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Gulf oil braces for Gustav Friday, August 29, 2008
CNN Money -- NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- With Tropical Storm Gustav setting its sights on the Gulf of Mexico, oil facilities in the region are facing their first major threat since 2005, when Hurricanes Rita and Katrina knocked out nearly every barrel of oil production and sent prices soaring to then-record levels. But this time around, if Gustav intensifies and heads into the Gulf as expected, experts say reinforcements have made production far less vulnerable than it was three years ago. Drilling rigs and production platforms moored to sea floor in the Gulf had been attached with eight lines, and are now required to be moored with 12 to 16 lines.
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	Friday, August 29, 2008 CNN Money -- NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- With Tropical Storm Gustav setting its sights on the Gulf of Mexico, oil facilities in the region are facing their first major threat since 2005, when Hurricanes Rita and Katrina knocked out nearly every barrel of oil production and sent prices soaring to then-record levels. But this time around, if Gustav intensifies and heads into the Gulf as expected, experts say reinforcements have made production far less vulnerable than it was three years ago. Drilling rigs and production platforms moored to sea floor in the Gulf had been attached with eight lines, and are now required to be moored with 12 to 16 lines. Visit CNN Money for full article

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sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:7,039 Points:627,855 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 11:17:46 AM	Ignore sluggopyle Report Abuse
	billsandi- I believe that figure referred to Katrina plus Rita. There was little time between the two where an evaluation of Katrina alone could have been done, so that seems like the combination.
gas101CA All-Star Author California Posts:632 Points:74,855 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 11:00:09 AM	Ignore gas101CA Report Abuse
	we should leave now before it is too late
billsandi Champion Author Lexington Posts:5,424 Points:985,780 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 3:07:59 AM	Ignore billsandi Report Abuse
	What is meant by: "The U.S. Minerals Management Service reported that the hurricanes totally destroyed 113 offshore oil platforms." Are they talking about all hurricanes? Just Katrina? Or what?
runningmp Champion Author Corpus Christi Posts:8,370 Points:1,124,765 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:41:00 AM	Ignore runningmp Report Abuse
	John, I suggest you look at how it does affect the oil industry. How many personnel do you think the oil companies evacuate off the oil rigs. Why not tell us how many oil rigs were damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The U.S. Minerals Management Service reported that the hurricanes totally destroyed 113 offshore oil platforms.
LuckyTheCabbie Sophomore Author Texas Posts:198 Points:36,425 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:38:35 AM	Ignore LuckyTheCabbie Report Abuse
	Texas oh Texas! Brace youselves!
h20s67 Veteran Author Ohio Posts:261 Points:339,020 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:37:03 AM	Ignore h20s67 Report Abuse
	So what will their excuse be now for raising prices, since they seems to be better prepared for the worst.
weenerdog Champion Author Detroit Posts:1,652 Points:302,310 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:35:00 AM	Ignore weenerdog Report Abuse
	Better brace those gas station price signs with some bigger numbers. Wouldn't want them to blow away.
grouch311 All-Star Author Illinois Posts:840 Points:187,245 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:26:57 AM	Ignore grouch311 Report Abuse
	jay4: can you get another line? that one is way old.
GasaHawg Veteran Author Texas Posts:477 Points:95,555 Joined:Nov 2005	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:25:59 AM	Ignore GasaHawg Report Abuse
	Why on earth should a storm cause a rise in prices? Because it is a free market full of blood sucking ticks.
RovingOkie67 All-Star Author Arizona Posts:558 Points:191,970 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:23:56 AM	Ignore RovingOkie67 Report Abuse
	I imagine the price of oil will jump $20 a barrel once the aftermath of Gustav occurs, this hurricane is going to be a category 5 by the time it reaches landfall in the U.S.
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:7,039 Points:627,855 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:17:22 AM	Ignore sluggopyle Report Abuse
	?? what exactly is "old" about this news? This thing just went through Havana hours ago. "Old"?? Are you insane??
JohnLev All-Star Author Orange County Posts:955 Points:183,490 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:16:34 AM	Ignore JohnLev Report Abuse
	I doubt that Gustav will be much of a issue to the oil industry.
VetteBlue Champion Author San Jose Posts:2,853 Points:605,690 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:15:59 AM	Ignore VetteBlue Report Abuse
	Especially New Orleans.
Rageagainsttm Champion Author Tampa Posts:1,907 Points:430,115 Joined:Jul 2007	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:13:30 AM	Ignore Rageagainsttm Report Abuse
	aint happened her eyet.
BlackHorse All-Star Author Twin Cities Posts:533 Points:230,815 Joined:Dec 2002	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:12:52 AM	Ignore BlackHorse Report Abuse
	old news
jay4 Champion Author Colorado Springs Posts:2,628 Points:708,725 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:11:23 AM	Ignore jay4 Report Abuse
	Stop greed & speculation (60%of gas price); let's conserve & convert!
bow22ler Champion Author Houston Posts:1,622 Points:522,380 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:10:20 AM	Ignore bow22ler Report Abuse
	old news
boolphrog Champion Author Connecticut Posts:4,150 Points:741,795 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:08:48 AM	Ignore boolphrog Report Abuse
	Live and learn - but Mother Nature can learn too so watch out
Takmygas Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:2,068 Points:283,755 Joined:Dec 2007	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:08:43 AM	Ignore Takmygas Report Abuse
	I think someone should do better research for this story...
fastfreddy38 All-Star Author Ontario Posts:855 Points:909,900 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:05:04 AM	Ignore fastfreddy38 Report Abuse
	A repeat of history!!
RLH68 Champion Author Orlando Posts:1,995 Points:412,975 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 1:04:57 AM	Ignore RLH68 Report Abuse
	As of this writing, Gustav is a catagory four (4) hurricane (140 mph maximum sustained winds) and expected to become a catagory five (5) hurricane (156 mph+ maximum sustained winds) by the time it reaches land. Somebody sure made Mother Nature mad!
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:7,039 Points:627,855 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:57:55 AM	Ignore sluggopyle Report Abuse
	=>Not a drop was spilled after katrina I sure hope that it do not happen now. <= I don't have a clue where you people get this unmitigated CRAP and even less idea why you keep parroting it. True, not "a drop" was spilled. More like twelve million gallons. "Not a drop", my ass.
