10 Tips for Cutting Gas Costs

04/18/96

The American Automobile Association offered drivers ten tips for cutting gasoline costs as prices at the pumps continued to rise. here they are:

• Keep tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires cut fuel economy by as much as 2 percent per pound of pressure below the recommended level.
• Accelerate gently, brake gradually and avoid hard stops.
• Do not purchase mid-grade or premium gasoline unless it is recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer or is needed to prevent knocking in an older vehicle. Using self-serve regular fuel compared to premium can save an average of 17 cents per gallon.
• Use the air conditioner only when absolutely necessary.
• Don't let the vehicle idle for more than a minute. Idling consumes half-a-gallon to one gallon of gas per hour and wastes more gas than restarting the engine.
• Check the engine oil level when buying gasoline to be sure the engine is lubricated properly.
• Fill-up at the self-service pump. Full-service regular unleaded costs nearly 24 cents more per gallon than self-service. If using self- service pumps, motorists or their automotive technician should look under the hood for signs of trouble at least once a month.
• Combine errands into one trip or go to one location to take care of as many errands as possible.
• Pack lightly when traveling and avoid carrying items on the vehicle's roof.
• Periodically calculate the vehicle's fuel economy performance. A loss of fuel economy could mean mechanical trouble.

AAA is a not-for-profit federation of 112 motor clubs with more than 1,000 offices providing nearly 39 million members in the United States and Canada with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.