Gas prices shoot up constantly, often with Hawaii’s prices leading the nation.
Here are some tips on how to save gas and money.
The first is carpooling. Carpooling saves wear and tear on a vehicle. The more people carpool, the less they spend on gas. Many of Hawaii’s drivers drive alone.
Another tip is not to blast the air condtioning in heavy traffic. Use it on the freeway where the car can travel at freeway speed with the windows closed.
If one needs to run errands in different places, consider going to the farthest destination and starting from there. In that way, one won’t waste gas going back and forth. Plan the trip ahead of time.
If one has heavy things in the car trunk, remove them.The less weight in the car, the better mileage one will have.
Inflate the tires properly so that the car won’t drag on the road and waste gas. Check the pressure weekly. A really smooth ride may indicate low tire pressure.
If one is headed somewhere near one’s home, ride the bus or walk.
Don’t let the car engine run while one is sitting and waiting. It will waste gas, use the battery and overheat the engine.
Drive at a steady pace. Do not accelerate suddenly, which wastes energy and gas. Pay attention to the traffic all around.
Change the oil every 3,000 to 4,000 miles. This will help make the car run more smoothly and more efficiently. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), one can improve gas mileage by using the recommended motor oil called “Energy Conserving.”
If one is considering buying a new car, think about a hybrid because it is more efficient and saves gas.
Do not buy big cars with big engines. The bigger the car, the heavier it is. The bigger the engine, the more gas it will need.
Fill up the gas tank in the early morning or in the evening. These times are when air is cool and there is more gas. In the afternoon or if it is a hot day, do not fill up because the heat will expand the gas and one will have to pay more to fill it up.
Park in the shade where the car can cool off. The gas won’t evaporate in the cool air. If one parks in the hot sun, the car becomes hot and gas will evaporate, lessening the amount of gas one has in the tank.
