Gas Mileage and Gas Prices » fuel http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com How to Increase Gas Mileage and Beat Gas Prices Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:36:28 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Driving to Thanksgiving Dinner is Different This Year http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/driving-to-thanksgiving-dinner-is-different-this-year/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/driving-to-thanksgiving-dinner-is-different-this-year/#comments Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:21:50 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=184 The good news this Thanksgiving for commuters is gas prices are down.  But even though gas prices are down, cut in half since the summer, fewer Americans will be on the roads driving to Thanksgiving Dinner this year.

CBS News reports: Nationally, the AAA says 41 million Americans were expected to travel more than 50 miles for the holiday, down about 1.5 percent, or 600,000 people, from Thanksgiving last year. Of those, about 4.5 million are expected to fly, down about 7 percent from last year, while around 33.2 million will drive, a decrease of about 1 percent.

It is the first decrease in holiday travel nationally since 2002, and the largest since the Thanksgiving that followed the terror attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

The real bad news is a 7% drop isn’t really enough to notice when you’re actually on the road, especially if you’re stuck in traffic this year.  That’s about a half a car every 5 not on the road from last year; and if you’re stuck in between 5 cars going 10 mph are you going to notice that half a car missing?  I guess it will be worth it, since you’ll know you’re spending about $1 less per gallon on gas than you were last year!

Happy Thanksgiving!

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/driving-to-thanksgiving-dinner-is-different-this-year/feed/ 4 Is This Gas? FlexFuel, E85 Ethanol, and BioFuel Explained http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/is-this-gas-flexfuel-e85-ethanol-and-biofuel-explained/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/is-this-gas-flexfuel-e85-ethanol-and-biofuel-explained/#comments Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:18:46 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=137 I recently noticed a 2009 Chevy Impala which had a “FlexFuel” designation on its trunk.  Underneath, in small letters, it said “E85 Ethanol.”  I asked the driver if he knew what that meant, and he said “No.”  I couldn’t believe it - he didn’t know the what the flex fuel designation meant on his own car!?!  It turns out there’s a whole new breed of FFV, or Flex Fuel Vehicles, out there on the market and many consumers don’t even know what they are.

First, let me explain what ethanol is.  Ethanol is known by several other names: ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol.  That’s right – it’s the heavy stuff we drink to get drunk.  But it can be used as a fuel or fuel additive.  The ironic truth is Henry Ford designed his first car, the Model T, to run completely on 100% ethyl alcohol way back in the early 1900s.  But today the U.S. gov’t doesn’t allow 100% pure ethanol as a fuel.

E85 Ethanol is a type of biofuel. In the U.S. it is mainly produced by distilling corn.  Not surprisingly, it’s more popular in the midwest where we have a lot of corn being grown.  According to Wiki, E85 is an “alcohol fuel mixture that typically contains a mixture of up to 85% denatured fuel ethanol and gasoline or other hydrocarbon (HC) by volume.”  There’s a lot of controversy around using E85 as a biofuel, since it may have an even bigger carbon footprint than traditional fuel.

E85 is a bit cheaper than gas; currently it’s about .20 to .30 cents less per gallon; of course, you’ve got to find a station which is selling it.  But there are plenty of cars on the market which will run on E85, and according to Chevy, they’ve been making FlexFuel cars which will run on biofuel for the past 8 years.

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/is-this-gas-flexfuel-e85-ethanol-and-biofuel-explained/feed/ 12 Cars with the Best Gas Mileage Tested http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/cars-with-the-best-gas-mileage-tested/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/cars-with-the-best-gas-mileage-tested/#comments Wed, 12 Nov 2008 13:56:55 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=132 Cars.com announced yesterday the results of it’s gas mileage car tests, and the results are interesting.  The cars tested were:

  • 2008 Ford Focus SES sedan: 2.0-liter four-cylinder, five-speed manual; 24/35 mpg city/highway (28 mpg combined)
  • 2009 Honda Civic EX-L sedan: 1.8-liter four-cylinder, five-speed auto; 25/36 mpg city/highway (29 mpg combined)
  • 2009 Pontiac G5 XFE coupe: 2.2-liter four-cylinder, five-speed manual; 25/37 mpg city/highway (30 mpg combined)
  • 2009 Toyota Corolla XLE sedan: 1.8-liter four-cylinder, four-speed auto; 27/35 mpg city/highway (30 mpg combined)

They fueled all 4 cars up at the same pump, then took them on a 300 mile test drive.  Here’s the gas mileage results:

  • 2009 Toyota Corolla XLE sedan: 36.4 mpg
  • 2009 Honda Civic EX-L sedan: 34.6 mpg
  • 2009 Pontiac G5 XFE coupe: 33.1 mpg
  • 2008 Ford Focus SES sedan: 31.0 mpg

I’m not too surprised that the Corolla performed well, as Toyotas are known for their gas mileage.  In fact I’m not surprised that the Japanese cars ranked better overall.  But I am surprised that the Ford Focus did so poorly, not even reaching its advertised highway MPG.  31 mpg is nothing to sneeze at, but considering the compromises Ford made to make the Focus (small, smaller engine, less features) it makes it a much less attractive car purchase.

