more great tips ..

A roof rack or carrier that provides additional cargo space .

A roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space and may allow you to meet your needs with a smaller car. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent. Reduce aerodynamic drag and improve your fuel economy by placing items inside the trunk whenever possible.

Avoid carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 lbs in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by 1-2 percent.

Telecommuting or walking .

There are ways that you can get to work that will help you save on gas
consumption for your car.

When driving to work avoid the peak times for rush hours. This way you’ll
use up less fuel and you’ll spend less of you precious time sitting around in
heavy traffic.

Try telecommuting from work if you’re in a position to do so.
If you are the owner of more than one vehicle you should try to drive the car
that has the best gas mileage more often than the one with higher gas
mileage. Save the vehicle with the lower gas mileage for those trips when
you don’t want your new vehicle damaged or don’t want to put the miles on
the odometer.

Find out about ride-sharing programs and carpools that are available in your
local area. By commuting to work with others you’ll be cutting your
monthly fuel costs by as much as half. You’ll also be saving on the wear
and tear of your car. Many large cities have what is known as the HOV lane
(high occupancy vehicle) to encourage drivers to commute to work.


Use the public transit service if it’s convenient for you and available where
you live. You may be able to drive your vehicle to the bus depot and
commute from there. Even though you’re still driving your car part way to
work you’ll still notice a substantial savings when it comes to the cost of
your commute to and from work.


You will definitely save on gas if you leave your car at home. Try walking
to close destinations, or take your bike. Today’s society seems to think that
we need to drive everywhere that go.

If more people walked, rode their bikes, or took public transit there would be
less pollution. As well, you personally will notice a difference in the amount
of money that you spend each month on your gas costs.

Try to combine as many purposes into one trip as you can .

Try to combine as many purposes into one trip as you can for the following
reasons:

• You’ll save time and money by combining the number of errands and
stops that you make in one trip.

• When you make several smaller trips, especially in cold weather, you
will use up to twice as much fuel than if you were taking a
multipurpose trip.

• Cold starts for your car use up more gas and are harder on vehicle
maintenance than driving for a longer period of time, keeping the
engine of your car warm.

• Planning your trip makes your driving more efficient and you spend less
time driving aimlessly from location to location.

Driving on rough roads

Driving on rough roads, such as those made of gravel or dirt, will reduce
your fuel consumption by as much as 30 percent.

If there is an alternative route that you can take you should consider taking it
if it isn’t going to add too many miles onto your trip.

On a side note, if you are planning a camping trip and are driving a new
model car or truck you may want to think about leaving your car at home
and finding alternative travel arrangements.

The wear and tear to a vehicle that is being driven over rough gravel road
can damage the underside of your vehicle, causing damage that you’re not
aware of for some time to come.

This damage, even if minimal, could be a factor towards increasing your gas
costs and fuel inefficiency.

Service your car .

As the colder weather approaches you will want to make sure that your
vehicle is in the best condition that it can be to deal with the colder weather.
If you car needs servicing and you decide to wait until the spring weather
you will find that your fuel consumption goes up dramatically.

Keep in mind that you may be putting snow tires on your car, further adding
to the decrease in fuel economy that you many experience during the months
of winter.


If you are traveling greater distances during the winter months you may have
to travel over roads that are experiencing winter conditions. Plan your trip
accordingly by trying to travel when the roads are clear and there is no
forecast of snow.



When it isn’t winter and there is no snow on the ground you should replace
your winter tires with summer tires or all season radials.

Big snow tires with deep treads use more gasoline than lighter tires. Many
times people leave their snow tires on all year round so that they can avoid
the hassle of taking their car to the mechanic.

The amount of savings that you can get out of changing your tires each
season should inspire to make that appointment with your mechanic rather
than weigh your car down all through the year, even when there is no
evidence of snow.

Store your winter tires in a place where they are free from moisture and dry
heat.

The better care you take of your winter tires the longer you can keep them,
reducing the amount of money that you spend maintaining your tires and
your car.

The same applies when you put your winter tires on your car and store your
summer tires or all season radials. You will want to make sure that they are
store correctly and are tightly covered.

Many people overlook the important of maintaining tires when it comes
tosaving at the gas pumps.