MNTraveler Sophomore Author Minnesota Posts:205 Points:61,060 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:57:29 AM	Ignore MNTraveler Report Abuse
	Higher prices
TBONE3 All-Star Author Pennsylvania Posts:607 Points:356,930 Joined:Mar 2005	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:50:08 AM	Ignore TBONE3 Report Abuse
	Rhe next few days will show whether planners did well in thEir olanning and correctIve actions. It's going to be an interesting week. Only time will tell. THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS!!!
dpgas Veteran Author New York Posts:488 Points:140,500 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:47:07 AM	Ignore dpgas Report Abuse
	As you see the whole: "drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge ... would only save the consumer 1.8 cents per gallon". What about a rig or two affected by a hurricane? BIG BULL! These articles are only lies, to give common people the "reason" why oil companies steal more money from their pockets!
dpgas Veteran Author New York Posts:488 Points:140,500 Joined:Oct 2004	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:46:53 AM	Ignore dpgas Report Abuse
	"Here are the facts about the Republican “Drill More” Rhetoric: · The fact is 80 percent of the oil available on the Outer Continental Shelf is already open for leasing—but the oil companies have decided it’s not worth their money to drill there. The Bush Administration’s own Energy Information Administration says drilling the OCS would have no impact on price until 2030, and then it would be ‘insignificant.’ · The fact is that drilling in the Arctic Wildlife Refuge wouldn’t yield any oil for 10 years—and then would only save the consumer 1.8 cents per gallon in 2025. · All told, the U.S. has only 1.6 percent of world’s known oil supply. But every day, Americans use nearly a quarter of the world’s daily oil consumption. The fact is, we can’t drill our way to energy independence."
dred001 Veteran Author San Jose Posts:403 Points:37,800 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:41:24 AM	Ignore dred001 Report Abuse
	hold on to your hats and wallets
VetteFan Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,617 Points:422,085 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:35:20 AM	Ignore VetteFan Report Abuse
	A catagory 5 storm? You bet I'd be looking for work some place else.
GLCSHADOW Veteran Author Oregon Posts:380 Points:674,205 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:25:46 AM	Ignore GLCSHADOW Report Abuse
	I'd move away from New Orleans and never return. I wouldn't want to live in a city that was below sea level.
Drill_It All-Star Author Michigan Posts:733 Points:121,985 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:19:11 AM	Ignore Drill_It Report Abuse
	Gulf oil, Middle-East oil.....we just cant win.
Crumbfel Champion Author Virginia Posts:4,326 Points:780,235 Joined:Aug 2006	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:18:42 AM	Ignore Crumbfel Report Abuse
	Let's hope the government is ready this time -- Good Job Brownie another mess we failed to fix, and the oil stayed in the tanks to boot.
Pede Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,100 Points:147,605 Joined:Apr 2007	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:13:37 AM	Ignore Pede Report Abuse
	Not a drop was spilled after katrina I sure hope that it do not happen now.
rxman1 Champion Author Toledo Posts:1,016 Points:300,220 Joined:Nov 2007	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:09:44 AM	Ignore rxman1 Report Abuse
	Better to be prepared than not.
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:7,039 Points:627,855 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:08:41 AM	Ignore sluggopyle Report Abuse
	NOAA has now revised the track back to the east, more at Baton Rouge... [Edited by: sluggopyle at 8/31/2008 12:08:55 AM EST]
eddyp94 All-Star Author Ontario Posts:906 Points:227,280 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:07:14 AM	Ignore eddyp94 Report Abuse
	I hope it misses...
GooseMI Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:1,713 Points:382,565 Joined:Sep 2007	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:06:41 AM	Ignore GooseMI Report Abuse
	They are designed to weather this, take a break and breath.
YLHandyman Champion Author Orange County Posts:1,386 Points:228,960 Joined:Feb 2008	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:05:22 AM	Ignore YLHandyman Report Abuse
	Maybe they will need 20 lines.
Cretired Champion Author Louisiana Posts:1,730 Points:764,910 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: 8/31/2008 12:02:34 AM	Ignore Cretired Report Abuse
	We'll soon see if there is a diffrence.
sluggopyle Champion Author North Carolina Posts:7,039 Points:627,855 Joined:Dec 2005	Message Posted: 8/30/2008 11:57:47 PM	Ignore sluggopyle Report Abuse
	NedW and silverdesk- plans for oil reserves in 18 to 22 years don't really apply to a hurricane happening in real time. Wanna take action- stockpile some gas. [Edited by: sluggopyle at 8/30/2008 11:59:21 PM EST]
takethe_point All-Star Author Omaha Posts:732 Points:27,780 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 8/30/2008 11:56:57 PM	Ignore takethe_point Report Abuse
	Save fuel, Money & Palnet BE A SMOOTH OPERATOR Start the car and immediately, but gently, drive away. Don't leave your car idling. Today's cars don't need to warm up. Start slowly, avoiding rapid acceleration. Jack-rabbit starts are terrible fuel wasters. Aim to maintain a constant speed. Every time you pump the accelerator, you are pumping more fuel into the engine. Drive at posted speed limits - that's a tip that may save a life as well as fuel. EASY ON THE A/C Minimize the use of the air conditioning system. Rather than run it continuously, use the vent setting as much as possible. When you get to your destination, park in the shade to reduce the need for using the air conditioner. STREAMLINE Avoid piling a lot of luggage on the roof rack. The added weight on the frontal area drags on the car and will hurt fuel economy. Don't drive with your windows wide open. That increases aerodynamic drag at highway speeds and lowers fuel economy. TIRES & WHEELSHave a professional align your front wheels. Wheels that are pointing in the same direction fight with each other, wasting fuel (and tires).K N Air filter image Replace filters regularly Pretty much covered above. Oil, air and fuel filters should be changed every three months or 3,000 miles whichever comes first. Dirty filters will rob your car of performance and use up more gas since less air gets in thereby creating a richer gas mixture. The low cost of a filter will easily pay for itself in gas savings and a healthier engine. K & N makes premium air filters for most makes and models of cars that are washable and more breathable than conventional paper air filters. image Keep your car clean A car that is kept clean with a smooth waxed surface offers less wind resistance thus increasing your fuel savings so wash and wax that car. Cyclists and swimmers know this and so should you. Remember all the above are little things that add up to major gas savings over the life-span of your car. Buy gasoline in the mornings or late evenings Not many car drivers know about this one. Gas is more dense when it is cooler. In other words, it is more concentrated. So the best times to buy gas are at night or early in the morning before the temperature rises. Since gasoline is sold by volume and not by density it's best to take advantage of this little known fact and also enjoy the shorter lines at the gas pump. image Use regular octane gas For many cars, though there are some exceptions, regular octane gas is all you'll ever need as the engine's electronics will help retard knocking... Even if your car specifies premium gas, try the medium grade and see how that works as you may find that it works just fine saving you some money. To see if your car can run well on regular octane gas take a look at your owner's manual and see what gas they recommend. If regular is explicitly mentioned then you can safely use it and reap the savings. If on the other