The past couple of weeks have seen a much-needed drop in gas prices – from the $4 a gallon range to $3.80 or less in most parts of the United States. But experts agree that prices at the pump will again rise as the summer travel season swings into gear, and even if they don’t, $3.80 is hardly a bargain. But don’t panic; there are plenty of ways to save your cash while also conserving gas usage, and Swapalease has swept the web to find the very best. Easier on the wallet AND easier on the environment – now that’s a bargain.
· Relax behind the wheel. Did you know aggressive driving like speeding, tailgating and then slamming on the brakes, and constant stopping and starting is not only dangerous, but also wastes gas? According to www.fueleconomy.gov, the official US government source for fuel economy information, your inner road warrior may be lowering your gas mileage by as much as 33 percent. And every 5 mph you get above 60 is costing you the equivalent of an additional 24 cents a gallon.
· Use cruise control. In general, driving at a consistent rate of speed uses less gas. Cruise control is the most effective way to achieve this.
· Keep your car in tip-top shape. A vehicle that’s running at a less-than-optimum performance level is costing you money. Even taking care of a minor problem like getting a long-overdue tune-up can save you up to 16 cents on the gallon. Fix a major problem and you can improve your fuel efficiency by a whopping 40 percent.
· Use the proper motor oil for your vehicle. Think oil is oil and the guys at the lube shop are just trying to upsell you? Think again. Using a motor oil other than the one recommended by your car manufacturer will cost you money in the long run.
· Combine your trips. This sounds like a no-brainer, but we all tend to make several trips a week to the grocery store, the dry cleaner, the bank and so forth. Several short trips each made from a cold start can cost double what one longer trip would. Plan ahead and do all your errands in a single trip to make the most of your mileage.
· Carpooling is an obvious fuel-saver. But in our suburb-based society it’s often not a viable option. Consider negotiating new work hours (avoiding driving in rush hour) and the opportunity to telecommute occasionally.
· Watch your weight. If your car is loaded down with extra stuff, it has to burn more fuel to move. Instead of leaving those heavy tools you hauled to your brother’s house in the trunk, put them away when you get home. And when you do haul things, use the trunk instead of a roof rack, which creates drag.
And finally, your phone may be your best friend when it comes to improving your fuel efficiency. iPhone and Droid both offer interesting apps to help you do everything from planning your combined trips to finding the cheapest gas in your neighborhood. Here are a few of our favorites:
· Carticipate - Available now on the iPhone and Facebook, Carticipate is an experiment in social transportation, the first and only rideshare application on a location aware mobile platform. Coordinate driving plans by indicating where you are going, when, and post your ride. The app will match you up to local carticipants going your way.
· AAA Triptik – provides all the local information you expect from the Automobile Association of America, as well as gas station location and price info.
· Gas Buddy – available on iPhone, Android and Windows, this app pulls together a community of users to update gas prices in real time, incenting input by offering points toward prizes. And it’s free!
· Accufuel - AccuFuel™ Fuel Efficiency Tracker is a powerful tool that makes monitoring your vehicle's fuel efficiency simple and fun. With AccuFuel, you'll instantly see how your driving habits affect your fuel efficiency.