To maximize the most savings that you can achieve at the gas pumps you
need to pay attention to all the details of maintaining and driving your
vehicle.

KEEP THE OUT CAR CLEAN AND WAXED .

You can reduce the amount of drag on your car when you keep the exterior
clean and waxed. This will add some gas savings into your pocket.

It may seem like a small thing to do, and you most likely won’t notice any
difference at all in your fuel consumption, but keep in mind that every little
bit helps when it comes to reducing your gas costs and saving at the gas
pumps when you fill your car.

Many times when you purchase your gas at a gas station that has a car wash
you can receive money off coupons to use when you wash your car.
This is a great way to save money while keeping your car clean.

Tire maintenance

When you regularly rotate your tires and check them for uneven use and
wear you will find that you are saving in both tires and gas costs.

After you have an alignment done on your car most mechanics will also
rotate the tires. This doesn’t by any means mean that you should wait until
you need an alignment to get those tires rotated.

Check your tires regularly to see how they are doing on wear and tear.

If your tires are showing signs of balding you’ll want to replace them
immediately since the better your tires are the better fuel consumption you’ll
see.


Not only should you be maintaining the engine of your car, you should also
be paying attention to the tires that you are driving on.
Purchase a tire gauge and check your car’s tire pressure every month. When
you are driving around on tires that are under-inflated you can reduce the
fuel efficiency of your car by up to 2 percent for each pound that the tires are
under-inflated.

Under-inflated tires wear out faster, which again contributes to higher gas
consumption.

Not only will you save on gas consumption when you maintain your tires,
studies show that you will also save money on the maintenance of your
vehicle by up to $250 each year.

The best time to check your tire pressure is when it’s cool outside or in the
morning after your car has been sitting for several hours without driving.
Use appropriate tires for each season. When you put away your winter tires
in the warm weather you’ll be able to use them for at least two years.

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml

Paying attention to the alignment in your car.

You should be paying attention to the alignment in your car. Improper
alignment will cause a certain amount of engine drag, which will increase
the amount of gas that you are using.

The better maintained that car is the better all around performance that
you’ll get. Talk to your mechanic about your next alignment servicing.
One of the ways that you can tell if your car is due for alignment is if there is
a pulling on the steering wheel when you are driving.

If you are experiencing a type of pulling action it’s important that you
schedule an appointment to have an alignment done.

Replacing your filter in your car on a regular basis.

Studies at FuelEconomy.com suggest replacing the air filter in your car on a
C. Replacing a clogged air filter can improve the mileage that
you get with your car by up to 10 percent.

When you calculate that 10 percent into gasoline savings, you’ll be saving
up to 15 cents per gallon. You can ask your mechanic to replace the air filter
in your car or you can do it yourself.


Studies show that not only should you be replacing the air filter in your car
on a regular basis, you should also be maintaining and regularly replacing
the fuel filter.

The cleaner that your fuel filter is the more efficiently your vehicle is going
to run, saving you more money in fuel costs.

You can replace the fuel filter yourself or have it replaced when your car is
in for a regular maintenance checkup.

Make sure you Change the oil and that you are using the right grade of oil too .

Change the oil in your car on a regular basis. When you keep the oil in your
car clean you reduce the wear that is caused by friction in the moving parts
of your car’s engine.

Keeping track of your last oil change will save you money at the gas pump
and increase your fuel consumption.

If you are reluctant or unable to change the oil in your car on your own make
sure that you fuel up at a gas station that offers you full service.

This way you can ask the gas attendant to help you fill your car with gas as
well as take a look under the hood of your car to change the oil.



Make sure that you are using the right grade of oil that is required by your
car or truck. Oil grades are measured in viscosity, which determines how
much the oil can resist flow. Grades of oil include:

0W (this is the thinnest) (“W” stands for winter)

5W to 25W

20 to 60 (60 is the thickest)

Check with the owner’s manual that comes with your car for more
information about the grade of oil that is required by your car.

Make sure that you use the right grade of oil to ensure that your car runs as
smoothly as it should in all types of weather.

If you find that you are always running out of oil when you need it you can
buy car oil in bulk at stores such as Costco so that you always have oil
available for your vehicle.