hand it mentions premium or high octane gasoline then you'll need to experiment. When your car's gas tank is nearing empty, fill up halfway with the next lower grade (medium grade/octane) and keep tabs on how the car runs. If you notice hesitation or hear any pinging or knocking noises immediately go back to premium. Don't top off Excess gas will simply evaporate so once the pump clicks off remove the gas nozzle. image Get that last drop of gas We just told you not to top-off, but that doesn't mean you can't get every little bit of gas that you've already paid for. Before removing the nozzle from the car, twist it slightly so that it is upside down and tap a few times. Whatever gas is still there now goes into your tank and not to the next driver. Doing this also prevents the gas trickles that can run down the side of your car or get on your clothes and shoes. imageTighten the gas cap Gas will evaporate if the gas cap is not properly tightened. Tighten till you hear it click a few times. In fact some cars will throw up the "Check Engine" light if the gas cap is not properly tightened so check the gas cap before bringing the car in for costly service. If you loose your car's original gas cap it is strongly recommended that you purchase an original from your car dealer and avoid an after-market one. Remember, Tighten the gas cap after each fill-up! image Find cheap gas prices in your area Get to know and patronize the gas stations in your area and on your commute route that routinely have the best prices. You'll usually find the best gas prices outside the congested urban areas so if you happen to be traveling that way it may be best to wait. Consider a gas rebate credit card Many oil companies and major credit cards now offer cash rebates on gas so check out the offers as it may save you some money when you buy gas. Suddenly, buying a fuel-efficient car is fashionable again if not a downright necessity due to today's soaring gas prices. Back in the 1970s and throughout the 1980s the emphasis was how many miles per gallon (MPG) could an auto maker squeeze out of their engines. Many may recall the old Honda Civic and the CRX from the 1980s that boasted getting around 50 MPG on the highway. The Honda Civic CRX sold very well despite it being only a two-seater and was dirt cheap to buy and operate. Consumers realized that saving gas was important to the environment and their wallets. As the 1990s arrived, being fuel efficient was just a distant memory as consumers started to go for the newest king-size vehicle on the road, the sport utility vehicle a.k.a. SUV. These SUVs were a throwback to the pre-oil embargo 70s were everyone had a huge gas guzzling car. We now fast forward to the 21st century and we once again face ever increasing oil prices and constraints on supply while demand continues to skyrocket. The prominence of an SUV or two in every family along with growing demand from emerging countries has forced many to rethink their idea of the family car. Saving gas and buying a fuel efficient car is important. Buying a new car If you are in the market for a new car chances are you may be tempted to get the largest vehicle you'll ever need. For example you decide you'll get a minivan with third row seating because once or twice a year you may have need for that. Far better would be to buy what you will actually use on a daily basis, which might be a thrifty 4-cylinder sedan and for those rare occasions you need more then you can simply rent the larger vehicle. Hybrid cars and SUVs Honda Accord Hybrid Sedan imageThe Toyota Prius hybrid and the Honda Accord Hybrid has finally brought together gasoline and electric power to the public. Most of the time a hybrid runs on gas, but when stopped runs off the electric engine, which is why they get better mileage in the city. Toyota Prius Hybrid image While initially more expensive than traditional gasoline powered cars the increased gas mileage will in time make up for the higher price tag. The Toyota Prius, which is the most popular hybrid car gets 60 MPG in the city and 51 MPG on the highway. The ever popular Camry is due to have a hybrid model sometime in 2007. More auto manufacturers such as Ford and Chevrolet are coming out with hybrids as well so you'll soon have plenty to choose from in the dealer showroom. Buying a diesel engine car is also an option since diesel has a higher energy density than gas, which makes it more efficient. In some cases as much as an additional 10 MPG can be had with a modern diesel engine as compared to a gasoline engine. Another fringe benefit of owning and operating a diesel powered car is that they are more robust so it's not unusual to see diesel cars with 300,000 miles on the odometer. Lastly, diesels offer more torque, which is great if you are hauling a little extra weight around. Car and SUV makers that offer diesel engines in the U.S. are Volkswagen, Mercedes, GMC, Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge and Chrysler.Mainly seen on city transit buses, CNG or Compressed Natural Gas vehicles are starting to make inroads in the U.S. especially with companies and government agencies with large fleets of cars. In Europe the Opel Zafira, which is a part of GM, has been available since 2003. According to Opel, "The Zafira CNG has a 14-liter gasoline reserve tank. This enables the driver to switch to gasoline when the CNG tanks are nearing empty and there are no natural gas filling stations in the area." While the rest of this site gives you tips and hints to save gas by modifying your driving or maintenance routines there are alternatives. image Carpool Pair up with an another person at work who lives in your general area or join an organized carpool. You'll save money and share the driving so you can actually sleep or get work done during the commute. The American Automobile Association, says it costs an average of 26.2 cents per mile to drive a car. This includes gasoline, oil, maintenance, tires, and depreciation. For a 40-mile round-trip commute, this comes up to $10.48 per day, $220 monthly, and $2640 annually. Tolls and parking are additional. image Telecommute instead of driving to work More and more businesses are seeing the value of allowing their employees to work a few days from home. Some even feel that employees are more productive when they work from home. If your employer allows it then you should consider the telecommute option as it relieves you from having to deal with the frustration of driving to work that day thus saving you gas and money. Walk Do it the old fashioned way and enjoy the health and financial benefits of walking to wherever you need to go. Most healthy people can easily walk four miles in an hour. bicycle commute photo Ride your bicycle Get in shape and save gas and money when you ride your bike to do routine errands and trips around town. In congested areas it's not unusual for a bicyclist to make better time than a bus or car and have an easier time because there are no parking costs or hassles of finding a space. Many buses now have bicycle carriers affixed to the front of the bus making it even easier to combine the two. image Use public transit Take the bus or train to work or for trips around town. Most local transit agencies have their schedules available online so it's easy to plan a quick trip around town or even a distant location. As mentioned above many buses and even trains will allow you to take your bicycle along for the ride, but check for any restrictions. Try a Zip Car Strange name yes, but the concept is akin to a community car that you use only when you need it and then return it so the next person can use it. The price includes gas and insurance and the cars range from a Toyota Prius to a Mini or even a BMW 30 tips on how to save on gas!Save on your gas price! The surest way you can improve your fuel cost problem is to change your motoring habits. Listed below under four categories are 30 effective methods of doing so... no need to buy expensive add-on equipment. ENGINE WARM-UP 1. Avoid prolonged warming up of engine, even on cold mornings - 30 to 45 seconds is plenty of time. 2. Be sure the automatic choke is disengaged after engine warm up... chokes often get stuck, resulting in bad gas/air mixture. 