By Jim Cameron
According to AAA, the average price of gasoline in Connecticut at the end of last week was $4.41. So here are some money saving and MPG-enhancing driving tips.
STOP SEARCHING: Do you drive around all day (wasting gas) looking to save a penny or two a gallon? That may seem satisfying but doesn’t make sense, just cents. Driving three miles to save two cents a gallon is like jogging to burn off a Tic Tac.
Instead use an app like GasBuddy or even Google Maps to find the cheapest price. Then decide if it’s worth the drive.
LIGHTEN YOUR LOAD: Driving around with a lot of junk in the trunk? Every 100 extra pounds of cargo can cut your MPG by one percent. And that unused roof rack? The wind resistance it creates can cut fuel economy 5 to 15% at highway speeds.
TURN ON THE AC: It may seem counter-intuitive, but at highway speeds this summer you should close your windows because the wind blowing around inside your car reduces its aerodynamics. When you park, try to find some shade so your car doesn’t get oven hot and require immediate AC when you get going again.
DRIVE WITH A LIGHT TOUCH: When the light turns green, accelerate slowly. When you reach your desired speed, let up on the pedal and coast. Try to maintain constant motion: even doing 5 mph is better than a full stop and restart. Drive in a way that avoids wasting motion you already paid for: use momentum to your advantage. Avoid hard acceleration and braking.
TURN YOUR ENGINE OFF: Don’t sit idling your engine. Letting your car run more than 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting it. Idling is the automotive equivalent to leaving the faucet running. PS: You don’t need your engine running to listen to your radio.
PLAN YOUR ROUTE: Combine your errands on a single route so you won’t be back-tracking. Five stops on one trip is more fuel efficient than two or three stops on separate trips along a repetitive route.
Leave early so you’re not racing to get where you’re going. And take a tip from UPS: avoid left turns whenever possible. They always mean you’re idling, getting going from a dead stop and burning up gas.
TECH CHECK: Cruise control helps on flat roads but can use more fuel on steep hills. Be sure your tires are at full pressure. If you have alignment issues, fix them. If your car is always pulling to one side you’re wearing out your tires as well as your wallet.
DITCH YOUR CAR: Ask yourself “Is this trip necessary?” If so, then ask “Could I do it without driving?”. Maybe by bike or even walking? The cheapest gallon of gas is the one you never buy. Try taking the bus or train to work. Or join a car pool so you can practice your karaoke.
TRADE UP, SMARTLY: If you’re shopping for a new (or used) car, calculate the all-in cost of ownership, not just the purchase price. That fancy, fully equipped (and very heavy) SUV is going to cost more to drive than a small, more fuel efficient set of wheels.
Admittedly, these tips are not new advice. We’ve known them for years. We’ve just ignored them until gas hit $4 again.
JIM CAMERON has lived in Darien for over 30 years. He serves on the Darien RTM and is Program Director of Darien TV79. He served 19 years on the CT Metro-North Rail Commuter Council, four as its Chairman. In 2014 he founded a new advocacy group, The Commuter Action Group which advocates on behalf of Metro-North riders. His newspaper column “Talking Transportation” runs in several newspapers as well as Greenwich Free Press. Archives can be found at www.talkingtransportation.blogspot.com
You can contact Jim at [email protected]