If you can’t change the oil in the car yourself ask a family or friend to give
you a hand.

One of the best things that you can do is to keep your vehicle as well tuned .

One of the best things that you can do is to keep your vehicle as well tuned
as you possibly can.

This means taking note of those regularly scheduled maintenance checkups
that you so often ignore.

Studies indicate that a car with an engine that is poorly tuned will increase
the amount of fuel consumption from 10 to 20 percent.

Information found at www.fueleconomy.gov/ shows that when you tune up
a car that is due for a checkup or one that has emissions problems, you can
increase the gas mileage by up to 4.1 percent.

Source: www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/maintain.shtml

Pay attention to the signals that your car is giving you. When the red
message light on your dashboard lights up letting you know that it’s time to
“check your gauges” make sure that you have your car looked at as soon as
you can.

If you are uncertain when the last time was that you had your car serviced
you may be able to contact the mechanic that last did the work for you.
If they keep accurate records your mechanic will be able to give you a date
for your last maintenance visit and help you schedule a new one at the same
time.

Avoid buying gas from a just replenished gas station

When a gas station has its underground tanks filled, the particles at the
bottom of the tank are stirred up.

These particles can become mixed in with the gas that you are putting into
your car, which can lead to efficiency problems. The particles can clog your
fuel filter, causing your car to stall and start with some difficulty.

If the gas station that you have decided to stop at has the lowest gas price in
your area you may want to think about taking the time to come back at a
later time rather than stopping at the next gas station that is offering a higher
price for gas

Never purchase gasohol for your car .

You should never purchase gasohol for your car since it contains only twothirds
of the energy of gasoline.

This means that you would need to buy much more gasohol to go the same
distance on a tank of gasoline.

Gasohol is a mixture of ethanol (alcohol made from grain) and gas, and is
used by some farmers to help cut the amount of pollution in the air.

Even if you are traveling and it seems like the only fuel choice for miles is
gasohol try to avoid buying this type of adapted fuel.

Try not to drive your car when the gas gauge is on empty.

Try not to drive your car when the gas gauge is on empty.

You may think that you using very little gas when your car is on empty, but
you are in fact using more gas because your vehicle is running less
efficiently as it tries to accelerate and decelerate in a normal fashion.

Keep your gas level above the quarter tank mark if at all possible.

Avoid “topping off” at the gas pumps

Try to avoid “topping off” at the gas pumps. When you purchase just a bit
of gas at the gas station the pump doesn’t have enough time to really
activate, resulting in short bursts of fuel that may short change you from the
amount of gas that you are purchasing.

The best time to replenish your gas tank is when you have half a tank or less
left in your vehicle, or when you find a gas price that you just can’t afford to
miss

Why not to buy higher-octane gas !

For most cars these days, buying higher-octane gas is a waste of your
money. Regular unleaded has approximately 87 octane already and is fine
for your vehicle.

By avoiding buying high-octane gas you’ll be saving a large amount of
money over a period of time. High octane gas is always more expensive at the gas pumps so the next time that you feel guilty for filling up your SUV with regular gas you can be
assured that no harm will come to your vehicle.

Octane is simply a measurement of how difficult it is to ignite the gas in
your car and has nothing to do with the quality of the gas. If you are
experiencing engine pings, rattles, or knocks you can switch to high octane
gas.

However, you shouldn’t be experiencing any of those knocks and rattles if
you are keeping your vehicle maintained and making sure that you don’t
miss those scheduled maintenance checkups.

If you are driving a new model car you definitely shouldn’t be hearing any
pings or rattles and if you are you should take your vehicle to a mechanic.

Turning the Nozzle .

When you have finished filling up your gas tank try Cof the
hose a full 180 degrees.

This will drain a bit more gas into your tank; in some cases up to an entire
half cup that would otherwise be a bonus to the next gas customer.

Once you get into the habit of turning the hose you’ll find yourself doing it
without thinking. That extra half cup that you get each time that you fill
your gas tank can add up to a lot of extra gas at the end of the year that you
never have known about.

buy your gas from a gas station that is consistently busy

Try to buy your gas from a gas station that is consistently busy and therefore
has its underground tanks filled on a regular basis.