3. Don't start and stop engine needlessly. Idling your engine for one minute consumes the gas amount equivalent to when you start the engine. 4. Avoid "revving" the engine, especially just before you switch the engine off; this wastes fuel needlessly and washes oil down from the inside cylinder walls, owing to loss of oil pressure. 5. Eliminate jack-rabbit starts. Accelerate slowly when starting from dead stop. Don't push pedal down more than 1/4 of the total foot travel. This allows carburetor to function at peak efficiency. HOW TO BUY GASOLINE 6. Buy gasoline during coolest time of day - early morning or late evening is best. During these times gasoline is densest. Keep in mind - gas pumps measure volumes of gasoline, not densities of fuel concentration. You are charged according to "volume of measurement". 7. Choose type and brand of gasoline carefully. Certain brands provide you with greater economy because of better quality. Use the brands which "seem" most beneficial. 8. Avoid filling gas tank to top. Overfilling results in sloshing over and out of tank. Never fill gas tank past the first "click" of fuel nozzle, if nozzle is automatic. HOW TO DRIVE ECONOMICALLY 9. Exceeding 40 mph forces your auto to overcome tremendous wind resistance. 10. Never exceed legal speed limit. Primarily they are set for your traveling safety, however better gas efficiency also occurs. Traveling at 55 mph gives you up to 21% better mileage when compared to former legal speed limits of 65 mph and 70 mph. 11. Traveling at fast rates in low gears can consume up to 45% more fuel than is needed. 12. Manual shift driven cars allow you to change to highest gear as soon as possible, thereby letting you save gas if you "nurse it along". However, if you cause the engine to "bog down", premature wearing of engine parts occurs. 13. Keep windows closed when traveling at highway speeds. Open windows cause air drag, reducing your mileage by 10%. 14. Drive steadily. Slowing down or speeding up wastes fuel. Also avoid tailgating - the driver in front of you is unpredictable. Not only is it unsafe, but if affects your economy, if he slows down unexpectedly. 15. Think ahead when approaching hills. If you accelerate, do it before you reach the hill, not while you're on it. GENERAL ADVICE 16. Do not rest left foot on floor board pedals while driving. The slightest pressure puts "mechanical drag" on components, wearing them down prematurely. This "dragging" also demands additional fuel usage. 17. Avoid rough roads whenever possible, because dirt or gravel rob you of up to 30% of your gas mileage. 18. Use alternate roads when safer, shorter, straighter. Compare traveling distance differences - remember that corners, curves and lane jumping requires extra gas. The shortest distance between two points is always straight. 19. Stoplights are usually timed for your motoring advantage. By traveling steadily at the legal speed limit you boost your chances of having the "green light" all the way. 20. Automatic transmissions should be allowed to cool down when your car is idling at a standstill, e.g. railroad crossings, long traffic lights, etc. Place gear into neutral position. This reduces transmission strain and allows transmission to cool. 21. Park car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear; avoid reverse gear maneuvers to save gas. 22. Regular tune-ups ensure best economy; check owner's manual for recommended maintenance intervals. Special attention should be given to maintaining clean air filters... diminished air flow increases gas waste. 23. Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment. Bent wheels, axles, bad shocks, broken springs, etc. create engine drag and are unsafe at high traveling speeds. 24. Remove snow tires during good weather seasons; traveling on deep tire tread really robs fuel! 25. Inflate all tires to maximum limit. Each tire should be periodically spun, balanced and checked for out-of-round. When shopping for new tires, get large diameter tires for rear wheels. Radial designs are the recognized fuel-savers; check manufacturer's specifications for maximum tire pressures. 26. Remove vinyl tops - they cause air drag. Rough surfaces disturb otherwise smooth air flow around a car's body. Bear in mind when buying new cars that a fancy sun roof helps disturb smooth air flow (and mileage). 27. Auto air conditioners can reduce fuel economy by 10% to 20%. Heater fan, power windows and seats increase engine load; the more load on your engine, the less miles per gallon. 28. Remove excess weight from trunk or inside of car - extra tires, back seats, unnecessary heavy parts. Extra weight reduces mileage, especially when driving up inclines. 29. Car pools reduce travel monotony and gas expense - all riders chip in to help you buy. Conversation helps to keep the driver alert. Pooling also reduces traffic congestion, gives the driver easier maneuverability and greater "steady speed" economy. For best results, distribute passenger weight evenly throughout car. 30. During cold weather watch for icicles frozen to car frame. Up to 100 lbs. can be quickly accumulated! Unremoved snow and ice cause tremendous wind resistance. Warm water thrown on (or hosed on) will eliminate it fast. EXTRA TIPS Install pressure regulator valve (sold in auto parts stores)... Use graphite motor oil... Beware of oil additives, regardless of advertising claims... Add Marvel Mystery Oil into gas fill-ups... Investigate fuel/water injection methods and products... combine short errands into one trip... Use special gas additives to prevent winter freezing of gas lines!Check your tire pressure. Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel economy. Also, underinflated tires wear rapidly. Check the vehicle's door-post sticker for minimum cold tire inflation pressure. FUEL & OILUse good quality, energy-conserving (EC) oils in the engine, with viscosity grade recommended in your Owner's Guide. Look for cans marked with the symbol "ECII," which is the American Society of Testing Material logo for fuel-efficient oils. Make sure your engine is tuned up to keep your car running efficiently. Use a fuel with good detergent additives to help keep the engine clean and performing efficiently. Filling up with the most expensive grade of gas does not necessarily make your engine run better. Use a high-quality fuel with an octane rating appropriate for your vehicle. Use the lowest octane possible. Check your Owner's Guide for the manufacturer's recommendation. Top 10 Fuel Saving Tips Whether you drive a two-seat hybrid or a three-ton SUV, chances are you can squeeze a bit more distance out of each gallon of fuel -- and at today's gas prices, an improvement of just one or two miles per gallon (MPG) can really add up. These ten fuel saving tips have served me well over the years, and they can help you improve your car's fuel economy and take some of the sting out of high fuel prices. Most of these tips will give you a very slight increase in MPG -- but use several together and the gas mileage improvements will really add up. 1. Slow down One of the best ways to save gas is to simply reduce your speed. As speed increases, fuel economy decreases exponentially. If you one of the "ten-over on the freeway" set, try driving the speed limit for a few days. You'll save a lot of fuel and your journey won't take much longer. (Just be sure you keep to the right, so you won't impede the less-enlightened.) 2. Check your tire pressure Under-inflated tires are one of the most commonly ignored causes of crummy MPG. Tires lose air due to time (about 1 psi per month) and temperature (1 psi for every 10 degree drop); under-inflated tires have more rolling resistance, which means you need to burn more gas to keep your car moving. Buy a reliable tire gauge and check your tires at least once a month. Be sure to check them when they are cold, since driving the car warms up the tires along with the air inside them, which increases pressure and gives a falsely high reading. Use the inflation pressures shown in the owner's manual or on the data plate in the driver's door jamb. 3. Check your air filter A dirty air filter restricts the flow of air into the engine, which harms performance and economy. Air filters are easy to check and change; remove the filter and hold it up to the sun. If you can't see light coming through it, you need a new one. Consider a K&N or similar "permanent" filter which is cleaned rather than changed; they are much less restrictive than throw-away paper filters, plus they're better for the environment. 