Weekend Gas Watch Tracks Continued Rise in Fuel Prices

    LOS ANGELES--May 4, 2001--The average price of gasoline in Southern California, Southern Nevada and Arizona continued to rise during the last week, according to the Weekend Gas Watch, compiled by the Automobile Club of Southern California.
    The Weekend Gas Watch monitors the average price of gasoline at popular destinations for motoring trips.
    In the Los Angeles-Long Beach area, the average price of a gallon of unleaded regular gas rose 6.4 cents during the past week. In San Diego the average price was up 3.9 cents, and in the Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc area the average price rose 2.6 cents per gallon.
    In Las Vegas during the same period, the average price increased 1.5 cents, and in the Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz. area the average price rose 4.1 cents per gallon.
    "Every day this week we've seen a new record in terms of the price of regular gasoline," said Jeffrey Spring, public relations supervisor of the Auto Club. "There is some silver lining to this cloud, however. Crude oil and gasoline inventories have increased substantially, and in the coming weeks that could have an effect on prices."

Average prices as of 12:01 a.m. May 4.

Area                                   Regular   Mid-Grade   Premium

Los Angeles-Long Beach                  $1.850      $1.969    $2.001

San Diego                               $1.944      $2.069    $2.103

Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc        $1.979      $2.107    $2.141

Las Vegas                               $1.786      $1.882    $1.951

Phoenix-Mesa, Ariz.                     $1.668      $1.740    $1.840

    Many motorists may be spending more money than necessary because of a number of myths regarding gasoline. The top three gasoline myths are:

    1. One brand of gasoline is better than another. California law regulates the manufacture and formulation of gasoline so that there is uniformity. Gasoline bought from an independent is of the same quality as gasoline purchased from a name brand.

    2. I'm taking better care of my engine by buying more expensive mid-grade or premium gasoline. Unless the manufacturer specifically recommends higher-octane gasoline for your car, you are wasting your money buying the more expensive grades. In fact, tests indicate that if you are using mid-grade or premium gas in an engine designed for regular grade gasoline, you might reduce your fuel efficiency.

    3. I'll save gas by using cruise control. Cruise control works to keep the speed constant regardless of road conditions. Cruise control helps fuel efficiency on a level road. But your car can actually use more gas going up hills because the cruise control causes the transmission to shift into passing gear. A driver that monitors the speed and conditions of the road can actually use less gas than can a driver that depends on cruise control alone.

    Properly maintaining your vehicle is a critical component in reducing gas usage, according to Steve Mazor, principal automotive engineer for the Auto Club. Under-inflated tires, for example, can cut fuel economy by up to 2% per pound of pressure below the recommended level. Worn spark plugs and dirty air filters also increase fuel consumption. The Auto Club also offers the following gas saving tips.

--	Knowing the correct starting procedure for your car. Racing an engine to warm it up wastes fuel.
--	Minimizing the need to brake by anticipating traffic conditions. Be alert for slow-downs and red lights.
--	Using the air conditioner only when necessary. Air conditioning reduces fuel economy by about 5%.