Gas stations that are slow will have gas that has been sitting in underground
tanks for longer periods of time, leading to gas contamination.
This contamination can mean that the gas you are purchasing is less
powerful than fresh gas and will decrease your fuel economy.

Try to time your visits to busier gas stations at those busy times but make
sure that you’re not in a rush to get anywhere.

If you’re late for an appointment you may find yourself giving up in
frustration if you have to wait to purchase your gas and then find yourself
moving over to a gas station that has a higher gas cost for the day.

Be more aware of the amount of fuel you use !

The more aware you are of the amount of fuel that you use the more you can
do to try to reduce your gas costs.

If you notice that your gas efficiency is decreasing it could be an indicating
factor that your car needs servicing.

Make weekly comparisons with your fuel log that you keep in you car to see
how much your gas consumption is going up and your mileage per gallon is
going down.

If you are finding that you are constantly seeing less and less performance
from your car and spending more for gas at the fuel pump then you’ll know
that you need to take action so that you can start seeing a savings in your gas
economy rather than a constant deficit.

Buy gas when its cooler out .

Gasoline becomes denser in colder temperatures. Gas pumps are set to
measure the volume of the fuel that you pump and not the density.
This means that if you fill up your gas tank in the cooler morning
temperatures, or in the colder evening hours, that you’ll be getting better gas
price economy. Try to fill up your gas tank later in the evening to avoid the
rush of day hours.

Some gas give you rebates on there gascards .

One of the ways that you can save money at the gas pump is by using a
gasoline credit card. When you have a gas card you’ll be able to get 5 or 10
percent rebate back on the purchase of your gas. ( Make sure your getting
some kind a rebate not all cards are the the same, If your not get a rebate
use cash )

This can amount to as much as $75 to $300 each year. If you have multiple
drivers in your family you’ll want to make sure that every car driving person
carries a gasoline credit card with them so that you can take advantage of
multiple gas sales.

Many gasoline companies are joining up with other retailers to give you
numerous savings at the gas pump.

You’ll be able to not only save on your gas purchase, but you’ll be able

shop around in your local area for the cheapest gas

You can try to shop around in your local area for the cheapest gas that you
can find but you shouldn’t go too far out of your way to try and get that best
price unless you’re already traveling in that direction anyway.

Once you start driving around looking for the gas pump that can beat the one
in your neighborhood you start to increase the amount of money that you
spend on your driving expenses.

Since your goal is to save money you would be defeating the purpose by
driving around for too long. Studies done by the AAA indicate that it will
cost you approximately 51.7 cents per mile to drive your car this year.
Keep in mind that the IRS will only allow a deduction of 36 cents per mile
so driving too far to get the cheapest gas isn’t always cost efficient.
While you are driving to a location that you would normally be going
anyway you can of course keep your eyes open for the cheapest gas.

How you maintain, drive and even load your car affects mileage.

Primer on Fuel Economy

How you maintain, drive and even load your car affects mileage.

Ultra-high gasoline prices have sent some searching high and low for ways to reduce their vehicle's fuel consumption. Some of the solutions they've turned to include devices that make outlandish claims of improved fuel economy, often by applying quasi-scientific methodology. Check out "Do You Believe in Magic" here.

There are, however, some proven things you can do to increase your vehicle's fuel efficiency for relief at the gas pump.

• Vehicle maintenance. The single most important thing you can do to improve your vehicle's gas mileage is to ensure that the tires are properly inflated. Under-inflated tires create extra rolling resistance, forcing the engine to work harder to push the car ahead, burning more gas. Also, replace spark plugs and air filters at scheduled intervals.They can waste gas if they're dirty.
• Junk in the trunk. Unload the useless junk many of us carry in our vehicles and try to keep items you take on a holiday trip to a minimum: added weight lowers fuel economy. Also, avoid at all costs carrying things on the roof; it increases a vehicle's aerodynamic drag-and fuel consumption.

• Air conditioner. Using the A/C puts an extra load on the engine. Try parking in a shady spot. That will lower the amount of heat the car absorbs and lighten the load on the air conditioner. Also, once the vehicle is cooled off, put the climate control system on the recirculation mode to help conserve gas.