4. Accelerate with care Jack-rabbit starts are an obvious fuel-waster -- but that doesn't mean you should crawl away from every light. If you drive an automatic, accelerate moderately so the transmission can shift up into the higher gears. Stick-shifters should shift early to keep the revs down, but don't lug the engine -- downshift if you need to accelerate. Keep an eye well down the road for potential slowdowns. If you accelerate to speed then have to brake right away, that's wasted fuel. 5. Hang with the trucks Ever notice how, in bad traffic jams, cars seem to constantly speed up and slow down, while trucks tend to roll along at the same leisurely pace? A constant speed keeps shifting to a minimum -- important to those who have to wrangle with those ten-speed truck transmissions -- but it also aids economy, as it takes much more fuel to get a vehicle moving than it does to keep it moving. Rolling with the big rigs saves fuel (and aggravation). 6. Get back to nature Consider shutting off the air conditioner, opening the windows and enjoying the breeze. It may be a tad warmer, but at lower speeds you'll save fuel. That said, at higher speeds the A/C may be more efficient than the wind resistance from open windows and sunroof. If I'm going someplace where arriving sweaty and smelly could be a problem, I bring an extra shirt and leave early so I'll have time for a quick change. 7. Back off the bling New wheels and tires may look cool, and they can certainly improve handling. But if they are wider than the stock tires, chances are they'll create more rolling resistance and decrease fuel economy. If you upgrade your wheels and tires, keep the old ones. I have fancy sport rims and aggressive tires on my own car, but I keep the stock wheels with a good narrower-tread performance tire in the garage. For long road trips, the stock wheels give a smoother ride and better economy. 8. Clean out your car If you're the type who takes a leisurely attitude towards car cleanliness -- and I definitely fall into that category -- periodically go through your car and see what can be tossed out or brought into the house. It doesn't take much to acquire an extra 40 or 50 lbs. of stuff, and the more weight your car has to lug around, the more fuel it burns. 9. Downsize If you're shopping for a new car, it's time to re-evaluate how much car you really need. Smaller cars are inherently more fuel-efficient, and today's small cars are roomier than ever -- one of my favorite subcompacts, the Nissan Versa, has so much interior room that the EPA classifies it as a mid-size. Worried about crash protection? The automakers are designing their small cars to survive crashes with bigger vehicles, and safety features like side-curtain airbags and electronic stability control are becoming commonplace in smaller cars. 10. Don't drive Not a popular thing to say on a car site, I know, but the fact is that if you can avoid driving, you'll save gas. Take the train, carpool, and consolidate your shopping trips. Walking or biking is good for your wallet and your health. And before you get in your car, always ask yourself: "Is this trip really necessary?" Some thing more Brake the right way 1. A car consumes most gas as it accelerates. It's a simply law of physics (force equals mass times acceleration). A moving car doesn't require much gasoline to keep moving (due to the inherent inertia). In real life this means, in order to improve your mileage you need to keep the ride smooth. Let me give you some examples. About 30% of the drivers I see in somewhat heavy traffic apparently cannot control their speed with the accelerator pad alone. Instead I see those guys speed up and slam on the brakes all the time. Obviously, that makes the guy following too close behind very nervous and he too needs to brake and accelerate constantly. In really heavy (but still moving) traffic about 90% of the cars do this. It is relatively easy to hold a speed in a long line of cars without stepping on the brake. Just keep a little bit more distance and try to practice this. If the traffic moves along, you rarely need to brake, unless everything slows down. If you pay attention to the cars ahead of you (not just the one right in front of your nose, but the other cars ahead of that one), you can anticipate when things will slow down and you can ease off the gas. This means you won't lose all that power to friction (on the brakes) and you can keep your speed without having to accelerate. In heavy traffic this is the most efficient way to save gas and can easily get you 10% - 20% better gas mileage. Hybrid drivers 2. If you own a hybrid powered car, the statement above applies even more to you. Try to avoid fast braking. Hybrid cars have the ability to convert braking power into electric energy and store them in their batteries. However this (induction) will only give yo so much braking power. If you need to decelerate faster, your brakes will engage and energy will be lost. So the next time you are approaching a traffic light, start braking a lot sooner and don't slam on the brakes the last minute. This will significantly improve the efficiency of your hybrid car. By starting to decelerate sooner, I can often avoid coming to a complete stop (regular car), before the traffic light switches to green and the cars in front of me start rolling. This way I can keep some of my inertia and don't have to accelerate as much (<- more gas saved). Turn off your air condition 3. This tip might be somewhat impractical in some areas. I would never dare to switch off the air condition of my car in Arizona in the Summer. However I also know that the compressor for the air conditioner loads the motor of my car more, which will reduce my fuel economy. I try not to use the air conditioner if I don't have to. Park your car in the shade if you can, so you won't have to keep the AC working as hard when you go somewhere. Roll down the windows just a tiny bit, so the air can circulate through your car while you are parked (might not be a good idea in areas with a high theft rate). Turn off the AC 5 minutes before you reach your destination and don't keep it working until the last second. Shifting Manual 4. A manual transmission is truly fantastic. I can only encourage everyone to try it out. You can pretty much determine if you want a sporty shifting (at higher RPM) or a fuel efficient shifting (at low RPM). No matter how "intelligent" automatic transmissions are, they aren't as smart as you. Due to the way an automatic transmission shifts, there are also higher losses associated with automatic transmissions. Overall a manual transmission can be a lot more fuel efficient. If you have a manual transmission and want to save some gas, you need to shift up early and shift down late. Most people get taught that they need to shift at a certain RPM, which is, excuse me, complete BS. You need to feel the car and the load condition to figure out when you need to shift. A car that goes uphill needs to pull a lot more and should be driven at a higher RPM (or else it jumps). On the other side, if you are gliding along an empty road, you can drive at extremely low RPM (high gear). Then if you want to accelerate (you need a bit more power), you quickly shift down, get up to speed and shift up again. I always shift by feeling the car and I rarely ever look at the RPM (except for my amusement or out of boredom, or if I really want to race and need to shift before the red line). Shifting Automatic 5. If you have a cruise control and there isn't a whole lot of traffic, you probably should use it (it will keep the speed constant and hence doesn't need to accelerate). 