Tip of the Month

June 2008

Tips to Save at the Pump

Oil prices continue to shatter all previous records.

Here are some tips from the Federal Trade Commission on how to get more miles out of each gallon of gas and keep some dollars in your wallet.

• Avoid unnecessary idling– It wastes fuel, costs you money and pollutes the air.
• Stop and start gently– You can improve in-town gas mileage by up to 5 percent by driving gently.
• Use overdrive and cruise control– They improve fuel economy when you’re driving on the highway.
• Inflate your tires– Keeping your tires properly inflated and aligned can increase gas mileage up to 3 percent.
• Keep your engine tuned– Tuning your engine can increase gas mileage by an average of 4 percent.
• Change your oil– Clean oil reduces wear caused by friction between moving parts and removes harmful substances from the engine.
• Replace air filters regularly– Replacing clogged filters can increase gas mileage up to 10 percent.
• Lose the junk in your trunk– An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce fuel economy by up to 2 percent.
• Combine errands– Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.