• Driving style. Use your right foot in a gentle, sedate manner-and you'll save lots of gas. Accelerate and brake gently. And whatever speed you're accustomed to driving at on the highway, lower it. Also, combine errands with your daily commute and try to avoid unnecessary driving.

• Different car. Spring and summer are prime auto-buying months. If you're in the market for a new car and worried about gas mileage, keep this in mind: Many vehicles today are available with more than one kind of engine. Pick the one that's the most fuel-efficient. All-wheel drive may be a great safety feature, but its added weight can lower fuel economy. Stick with the base two-wheel drive to save gas. Also, lighter-colored cars absorb less heat, requiring less use of the A/C to cool them. So to save gas, consider getting a white car.

Online Fuel Gauge Report & Fuel Cost Calculator !

Using current gasoline prices from AAA's daily, online Fuel Gauge Report, as well as the latest highway fuel economy ratings from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the AAA Fuel Cost Calculator estimates the amount and cost of gasoline needed to complete a vacation trip. Although the total number of miles driven and prices paid for gasoline during your trip may vary from the estimates provided, the AAA Fuel Cost Calculator is intended to help you determine the cost of fuel needed to complete a vacation drive.

For more information on driving cost and fuel economy, please ask your local AAA club about:

AAA's Your Driving Costs

AAA's Gas Watcher's Guide

For information about the AAA Platinum Plus Visa, please visit:
www.aaa.com

Online Fuel Gauge Report : http://www.fuelgaugereport.com/sbsavg.asp

Fuel Cost Calculator : http://www.fuelcostcalculator.com/

For information on using public transit to reduce fuel use, click here.

Don't have to let high gas prices ruin your budget

You don't have to let high gas prices ruin your budgetNo matter how high gas prices go, you are still in control of how much you spend - or save - on gas.

The most obvious way to save gas is to cut back on driving. If you don't have to go anywhere, don't.

Instead of a Sunday afternoon drive, rediscover your back yard. Instead of going out to a movie, play a board game. Instead of driving to the park, take a walk with the kids.

Wait. If you have a couple of things to do, but they're not pressing, wait until the next two or three things need to be done. Until and unless you have an errand that needs to be done immediately, wait and plan an excursion.

After you've combined errands, plan your trip to cover the fewest miles possible, but take into account busy streets where you might have to wait through long traffic lights or you might become entangled in a traffic jam.

Take careful note of your options; sometimes a few blocks out of the way can save gas, too.
If you have to drive to work every day anyway, take advantage of your route and do errands on the way to or home from work. Even if you have to go a little out of your way, you'll save money over going home and then driving back some other time. Again, wait and do them all at the same time if possible.

Carpool if and when you can, and not just going to work. Make a shopping trip a family or neighborhood affair. Sharing rides will save half of your cost and if you want to get into it big time, you can even share a ride across the nation.

Drive to an area where you want to shop or have errands to run, park the car and cover your business on foot. I discovered that our Walmart backs up to our KMart and that I can walk it in about three minutes. It takes much longer than that to cover the distance in a car. By the time I leave the parking lot, go through three stop lights, make a turn and find a parking place, I could already be inside and shopping.

Walk whenever it's possible, not just between stores, but from home to a store, bank, or wherever you go. If you're not used to walking, take shorter trips, then work on making them longer. Remember that human beings' original transportation was walking. Our bodies are made to walk and with a little common sense, it won't hurt them.

Bicycles, mopeds, gas or electric scooters, and motorcycles are a lot easier on the gas bill than the most economical gas burning vehicle. Mileage can be up to 10 times better than an autombile. Just think. If you could save nine tenths of the gas bill you're paying now, would you complain?

If public transportation is at all practical, use it. Busses and trains can save a lot of money, especially when you commute regularly. Although it isn't always practical, when public transportation is available, take advantage of it.

When you do use your vehicle, be careful of the way you drive. It can make a real difference in how much gas you burn. Slow take offs and slow stops and keeping speed down works.
Keep tires properly aired and your vehicle tuned up to get the best mileage. You will save money over the cost of maintenance and your car will last longer, too.