6. Use the overdrive gears, as this will generally keep your RPM down and your wallet happy. 7. Shift into neutral when you are standing still to reduce transmission strain and cool off the transmission. I added some more information on shifting, down in the comments below this post. Reduce weight 8. Coming back to the force equals mass times acceleration. We already established that one shouldn't accelerate as much. You can also try to reduce the mass of your car by emptying out the trunk and removing heavy items that you don't need (keep your spare tire and car lift, but get rid of the gardening equipment). Turn your car off 9. When you turn on a car, it uses a bit of gas. When the car is idling, it uses a fixed amount of gas over a period of time (especially with the AC on). In most scenarios (depending on the car), the energy balance will be positive if you turn off your car for more then 20 seconds. That means you can save gas if you turn off you car while waiting at long traffic light sequences, railroad crossings or while your better half pulls money from the ATM. Any time you can foresee that you will not be moving for more then 30s or 1minute you should turn off the engine to help your vacation budget. Drive slower 10. Yeah right. Obviously thats not something I am all that fond off being the leadfoot driver I am. Well, it's a proven fact that driving fast will increase the drag (turbulence) and thus increase your fuel consumption, however I simply cannot bring myself to drive below the legal speed limit. It's your choice. There is not that much difference between 60mph and 65mph in terms of fuel consumption. However I grew up in Germany (no speed limits). A car racing along at its maximum speed of 200km/h (depending on the car), would consume about twice as much gas as if it were driven at 160km/h. At the upper end of the power spectrum engines become very inefficient. Ride the slipstream 11. This driving technique has given me some excellent mileage when I used to commute long distance a long time ago. Obviously, it requires a bit of skill and it's not exactly recommended, since you should pay attention to the road and we all know, most people who read this just don't. However it is probably one of the best "secret" fuel saving tips I can give you. This technique is frequently used by race car drivers to gain speed and truck convoys to save fuel. Every car has a certain amount of drag (or wind resistance). This drag, the rolling resistance of your tires (see below under maintenance) and the friction in your engine are the three main causes of reduced efficiency. A car moving through the air causes the air to split around the car and turbulence behind the car (the slipstream). If you drive your car into another cars slipstream, both cars will save fuel (less turbulence). The following car saves the most gasoline. Now remember, I am not advocating to tailgate. However, you can try to find a large truck (more turbulence and a longer slipstream tail) and slip in there. Now you can still keep some distance (unlike the NASCAR driver) and still save gas. However, many people cannot regulate their speed without braking (see above). In this case you are probably better off just keeping your distance and not braking. Close your windows 12. Believe it or not, but opening your windows will increase the turbulences and eventually cost you fuel. If you can, use only the ventilation system of your car. I cannot really gauge this against using the air conditioner. I believe that opening your windows at low speeds and using the air conditioner at high speeds gives you better fuel economy. Fill up at Arco 13. Year after year Chevron and Shell are making new record earnings while squeezing the poor motorists for every penny. They advertise their expensive gasoline with buzzwords such as Techron, V-Power and some other BS words. Basically, that means they put some expensive stuff into the gas to sell it at a better profit. In fact, the gasoline of all gas stations flows through the same pipeline and the only difference is the magic stuff they poor into the gas to claim a cleaner burning fuel or better fuel efficiency. At the same time their average gas price is about 10c - 30c above other cheaper gas stations in the neighborhood. I can see no difference in my gas mileage when I empty a tank of Arco vs. a tank full off Techron enhanced souped-up high tech additive gas spritz. And if it cleans anything then certainly my wallet, which is all squeaky clean after filling up. Well, I am tired of financing the billions of those mega empires. I am getting my gas at the Arco and I have never had any trouble with the quality. Of course you are free to throw your hard earned dollars at Chevron (pay 10% more and save 3% on their rebate cards - another scam to tie the customer to their high priced gas) or Shell in the hopes their magic bullet fuel additives do anything for you. Now let me back up a second. Sometimes I actually go to Chevron to fill up. I put exactly 8 gallons into my tank so I qualify for a discount at the car wash. 14. When I am on the road, I try to keep an eye open for gas prices along the way. If I see the price jumping down, i usually fill up. Some gas stations offer free coffee with fill up or a free hot dog, and if their gas costs the same as the gas across the street, I go for the coffee with my gas. Pick a better route 15. Avoid heavy traffic and lots of traffic lights. The shortest route is not always the most fuel efficient if you have to stop a lot. Cheap Car maintenance Why cheap car maintenance? I don't believe that spending a lot of money on fuel additives or special tires or whatever I see suggested elsewhere will really help you to improve your bottom line, and that's what this article is about. For instance I do not believe that your fuel economy suffers much if you change your oil every 5000 miles instead of 3000 miles (but it does save money not to change oil that often). Pump it up 16. Inflate your tires to the specified level (I usually go about 0.2 PSI above). This will reduce the contact area of your tire to the road and therefore reduce the friction. It will help you to get a slightly improved gas mileage. 17. If you don't need Snow Tires or Chains, remove them. Don't drive around all summer with Snow Tires. They are softer and have a deeper profile which will increase friction. Rent a smaller car 18. Remember that mass and acceleration equation? Well, a small car always has a better fuel economy due to its smaller mass. Smart budget travelers therefore rent smaller cars and don't care much about the status a shiny big car conveys. They rather indulge in a good drink at the end of the day (when they don't need to drive anymore) with all the gas money they saved. Their vacation pictures look just as glorious, but they still have pocket change for bigger prints. Reduce drag 19. Why are you driving around with that ski-, bicycle- or luggage-rack on your roof if you don't need it? Didn't you know that this increases the wind resistance of your car? Well now you do. Seriously, removing those will save you quite a bit of gasoline. Eco tuning 20. Chip tuning for your engine used to be pretty big way back when gas cost less then water. These days the buzzword is eco tuning. Many tuners offer replacement chips for your engine computer that increase the power while at the same time saving gas. How is this possible? Well to cut this already long article short, they improve both ends of the curve. At the upper end they give you more power (with reduced efficiency) and at the lower end a better efficiency. You choose with the gas pedal which mode to use. Make sure you use manufacturer approved tuners if you don't want to lose your warranty. Use the correct grade of motor oil 21. The grade of the oil pretty much tells us about the viscosity. If you use the wrong grade, you may increase the friction in your engine. It gets hotter and uses more gas. Air filters 23. Replace your air filter when you need to, or your mix won't be right. However don't replace it every time the mechanics tell you to (they make money with it). Try to find out how often you need a new filter. Turn off