Gas Mileage Savings: Separating Myth From Fact
On a recent trip to the Gulf Coast of Florida, Cil and I were watching the dramatic change in the cost of a gallon from one place to another, with over 4 bucks noted on several flashing signs. It’s no wonder the internet is suddenly filled with articles on saving money on fuel.
Our discussion on gas prices and fuel economy started out benignly enough, and then , as marital discussions can, it became a personality thing.
We Googled information on how to save on fuel, besides the common stuff, and our discussion became a friendly (sometimes) ‘he said she said’, Mars and Venus, discussion that went something like this:
Dean is in boring blue, Cil is in HHHot Pink
Gas Saving, Mileage Improving Tips and Myths:
with commentary, conversation, and maybe just a little consternation….
- Try to accelerate and decelerate slowly: Riding with Cil is like being at a NASCAR road race, I need either a Han device or a cervical collar just for whiplash prevention. Would she comment here?….When gas prices were half their current level, Mr Slow Poke wrote the manual on this one.
- Keep the correct air pressure in your tires. I know to do this, I think about it often when I’m in a hurry to get to work, and when I’m in a hurry to get home after work. So this doesn’t work….Make yourself do this one. After you find out the correct pressure, of course. The number on the drivers door jamb, not the one on the tire, Honey. But Edmunds says it makes your tires last longer, but the gas mileage gains, not so much…
- Never drive over 55. I’m guilty of going 8-9 miles over the speed limit on most trips, even if she does call me pokey…. I would rather save money in other places. I’m just saying. If I have to go there, I need to be there.
- Junk in your trunk: No Honey, you know I’m not talking about you. Extra weight in your truck bed, or your car trunk, or on your scale will lower your gas mileage. He means clean out the extra stuff you’ve been hauling around. It adds weight.
- Drive with windows up and don’t use AC. Naah, this one is crazy and Consumer Reports agrees, not worth it. I love to ride with the windows down. I even did a careful study and discovered my hair looks the same: wind blown or not. What you are supposed to do is ride with the windows up and the vent blowing outside air in. I’ll miss the wind in my face (and hair).
- Shut off the engine if you’ll be sitting for more than a minute. The bank, the drive through, the traffic jams (we don’t get traffic jams, but I hear they can be nasty. Now really, how do you know how long you’ll be sitting?
- Keep your car service up to date. I go to the repair shop that will take me to work while they do the service. The pink writing lady makes me pick her up and take her to work. Diva! This one is doable,if only the guys at the service center would use a marker that didn’t fade in the sunlight. I need to buy them the proper marker. The date and mileage fade. Without that info, how do I remember?
- Don’t use cruise control when climbing a steep grade. See, I told you! OK, Fine.
- Use cruise control when possible. It will also keep you from getting a speeding ticket sweetie…Sure, no sweat (right….)
- Buy your gas using a cash back card. We’ve saved a bunch of money using our Pentagon Savings and Loan Platinum 5% gas back card. He says a
Bike Perfect for Commuting
“bunch” ’cause he has no idea how much. We get $15 to $20 a month ‘cash back.’
- Sit your car, and move your sitter. Bike, walk, or carpool to work. When the days are long enough, I cycle to work. We both ride our bicycles when we can. Dean has a place to shower at work. I don’t. For now, I’m driving to work.
We’ve done all the work explaining how you can save money on gas, and saved your time trying things that don’t work.
Now, excuse us while we go try to “Save” our marriage.
We’ve sacrificed our happiness just for you our readers-see we do care!
Dean and Cil
Reader Questions: What about you, do you and your partner have any discussions about how you drive and who get’s the best gas mileage?
{photo credit: chadmagiera c.c.}
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Tags: gas mileage, how to improve the gas mileage on my car, improving gas mileage on my car, myth from fact on improving gas mileage tips
I’m glad I’m able to drive with the windows open, the air conditioning isn’t working.
I try and walk to a destination once a week. Usually the grocery store. Obviously, not everyone is in walking range of where they want to go, but since I am, I try to use the opportunity to save on gas.
Good for your waistline as well as your pocketbook.
Fun thoughts on saving on gas. We do as much as we can to save. Our fleet of cars (2) averages 32 mpg (a diesel Jetta and a Honda minivan). Since my wife teaches at a private school (where our teenager goes), and they have class only on Mon-Wed-Fri (it is a UMS school), we decide who gets what vehicle based on how many are riding.
We both work exactly 28 miles from where we live…but in exact opposite directions. The rule for taking the car with the better gas mileage (on Tuesdays and Thursdays) is who is going an extra distance for any reason. Those distances are too far to bike, but we are fortunate to have a few backup plans in mind if gas prices climb much higher than $5/gal (which seems likely).
Ah the days when $50 was enough for 2 cars for a month (of course that was 25 years ago!).
At least you are thinking things through. You have a plan. That’s a long commute for you both.
Driving the speed limit is the one I’ll hit first. If that saves gas money I’ll be REALLY HAPPY, and since I get a lot of speeding tickets (it’s embarrassing, I get way too many), it’ll also cut the cost of tickets!
Go for it. Keep a record and see if it works. The proof is in the pudding
I thought inflating the tire is one of the major way you can gain mileage. It make sense. If you’re riding around in a flat tire, your engine will have to work harder.
Yeah, I would skip all these if they make the Mrs. mad.
I know where my bread is buttered.
This conversation proves men are different from women! I routinely have my tires checked once a month at Costco when I shop there. I sincerely try to drive economically avoiding the pitfalls you describe. My wife drives just the opposite and it is too late to change her. BTW, I rented a Prius years ago to drive to San Francisco (from Los Angeles). The car performed despite our driving differences. It may be worth the expense!
We turn the engine off when we’re sitting at a drawbridge. You’re generally guaranteed to be there 5+ minutes, and it’s really easy to tell when to turn the engine back on.
I live less than 5 miles from work. I would love to be able to bike there- there are even showers (though I would then have to pay for the work gym membership, and they’re in a different building than my office, but still). The problem is, I live on the side of a steep hill. Getting to work requires going over another series of steep hills. Unless you’re in Tour de France shape (I might be in Tour de France shape, if the shape you’re referring to is the peloton), you’re not biking my route.
You could push the bike up the steepest part of the hill. Riding down a hill like that is glorious fun!
4 bucks? Pah. That’s nothing – over here it is about 9 bucks a US gallon!
So we are used to driving with a light right foot and chucking the junk out of the boot, not to mention smaller cars and a lot of diesels!
Mind you we don’t have the same distances but I could’t drive at 55 all the way! That would drive me crazy – the motorways here have a 70 limit and most drive a few over that.
You need to get your driving Zen on. Think about all the money you are saving!
Hilarious. I lol’d all throughout this. “He says bunch because he has no idea how much.” Im really bad about gas. I only drive 5 minutes to work so I don’t actually pay much attention to prices.
Thanks Abe, considering you are a true comedic genius WE appreciate it!
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This was hilarious, I hate the air pressure in the tire one though, hubby NEVER uses a gauge and has a habit of OVER filling it to the point your bouncing down the street! This can’t be good either!
Yep, over-inflating is probably worse than under-inflating. You HAVE to use a gauge.
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Love seeing the difference between the man and woman’s views! I have to admit, I don’t really follow these guidelines – not sure worrying about all of these points really makes a huge difference on the gas budget.
The only way to find out is to try saving gas for a month, check your mileage and your gas budget before, then try several of the tips and see how much you save. If you are only spending 50 bucks a month on gas, 10% savings may not seem worth it. If you are spending 250 bucks a month, 25 bucks may be worth the trouble.
Thanks for stopping by!
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