If you find that you're still burning more gas than you want to, think about downsizing to a one family car, or try a car sharing program to cut your overall transportation costs. You might have to drive just as much, but you won't have to pay insurance, license taxes, etc., on a car you don't own.

Creative Ways To Save Gas

I don't know about you, but I'm wondering how high, exactly, these insane gas prices in the States are going to go. We seem to be holding steady at about $3.05 in my area. Here are some creative ways to save gas so you won't get sticker shock at the pump:
Find Cheap Gas Using the Web: With gas prices getting as high as they are, it's a good idea to do a bit of Web research first in order to find lower gas prices in your area.
Save Gas: Ways to keep your gas costs down while you drive.

Gas Rebates: "Summer of 2006 is destined to be the summer of highest prices ever for gas (so far) ; and given that Road Trips are the vacation choice for so many families, any relief in gas prices is good news."


And for a little bit of comic relief - check out Late-Night Jokes About High Gas Prices

Creative Ways To Save Gas

I don't know about you, but I'm wondering how high, exactly, these insane gas prices in the States are going to go. We seem to be holding steady at about $3.05 in my area. Here are some creative ways to save gas so you won't get sticker shock at the pump:
Find Cheap Gas Using the Web: With gas prices getting as high as they are, it's a good idea to do a bit of Web research first in order to find lower gas prices in your area.
Save Gas: Ways to keep your gas costs down while you drive.

Gas Rebates: "Summer of 2006 is destined to be the summer of highest prices ever for gas (so far) ; and given that Road Trips are the vacation choice for so many families, any relief in gas prices is good news."


And for a little bit of comic relief - check out Late-Night Jokes About High Gas Prices

Beat the petrol price rises Top 10 ways to cheaper motoring

Saving petrol makes economic sense. Prices at petrol pumps continue to rise and fuel, both diesel and petrol, is now more expensive than ever and prices are likely to continue rising. Monitoring fuel economy is more important than ever.There are other considerations too. Petrol and diesel vehicles produce carbon dioxide - a 'greenhouse' gas which has a significant effect on global warming and climate change. Pollution from cars may also adversely affect the health of vulnerable people - the elderly, asthmatics and those with heart or lung diseases.The best way to save money and the planet is to use your car less. One major insurance company is already considering 'pay as you go' motor insurance to make leaving your car at home even more attractive. Car sharing clubs are becoming more popular and many people are opting to work from home instead of commuting daily.

Here's how to save money

Don't cruise at 80 to 85 mph on motorways. Stick to the legal limit of 70 mph and save up to 4p a mile in small cars. (You can save even more at lower speeds - the Slower Speeds Initiative says that driving at 50 mph instead of 70 can cut your fuel bill by 30 per cent - but don't make this an excuse for obstructing other drivers.)

Check your tyre pressures often. Under-inflated tyres can cost you eight per cent more fuel (and they'll wear out faster too).

Have your car serviced regularly (or save even more money by doing it yourself). A well-maintained engine is more efficient and less polluting.

Drive smoothly and consistently; this can reduce fuel consumption by more than 10 per cent in urban areas. Saves wear and tear on brakes, tyres and suspension too. Fierce acceleration and harsh braking both cost money.

Use the gears so that your engine is operating at its most fuel efficient (usually the rpm where maximum torque is generated) - this could cut fuel consumption by up to 25 per cent.

Remove that roof rack! Fully loaded, a roof rack can add 30 per cent to fuel consumption. Even an empty ski rack may add seven to eight per cent.

Turn off the air conditioning system and the heated rear window when they're not needed to save 10 per cent at the pumps.

For potentially bigger savings, opt for a more efficient car - it will cause less pollution and will save you money on tax as well as fuel. Petrol/electric hybrids can travel 60 miles or more on a gallon of petrol!

Sharing a car on a journey divides the cost of the fuel and reduces congestion. Check out an online service such as Liftshare.com.

For short journeys, leave your car at home and walk or cycle instead. Use public transport where possible.

Keeping Gas Prices Minimal with the Fuel Efficient SUV.

With the rising gas prices, many people who own SUVs are feeling their bank accounts shrink every time they hit the gas pump. Last year at this time an SUV that held 25 gallons of gas cost $50 to fill up. This year the price to fill up that same tank has jumped to $75 and higher. This typically computes to $100-$125 per month more in gas expenses. For this reason, we are seeing more used SUVs on the market than ever before as people are trying to get better gas mileage out of their vehicles.