the lights 24. Well, this one might be a safety concern. Many Rental Car companies have daylights enabled on their cars which are rather efficient. However every electrical equipment is powered from the alternator which will increase its load on the engine to produce more power. So when you can do it safely, turn off those headlights. Drive less Here comes the discussion we don't like to read as much. Carpool 25. Well, if two people are riding in a car, the gas used per person is immediately cut into half. If 4 people are sharing a ride, their individual gas bill becomes only one third. Since they can now use carpool lanes, they won't have to spend as much time in traffic (idle engines use gas too) and get an even better gas mileage, plus they get home sooner. Its not always feasible though. Combine Trips 26. Try to combine trips. If you live outside of town, try to go into town only once and get everything you need done. Fuel Efficient Cars 27. If you are in the market for a new car, you definitely should consider fuel efficiencies. However I wouldn't buy a hybrid just for the better fuel economy if I weren't in the market for a new car. You can easily calculate how much money you would save a year and weigh that against the cost of the car (plus the potentially higher maintenance cost). 28. Its not commonly known, but Diesel engines can give you a much better gas mileage than Hybrids on long distance drives. That's one of the reasons, hybrids aren't popular in Europe but Diesels are. Bonus: 29. Don't fill up unless you are on empty, since all this gas weighs a lot and as we have already learned (force equals .... - you know it). However I usually only do this when gas prices are falling or constant (so I can wait longer and get cheaper gas). When gas prices are rising, I fill up sooner. Due to the psychological impact of rising gas prices, people usually do the exact opposite, which will eventually cost them more. 30. The list still grows. Someone made an excellent suggestion for trucks in the forum. Dropping the tailgate of his small truck, Ronald is able to improve the aerodynamics and thus get a better gas mileage. Sounds plausible. 31. I also noticed that the first gas station you encounter after a long thirsty stretch is almost never the cheapest. After you leave a national park and didn't have a chance to pump gas for a long time, the first station will often have slightly higher prices as everyone pulls over to fill up as soon as they can. I usually drive a little further to find a cheaper station. 32. I do not fill up on gas stations visible from the Interstate I am driving on or from the main freeways. I usually take an exit at a moderately sized city when I am on a road trip and head for the city center. Before I actually get there, I usually find much better deals. Location and Competition are the factors that determine local price fluctations. This means you need to look for places with lots of competition (hence moderately sized city) and avoid prime locations (get away from the main roads). Large cities often have higher gas prices and are harder to navigate. On my last trip, I pulled over whenever I saw a station that had significantly lower prices then I had seen previously, even if my tank was only half-empty. On road trips, the rules are slightly different. Fill up whenever and wherever it is cheap and do not wait for yout tank to be empty.Before you even put the key in the ignition, plan your trip. Many people will just hop into their car to drive to the post office, come back home and park their car. An hour or two later they get right back in and drive to the market. This scenario is repeated over and over and it shouldn't be this way. You will get better gas mileage if you combine errands into one trip since a warm engine uses less fuel. While you are at it, plan it out so you take the shortest route and/or roads with the least traffic. Google Maps and the AAA site has lots of trip planning information and maps. clock image Choose the right time to drive Many times simply leaving fifteen minutes early or leaving just after the rush can save you travel time and gas. Why? because all that stop and go will use up a huge amount of gas especially if you drive a car with a V6 engine or an SUV. Check traffic reports via television, radio or through online traffic reports before leaving your home or office. Disable All Wheel Drive All-wheel drive or four-wheel drive is great for traction control on snowy or off-road use, but it will consume quite a bit of gas. If you are on clear paved roads then disable the all-wheel drive mode to save gas. Only use this option when weather or road conditions dictate. Avoid jack rabbit starts and stops This is a tough one for some folks to resist especially the younger drivers, but avoid stomping on the gas pedal when the light turns green. While it may seem cool to hear that engine rev hard, fast starts out of the line will consume huge amounts of gas as the engine has to work much harder to get the car up to speed. If you do this enough times in a row you'll actually see your gas gauge get closer to empty very, very quickly. Accelerate gradually when starting off and extend your gas mileage and the life of your drive-train. Cruise Control Is Your Friend Maintaining a steady and safe speed is important on highways. It is very, very easy not to notice that you are doing 70 miles per hour in a 55 MPH zone. Using your car's cruise control function is not only convenient, but it can also save gas and prevent you from getting a speeding ticket, which can cost you points and increased insurance costs. Most cars will automatically maintain their cruise control speed even when going uphill, which is great because you may not have to keep close tabs on pushing the accelerator down further and watching the speedometer at the same time. Use your cruise control to set the base speed and then accelerate manually if you need to pass knowing that when you let off the gas the car will go back to the preset speed. Priceless convenience, which also helps with safety. Just make sure to use cruise control when there isn't much traffic. If you find you are getting too close to a car in front or encounter traffic, either change lanes or simply click on the crusie control stalk or tap on the brakes to disengage it. The key to saving gas is to drive at a consistent speed. ac vent image Use less air conditioning Your car eats a huge amount of horsepower whenever the air conditioning is turned on so roll down the windows in city driving and keep the vents open to circulate air in the cabin. Driving at highway speeds with the windows or sunroof open ruins the aerodynamic effectiveness of your car so it is usually best to keep your AC on low with the windows rolled up. 55 Speed Limit Sign Stay at or below 55 MPH Yes, you can save gas by not driving over the speed of 55. With some states allowing legal speeds of up to 75 M.P.H. this can be a toughy, but going above 55-60 MPG reduces fuel efficiency significantly mainly because of increased wind resistance. Use this with the above cruise control tips. In addition your chances of getting into an accident may increase at higher speeds so cruise at 55-60 and reap the rewards. If traffic is going at a faster rate then it is best to keep up with the flow of traffic. Use high gear If your car has the option then use overdrive or high gear when cruising on the highway, which consumes less gas and results in a quieter engine because it is revving less. On some cars you can disengage/engage overdrive mode by pressing a small button below the locking switch on the gear lever. Most newer cars now have the transmission default to overdrive. If you disengage it you will see a little amber light in your dash to let you know although you'll clearly hear the engine revving and see the tachometer creeping into the high range. Also, a neat little trick to force your car to up-shift earlier is to let off the gas a little after initial acceleration. Brakes are for stopping Keep your foot from resting on the brake pedal while driving. If you feel you are going too fast just let off on the gas pedal. Besides