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(ARA) - There’s nothing like the freedom of hitting the open road during the summer. The Travel Industry Association reported that Americans will take nearly 330 million trips during June, July and August, with auto travel accounting for eight out of 10 trips. With so many people enjoying the freedom of road trips this driving season, it’s important to start thinking about and planning ahead for them. And with eighty-one percent of Americans saying that they are interested in doing anything they can to stretch their fuel budgets, according to a survey conducted on behalf of Shell Oil Products, here are some tips from Shell on how to stretch your driving dollar:
* Drive smoothly. Avoid heavy acceleration or braking. Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking can lower your gasoline mileage by 5 percent at lower speeds around town, and by 33 percent at higher highway speeds.
* Replace dirty or clogged air filters. Replacing a dirty or clogged air filter with a clean one can improve gasoline mileage by as much as 10 percent. Your car’s air filter can protect your engine from impurities.
* Keep your engine well-tuned and repair any problems immediately. If your car has failed an emissions test or is noticeably out of tune, repairing the problem could improve your gasoline mileage by 4 percent on average.
* Make sure your tires are at the correct pressure and not over or under inflated. Proper air pressure cuts down on fuel used while driving. Keeping tires at the correct pressure can improve your gasoline mileage by about 3.3 percent.
* Choose a high-quality gasoline. All gasolines are not the same. Avoid low-quality discount gasolines that may allow performance-robbing gunk to form in your engine.
* Minimize vehicle drag. Keep your trunk and back seat clear of unnecessary items that only add weight. Removing excess weight can improve your gasoline mileage.
* Use cruise control on major roads and in free-flowing traffic. Maintaining a constant speed can improve gasoline mileage.
* Avoid idling. When you are idle, you get 0 miles per gallon.
* Avoid higher speeds. Gasoline mileage usually decreases when driving at speeds over 60 mph.
* Plan your outings to avoid separate trips. Combine your errands into one outing to avoid short separate trips. This helps avoid unnecessary cold starts and keeps your car’s engine running warm and more efficiently.
* Reward yourself by using a rebate credit card. Choosing the right card can help you save money at the pump. For instance, the Shell Platinum MasterCard from Citi Cards offers a 5 percent rebate on Shell gasoline purchases and a 1 percent rebate on all other purchases. At the national average of $3.10 per gallon (Department of Energy, as of May 15, 2007) for regular grade gasoline, cardholders earn 15 cents per gallon back on their gasoline purchases.
“Shell wants to help drivers make the most out of every fill-up, which is why we recommend adding FuelStretch driving techniques to daily routines,” says Michael Grundy, a Shell specialist who specializes in gasoline and vehicle efficiency. “While these tips might sound like a lot to keep in mind, you'll be surprised how quickly they become second nature. Making a few small adjustments can help you become more fuel efficient, which means fewer trips to the gasoline station.”
To find more program tips and information, visit www.shell.com/us/fuelstretch.
Auto Ideas
With the rising cost of vehicle ownership, it is important to look into simple driving tips that can help you stretch your fuel budget. For example, because all gasolines are not the same, you should avoid low-quality discount gasolines that may allow performance-robbing gunk to form in your engine. For more easy-to-use tips and more information, visit www.shell.com/us/fuelstretch.