For those of you with large families, life without an SUV is practically impossible. You would have to travel places in separate cars, which would take more gas or you would have to switch to a mini van which is just not an option for some who try to steer clear of the "Mommy van" syndrome.

Thankfully, car manufacturers are listening to the SUV lovers of the world who have been asking for years to have a more fuel efficient SUV. This year, more than ever before, we are seeing an increase in the number of SUVs on the market that are offering good gas mileage. The new SUVs that boast good fuel efficiency are averaging approximately 23 mpg in the city and 27 mpg on the highway.

One of the best fuel efficient SUVs on the market is the Ford Escape Hybrid. It gets an amazing 36 mpg in the city and 31 mpg on the highway in the front-wheel-drive model. The four-wheel-drive Ford Escape Hybrid gets 33 mpg in the city and 29 mpg on the highway. It has excellent cargo space and drives comfortably. The Ford Escape Hybrid starts at about $27,000.

In addition to buying a fuel efficient SUV, you can change the way you drive to improve your fuel mileage. Aggressive drivers that accelerate rapidly from a complete stop burn more fuel then those who accelerate gradually. Therefore, you shouldn't act like you are at the ¼ mile track when the light turns green. The more gradually you accelerate, the better your fuel mileage, creating your own fuel efficient SUV in a sense.

Just because the gas prices are at an all time high does not mean that you have to give up your SUV for a smaller car or mini van. You can research fuel efficient SUVs online and you will find a variety of them available. With all the choices, you will be sure to find one that works for you and your bank account.

Hybrid Car Models: Are They Worth It?

With gas prices going out of the roof, it is no wonder people are looking toward hybrid cars for their saving grace. Hybrids have been on the market for years and are extremely popular in California and other eco-aware states. However, the average person likely knows very little about hybrid cars, trucks, and SUVs.

The biggest reason most people have bought hybrid car models in the past is because they are so much better for the environment. In fact, they let off much fewer pollutants than the average vehicle. With global warming being a big issue, those who are environmentally concerned are turning to hybrids for part of the answer to the problem. A bigger reason people today are drawn to hybrid car models however is because they really do get better gas mileage. Since they run partially on electric battery, they burn less fuel both in the city and on the highway. In fact, they can get about 11 mpg more than a traditional identical model of the same car. So, as the world is not likely to see a break in gas prices anytime soon, the hybrid car models are looking better and better each day.

If you are interested in learning more about hybrid car models, hop on the Internet and start researching different models. Almost every major car manufacturer is offering several hybrid models, with more expected to be on the market in the next few years. You can even find big trucks and SUVs made as hybrid car models, so there is literally something for everyone.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shirley_Simmons

Are you tired of the gasoline prices? Are you spending $85.00 to fill up your mini-van or $95 to $115.00 to fill up your SUV? Is this causing you to start having to charge this on your credit card rather than to pay for it out of your ATM Debit Card? Are you no longer volunteering to drive and letting someone else drive instead? Are you tired of the supply and demand of the market getting in the way of your quality of life? Do you feel helpless to it all?

Have you considered different driving techniques? Have you noticed yourself using cruise control more and gently pulling away from stop signs? Have you noticed yourself punching the gas peddle a lot less now? Have you noticed yourself coasting more to the stop signs and signals? Have you noticed others no longer doing jack-rabbit starts as soon as the light turns green? Interesting how much difference the gasoline prices make in our daily decisions from the way we drive, what road trips we go on how often we decide to leave our homes isn’t it.

Indeed America has altered their lifestyles to make-up for the high gasoline prices. And you know what this is exactly what you can do to lower prices too. If the demand is less and the supply is there, then the price will come down a little. We must conserve fuel, if for no other reason than just to save a little money for the better things in life. Think on this.

Save while you drive :

Hi All

Get your foot out of the carburetor!
That's old advice, before fuel injected engines were designed, but the idea works whether your auto has a carburetor or not. Regardless of how restricting it feels to some of us, the 55 mile per hour speed limit set a few years back is still the most efficient speed for most vehicles - and that extra speed won't get you there much faster, anyway.