being the mark of an inexperienced driver the extra mechanical drag is using up gas and eating up your brake pads and rotors. Still don't think it makes a difference? Try riding a bicycle with the brake pads rubbing the wheels only slightly and you'll easily feel the extra effort required to pedal. E-ZPass logo Get an E-ZPass and breeze through toll plazas Are you still waiting on long lines at the toll booth? Get with the times and buy a monthly E-ZPass subscription and save a lot of time and gas. With an E-ZPass one can drive from New York to Washington D.C. with a side trip to Philly and never once have to stop to pay a toll. Your state may have a different name for it, but look into it. Don't let the car idle Excessive idling does nothing but use up expensive gas, produce more condensation in the oil making it thicker, pollute the air and rob money from your wallet. Back in the old days a car took several minutes to warm up on cold days. Modern cars however don't require that. Simply start up and the moment your windows are clear of any fog or frost begin driving, but avoid any quick acceleration for the first few minutes. Turn off the car engine when waiting for more than a minute or so in a drive-thru line or when waiting for someone outside a store. It's amazing how many people throw money and gas away by not shutting off their cars when not it's moving. Turn the engine off if you are in park. image Choose your parking spot wisely Park in the shade of a nice tree or building to keep interior temperatures down and lessen gas from evaporating. Park in the garage Parking your car in the garage instead of in the driveway can help in many ways. During the winter the car won't get as cold and so will start easier and take less time to warm up. gas saving radial tire and rim image Buy the right tires Did you know some kinds of radial tires can help you save gas? Essentially the best tire for fuel efficiency is one that has less friction with the road. These are sometimes termed Low Rolling Resistance (LRR) tires and are made of a harder compound. The tradeoff being that they aren't as "sticky," which means the car won't hug the curve as well as you might like. Decide for yourself by reading the Tire Rack's Customer Reviews. Save gas by checking tire pressure photo Keep your car's tires properly inflated You've heard it a thousand times; for better gas mileage and to prolong their life, keep your tires properly inflated. Under-inflated tires can zap as much as one mile per gallon! The simple trick is not to inflate to what the tire's sidewall says, but to follow what the automaker says in the operator's manual or the sticker on the driver's side door. Go out and buy a decent tire pressure gauge and check the pressure of each tire including the spare at least every month. Remember to check air pressure when the tires are still cold as the air expands when it is ht giving inaccurate readings. camber adjust tool image Check your car's wheel alignment If your wheels (camber) are not properly aligned you'll not only have your car pulling to one side and causing irregular tire wear, but you are also causing more drag for the engine, which results in more gas being consumed. Your car will handle more responsively after having a wheel alignment done so consider having this done if it has been a while. loaded trunk image Clear out the trunk of excess items According to independent test commissioned by the US government, "An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by 1-2 percent." It's time to clear out all those 2 liter bottles of Coke, jugs of laundry detergent from last week's Costco outing and excess tools just sitting there. It's very easy for items to keep piling up so take a moment to clear the trunk, back seat and floors. You'll be surprised at how much it all weights. Minivan without third row seating Remove third row seating On large SUVs and mini-vans you can save gas by removing unneeded third row seating. Some of these third row seats are fairly heavy with some assemblies weighing over one hundred pounds. If you have space in the garage to store them and don't have extra passengers then take 'em out. This is extra weight your engine has to deal with, which can waste a lot of gas. Remove roof racks When you need to transport your bicycles or skis a roof mounted rack is indispensable, but it does cut into your fuel efficiency. Even when empty bicycle, cargo and ski racks add quite a bit of drag making your car less aerodynamic, which consumes more fuel. Removing them when they are not being used will save you gas and help reduce wind noise on the highway. image Vehicle Service Maintenance Proper routine maintenance will help extend the life of your car and preserve its resale value. In addition to helping you avoid costly repairs down the road, regular maintenance will optimize your car's performance, safety and extend gas mileage thus saving you big money at the pump, but more importantly keep your warranty valid. At the very least have the oil changed every three months / 3000 miles at your local dealer or service station. Many advertise "Express Lube" specials, which usually include 5 quarts of premium oil and a replacement oil filter for around $20.00.
PokerAce Champion Author Louisiana Posts:1,466 Points:297,130 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: 8/30/2008 11:55:26 PM	Ignore PokerAce Report Abuse
	Yeah, Gustav is going to be a real pain..... stations are running out of gas as everyone tanks up to hunker down....
eaglemom Veteran Author Toronto Posts:287 Points:107,915 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: 8/30/2008 11:48:30 PM	Ignore eaglemom Report Abuse
	I would to see what is like to me in a hurricane.
hawkON All-Star Author Ontario Posts:644 Points:185,660 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: 8/30/2008 11:44:15 PM	Ignore hawkON Report Abuse
	We will have to wait and see.
Muke Champion Author Virginia Beach Posts:1,030 Points:350,555 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: 8/30/2008 11:38:45 PM	Ignore Muke Report Abuse
	How do we know this Hurricane which almost Category 4 will not damage Gulf Coast area in Texas and Louisiana. You have to be living in that area to understand how the Oil and Gas production works. There is 75% chances that this hurricane may affect the Oil and Gasoline Supply. When supply is disrupted then prices will go up. US Government will back up with the release of Strategic Petroleum reserve, but refining capacity may be affected.
NedW All-Star Author Indianapolis Posts:628 Points:161,230 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: 8/30/2008 11:38:06 PM	Ignore NedW Report Abuse
	The moratorium concerning drilling and exploration in the Legislature expires Sept. 30. Email and phone your 2 Senators and your Congressmen and pressure them to allow drilling and exploration and to disallow any extensions of the moratorium. If you’re unsure of who’s yours are you can find out quickly, as well as how to contact them, by going to the following web sites: Senators www.senate.gov Congressman www.house.gov
Lovelee Champion Author Detroit Posts:1,771 Points:453,525 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: 8/30/2008 11:34:59 PM	Ignore Lovelee Report Abuse
	old news
Bagtag Veteran Author Georgia Posts:331 Points:494,095 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: 8/30/2008 11:33:19 PM	Ignore Bagtag Report Abuse
	Incoming!
T811 All-Star Author Baltimore Posts:707 Points:159,095 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: 8/30/2008 11:27:33 PM	Ignore T811 Report Abuse
	Batten down the hatches. Good thing they have mandatory evacuation this time. It is not looking very good.
Helms Champion Author Fort Worth Posts:1,268 Points:619,730 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: 8/30/2008 11:24:50 PM	Ignore Helms Report Abuse
	woo-who...another bonus for the oil executives!!!
mstearno All-Star Author Dayton Posts:873 Points:195,530 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: 8/30/2008 11:23:55 PM	Ignore mstearno Report Abuse
	sounds like a plan hopefully none leak or we'll never get to drill off shore