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/cars-with-the-best-gas-mileage-tested/feed/ 15 Gas Prices Tumble Again; Gas is Cheap again! http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/gas-prices-tumble-again-gas-is-cheap-again/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/gas-prices-tumble-again-gas-is-cheap-again/#comments Sat, 08 Nov 2008 19:55:51 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=126 Gas prices are falling all over the country.  Here is just a sample of some of today’s headlines from different states:

Gas prices are dropping everywhere across the country, and it’s all due to the dropping price on oil due to recession fears.  The AP reports oil is down to $60/barrel, and they are attributing this to the decrease in demand for energy.  This seems to be a predictable side effect of a slowing economy.

Unemployment is up and retail sales are down, and these factors definitely impact the price of oil.  As oil prices come down, expect gas prices to continue to drop - some expect them under $2/gallon by the end of 2008.

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/11/gas-prices-tumble-again-gas-is-cheap-again/feed/ 0 Russia And Iran Form Gas Cartel; Evil Axis Controls US Fuel http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/russia-and-iran-form-gas-cartel-evil-axis-controls-us-fuel/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/russia-and-iran-form-gas-cartel-evil-axis-controls-us-fuel/#comments Tue, 28 Oct 2008 01:55:49 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=115 OK, first the really good news.  CNN reported yesterday that gas prices dropped so much over the past 2 weeks (.53 cents) that they’ve set another record.  And gas prices will continue to drop, albeit at a slightly slower pace.  That’s good news whether you’re getting 10 miles to the gallon with a v8 SUV or if you’re getting better gas mileage with a zippy new hybrid.

Now the bad news.  Remember the Axis of Evil?  Iran was one of them.  Still are.  Remember the Cold War, when Americans feared Russia and nuclear nightmare more than any terrorist group?  Well India Times reported today that Russia and Iran, along with Qatar, have decided to form an exclusive Gas Cartel, along the same lines as the OPEC group.  Russia, Iran and Qatar currently account for over 60% of global natural gas reserves, so they have a lot of gas.  So why are they doing this?

They want gas prices up.  Period.  The summer months found that many U.S. travellers simply stayed home, and the demand for gas decreased.  As a result, we’re seeing gas prices drop in record declines.  So guess who doesn’t like that?  The new “Big Gas Troika” as they’re being called.  They want prices back up over $3/gallon. Preferably $4.

This impacts Americans in several ways.  First of all, we’ve been on shaky ground lately with Russia anyway.  (Can you say ungrateful?)  Secondly, since President Bush has targetted Iran as one of our biggest enemies in the Axis of Evil, we’re also on extremely wary diplomatic grounds with them.

And what would happen if America felt it needed to invade Iran and Russia was one of it’s biggest commercial allies?  Let’s just say the best thing that could come of that scenario is gas prices at $5+ per gallon.

Currently there a lot of obstacles in their way; even if they form a Gas Cartel they can’t regulate gas prices on their own.  And Moscow is still saying it’s only a “talking club” and its membership is not binding on its members.  We’ll just have to wait and see how this develops.

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/russia-and-iran-form-gas-cartel-evil-axis-controls-us-fuel/feed/ 1 Gas Prices Below $3 and Falling http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/gas-prices-below-3-and-falling/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/gas-prices-below-3-and-falling/#comments Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:31:03 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=100 CNN reported today that gas prices are dropping below the $3 mark, giving American consumers worried about conserving fuel some much needed relief.  This information is based on the Daily Fuel Gauge Report released today by the American Automobile Association (AAA).

The national gas price average is now 2.781 a gallon, down 4.1 cents from yesterday and down $1.33 from the highest price reported by the AAA in July, which was $4.114.

The cause for these declining gas prices may not be what you think; Hybrid cars, conservational green environmentalists and the war in Iraq have nothing to do with it.  Apparently it’s because Americans have simply decided to drive less, and use less fuel.  What better way to increase gas mileage than to leave your car in the driveway?

Just 2 months ago in August people drove over 5.5% less than July, making it the sharpest decrease in miles traveled since the U.S. gov’t started compiling data omn how people drive.  Gas consumption for the past four weeks averaged 8.8 million barrels a day, or 4.3% lower, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Oil prices dropped $3.96 to $63.88 a barrel, and OPEC has stated it will cut production by 1 and a half million barrels/day starting next month.

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/gas-prices-below-3-and-falling/feed/ 2 Bad Mileage Mistakes: Are You Making Them? http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/bad-mileage-mistakes-are-you-making-them/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/bad-mileage-mistakes-are-you-making-them/#comments Thu, 16 Oct 2008 10:02:51 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=76 We all know about the common mileage mistakes that are hard on your wallet, while they waste gas in and out of the city, but are you at risk of making these mistakes? Are you one of the thousands of consumers that don’t get the most out of your gas mileage? Here are a couple common mistakes, and what you can do to fix them, while saving money on gas and increasing mileage before the next time you fill up your tank.