Jumping is for frogs.
When the light turns red, take off slowly and smoothly - you'll gain speed almost as fast as if you punched the accelerator. And you'll save wasted gas that pours through your system unused.

Slow down and take it easy.
As soon as you can see you'll need to stop, take your foot off the accelerator and let the car slow down under it's own compression. You'll still have to use the brake (unless you started slowing down way back there, but you won't be using gas to get that last 300 or so feet.

"Revving" is old fashioned!
Years ago (watch some old movies if you don't believe me), "revving" or racing an engine was thought to be cool by the younger set, and sometimes still is. Not cool; it's stressing the engine, especially if you do it while the engine is cold. Even if it's warmed up, you're wasting gasoline and wear and tear on it unnecessarily. I repeat -it's not cool.

Don't overfeed your car.
High octane gasoline may be needed for some engines, but find out if yours will run just as well on less. On a nearly empty tank, put in five gallons of a lower octane than you normally use, and if there's no appreciable difference (except for the change in your pocket), find a lower octane gas when that runs out. Keep going until you can tell the difference, then step up one rating. Note: If your engine starts pinging or making other strange noises, increase the octane rating by adding a higer octane gasoline to your tank. This is why you need to test 5 gallons at a time.

Idling is for days off, not cars.
Don't sit still for more than two minutes with your engine running. It takes less gas to start the engine again than it does to idle longer than that. Pay attention to other times than just when you're in a traffic jam - sitting in the driveway, waiting in line anywhere, showing off your new car...

Give it some air.
Did you ever try to ride a bicycle with a low tire? It's hard to do! Much harder than riding one with fully inflated, firm tires. So keep the tires on your car inflated to the manufacturers recommendations. Check the pressure when the tire is cold - that's the right reading. If you have to go to the service station to inflate a tire, take the cold pressure reading first, (for each tire), and check it against the recommended reading. If you're a pound or two shy, make note of it. When you get to the service station, the reading will be higher (because heat expands the air in the tire), so go ahead and add the extra pound or whatever you needed when the tire was cold.

In other words:

Pressure when cold = 29 pounds
Manufacturer's recommendation = 32 pounds, or a difference of 3 pounds.

Pressure when hot = 32 pounds
Add 3 pounds = 35 pounds
When the tire is cold again, the pressure will be 32 pounds, which is what the manufacturer recommended, and is the proper pressure for this tire.

Let it sing and dance.
Well, it might not dance, but it will surely hum along if you tune it up. Check your air filter; if the dust won't shake out cleanly, get a new one. Make sure the spark plugs are clean and properly gapped, and the timing set right. Even if you don't do the work yourself, a tune-up will pay for itself shortly in better gas mileage. Don't carry extra baggage!
No, that's not an excuse for booting out your mother-in-law (I know, another bad mother-in-law joke), but do check your trunk and back seat now and then for unneeded "stuff". One spare tire on a rim, a tire tool, a jack and an emergency kit suited to your weather and driving conditions is all that's really necessary. The more pounds you haul around, the more gas it takes, simple as that.

Avoid artificial air.
Air conditioning is a super drain on your engine's efficiency, so don't use it unless you really need it. If you're within one or two minutes of your destination, turn off the air conditioner and let the fan continue to circulate the cold air in the car. It won't become unreasonably warm in that length of time. And don't buy into the myth that it always takes as much gas to drive with the windows open as it does using the air conditioner. There is some disagreement on the subject, but most advice says that at low speeds and stop and go traffic, it costs less to drive with the windows down, but on the highway, using an air conditioner is cheaper.

Stop when it's time to stop.
Take your foot off the gas completely for at least a few seconds before shutting off the engine. Don't rev the engine just before turning it off. It might sound cool to listen to it die like that, but you're shooting raw gas through the system. Yeah, the same gas you paid for a few minutes ago.

It might help to remember that at $1.50 a gallon, a wasted pint of gas costs you 19 cents. If you manage to waste a pint a day (and that's not hard to do), that's $5.70 a month. In a couple or three months or so, you get a "free" tank of gas. Not bad for just doing the things you know you should do anyway, is it?