks. 100 lbs of weight reduction from your vehicle will save you around 1 to 2 percent of your fuel usage. If you can reduce your load by 200 lbs then your savings is 2 to 4 percent. The lighter your car is the more fuel efficient it will be.
You already have scoped out the cheapest stations to purchase fuel at around your home. These stations will likely be lower priced than the fuel stations on your vacation route. So, fill up at one of these stations before you leave on your trip. You might even want to buy your fuel one day before you leave. For most people the actual travel day is rushed and hurried. You might run out of time to go to the station you planned on and might have to opt for fuel along your route. If you get your fuel one day before you leave, you can do it without worrying about deadlines and without rushing around.
Another important tip, don't use luggage racks. Try and get everything inside the car if you need to pack your car for your vacation. The wind resistance created by using racks will significantly increase the amount of gas you will burn. The resistance will increase at higher speeds so it will be very detrimental to your fuel economy on the highway.
Use your cruise control on the turnpikes and freeways as much as you can. If you can keep the vehicle speed constant it will be much more fuel efficient. The cruise control on your car will do a much better job of keeping a constant speed than you will be able to maintain manually.
By following these simple suggestions you will be able to take that trip without upsetting your gas or travel budget. These few tips will let you control your costs and take that driving vacation in spite of the cost of gas!
Scott Siegel has written a 143 page book of industry insider information on saving gas and money at the pump (beatthegaspump.com). Visit us to learn how you can get better gas mileage. Find out how to increase gas mileage.
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