Gas Prices Continue To Rise – Fuel Saving Tips

I was looking at the pump prices on the way to work this morning, and of course gas is higher than it was yesterday along my route.

The price of a gallon of gas in Abilene is now $3.69 at most locations, and by the time you read this, it will probably be a few cents higher.

Gas prices rose 13-cents per gallon over the past week, and there's no end in sight to the upward movement. With that in mind, I thought it might be a good idea to list those simple fuel-saving tips. You've heard them before, but with these prices, it bears repeating:

Avoid Fast Starts/Stops- Jack rabbit starts and abrupt stops burn more fuel. Ease down on the accelerator as you pull away from stop lights, and ease off the accelerator to coast up to a halt.

Check Tire Pressure- Tires that are under inflated create more drag and thus require more fuel. Under inflation also wears tires more quickly especially the sidewalls. Many of those 'hyper milers' will actually over inflate tires by a few pounds to maximize gas mileage, but that's not such a good idea here in central Texas where hot summer temperatures can increase tire pressure and cause blowouts.

Change Oil And Replace Filters- It's just a good idea to keep your car maintained by changing the oil on a regular basis and replacing dirty air filters. You will extend engine life and save gasoline in the process.

Slow Down- Fuel consumption increases with speed.  Remember the selling point of the old 55 mph speed limit?  It saves gas!  And in Abilene, you can get from anywhere to anywhere in 15 minutes anyway.  So driving a bit under the limit on the freeway and on streets is a good idea.  Just dropping your speed by 5 miles per hour can yield noticeable benefits.

Tune It Up- If it's time to get the spark plugs replaced, spend the money and get a full tune-up.  It's a good exercise to check plug wires, replace plugs , and set the timing to maximize engine performance and efficiency.

All of these simple and well known tips can add up to some real savings on fuel over time.  There doesn't seem to be a lot of recourse otherwise as we get through summer and the vacation season.