With the rising costs of fuel and the uncertainty within the economy we as consumers need to be prudent throughout our expenditures, and fuel is not immune to these personal budget cuts.

One of the most common mistakes that people make that wastes fuel is driving with the windows open during the summer on highways or roads in which the driver is able to travel at high speeds. This increases the pull of the vehicle, causing more gas to be exuded through the process of trying to pull the vehicle forward, against the wind.  This can be avoided easily enough by using low levels of air conditioning or opening the sun-roof while traveling at high speeds throughout the summer season.

Did you know that where you park has a lot to do with what it is going to cost to fill up at the pump? Parking in the sun causes the gas to become hot, and what happens to hot gas? It begins to evaporate. Parking in the shade can stop this process while cutting costs at the pump. Consider parking in the shade or in an indoor parking garage to save gas.

These two mistakes are some of the most common, especially for drivers of gas guzzling SUVs. Taking the time to avoid these two bad habits could save those valuable dollars when it comes time to fill up your vehicle.

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/bad-mileage-mistakes-are-you-making-them/feed/ 3 Top Ten Ways to Save Money, Conserve Fuel and Beat Gas Prices http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/top-ten-ways-to-save-money-conserve-fuel-and-beat-gas-prices/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/top-ten-ways-to-save-money-conserve-fuel-and-beat-gas-prices/#comments Tue, 14 Oct 2008 23:17:30 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=42 Are you like the thousands of consumers that are trying to increase gas mileage, than this list will help! Here are the top ten ways to cut costs at the pump and save money on gas – all through simple techniques that you can implement today! Are you ready to go easy on your wallet?

1. Stop using air conditioning in the city. Using air conditioning means that more gas will be wasted. Do you really need to use it? Think about your wallet, think about the environment and stop using the air conditioning within the vehicle. To cut fuel costs, try parking in the shade. With gas prices as high as they are, we want to save as much as possible, right? Air conditioning can lower the efficiency of fuel up to twenty percent – is the five minutes of cool air really worth it?

Top Ten Ways to Save Money, Conserve Fuel and Beat Gas Prices2. Stick to the speed limit. Did you know that each ten miles you go over the speed limit that you exude ten percent more gas? Maybe there is something to be said about driving the speed limit. Not only will it save money on gas, it will save money on any speeding tickets that could be accrued through the reckless driving. Driving ten miles less than the speed limit could conserve up to two miles per gallon of gas.

3. Use loyalty cards to obtain rewards for gas and other purchases at the fueling station which can save up to fifty cents per gallon at some filling stations.

4. Ensure that your vehicle is in optimum working order. When hoses have leaks, or the vehicle has minor repairs required, other parts of the vehicle have to work overtime to compensate for these problems. What does this mean for fuel efficiency? It decreases because of the extra output required from the engine.

5. Did you know that something as simple as tightening the gas cap can save valuable money at the pumps while increasing fuel mileage?

6. Removing extra components of the vehicle such as snow tires and roof racks can increase fuel efficiency.

7. Same goes for weight. For each two-hundred fifty pounds of extra weight that the car is forced to carry, the gas mileage decreases at least one mile per gallon. Is this the time to remove extra weight from the vehicle?

8. Are you one of those people that drive with your foot on the brake? Doing this can cause the vehicle to drag, exerting extra gas and taking a toll on your wallet at the pump. Not only will this practice cause valuable gas to be lost but it will also wear out brakes sooner, causing more money in upkeep of the vehicle.

9. Fill up once, and fill up all the way! Filling up the tank means fewer trips to the fueling stations. This means, less gas spent travelling to the pumps, which means saving more gas!

10. Consider running all errands in one day, or in the same area of the city to conserve gas. Using this technique helps to conserve gas and can save hundreds of dollars per year.

Using these tips could save a bundle, and with the high costs of gas – who doesn’t want to save money at the pumps? In this economy informed consumers are transitioning into fuel conserving patrons, and its time that you jumped on the bus!

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]]> http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/top-ten-ways-to-save-money-conserve-fuel-and-beat-gas-prices/feed/ 15 The Cheapest Gas Prices in Your Area http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/the-cheapest-gas-prices-in-your-area/ http://www.fueleconomyhelp.com/2008/10/the-cheapest-gas-prices-in-your-area/#comments Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:03:33 +0000 Fuel Economy Advisor http://fueleconomyhelp.com/?p=8 This is a pretty handy map I found while browsing around the web.   Just enter your city and state or zip code and the map will zoom in on your location and show gas prices at various gas stations in your area.  The map tool is hosted by GasBuddy and relies on various local “spotters” in your area to spot and record gas prices.  While it may not help you get better gas mileage, it could help you save a few miles per gallon by not driving around looking for the lowest priced gas station.

Provided by GasBuddy.com
Click here to add this map to your website.

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