It is foolish for travelers who were smart enough to plan an affordable trip with the purchase of cheap airplane tickets and discount hotel rooms or cheap vacation packages to consume expensive gas inefficiently at their destination.
With the national average price of gas nearing $4 a gallon the following are steps drivers can take to squeeze every mile out of every gallon of gas they purchase:
Avoid driving too fast. Gas mileage typically decreases quickly at speeds over 60 mph. Every 5 mph over 60 mph, costs an additional 24 cents per gallon for gas. When driving locally, avoid quick starts; accelerating slowly can improve gas mileage by up to 5 percent.
When driving at slower speeds turn off the air conditioner and roll down the windows because the engine has to work harder to pump out cool air. Be aware that even driving on highway at speeds of 65 mph reduces gas mileage by over 3 mpg when the air conditioner is in use.
The more luggage a car carries the less fuel efficient. This is particularly the case when luggage is placed on a roof rack which increases wind resistance. An extra 100 lbs in a trunk reduces the average cars fuel economy by 4 to 8 cents a gallon.
Do not drive a poorly maintained car since engine and car maintenance is important to a cars fuel efficiency. Low tire levels, low fluid levels, a broken thermostat, or a sticky brake caliper can negatively impact gas mileage.
Avoid warming up a car too long since every two minutes a car is idling uses the same amount of fuel as driving one mile.
By not planning to drive a route that avoids traffic a car sits in traffic idling which is not fuel efficient. Google Maps provides users with current traffic patterns and helps plan the most efficient route. Select GPS units also look at traffic and can recommend the most fuel efficient routes. Signing up for electronic booth collection programs reduce starts and stops, helping improve gas mileage.
Avoid making an excessive number of stops on a road trip, limiting the number of bathroom breaks if possible.
Try to stay at hotels that are offering discounts on gas. www.cheapfares.com