Gas and Independence... an oxymoron?

Every household is feeling a chipping away of their incomes with the soaring prices at the pump. Not everyone is in the market for dumping their full sized SUV and downsizing to a compact hybrid, but there are things everyone CAN do to help stretch their dollar at the pump. Here are 12 helpful tips:
1.) Make sure your tires are properly inflated. (Manufacturer's recommendations are on a sticker in the door jam or on your gas door). The PSI rating on the tire is not always the recommendation from the manufacturer of proper inflation for YOUR vehicle.
2.) Make sure your gas cap is secured TIGHTLY. Gas and your money evaporates quickly!
3.) Unload unnecessary weight out of your vehicle. The less weight the engine is propelling down the road the more efficiently it will use gas.
4.) Change your air filter frequently. Diminished air flow increases gas consumption.
5.) Fuel up when it is colder out. The cooler the air, the cooler the gas and the more dense the fuel.
6.) After the pump stops, clear the pump hose by lifting the last bit of gas out of the hose and into your tank. What is left in the hose, which you paid for, can add up to a few extra gallons in your tank over a year's time!
7.) Fuel up in the morning before 10am on weekdays. Prices typically change after 10am. Most stations have the same pricing over the weekend as they did at noon on Friday.
8.) Driving over 55 MPH increases fuel use due to wind drag. Traveling 65 to 70 MPH can increase fuel consumption by 10-20%!
9.) Idling for more than 1 minute uses the same amount of gas as it does to restart the vehicle. Turn the engine off if you will be parked for a while.
10.) Avoid driving like a jack rabbit to cut down on fuel use. Think tortes!
11.) Avoid using the air conditioner. Shut it off and gain 10-20% efficiency.
12.) Look into gas rebate credit cards. Anytime you fuel up you will receive a rebate of 2-5% (depending on your credit score). For more information about fuel rebate cards (or to check out the benefits of ANY credit card...) go to www.cardratings.com.
Using these tips you will have more independence to celebrate on this 4th of July!