Simple Steps To Save Money On Your Car

Simple Steps To Save Money On Your Car from our car care corner. High gas prices, once again, force car owners to find even more ways to save money when operating and maintaining their vehicles.

(NAPSI)—Experts are predicting that gas prices will continue rising to historic highs this summer, forcing vehicle owners to find ways to save money when it comes to maintaining their cars. Many Americans are already living on tight budgets, so practicing some quick, inexpensive and easy car maintenance can help you save and protect your investment.

• Maintain The Air To Save Money On Fuel.

The U.S. Department of Energy reports that under-inflated tires can increase fuel consumption by up to 3 percent. One study estimates that 50 to 80 percent of the tires rolling on U.S. roads are under inflated. Properly inflated tires on all American cars could save up to 2 billion gallons of gas a year.

What’s more, a clogged air filter can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent. Air filters keep impurities from damaging the interior of the engine, so replacing dirty filters will save gas and protect your engine.

More ways to save money on fuel are available at www.fueleconomy.gov.

• Reduce Your Insurance Costs By Shopping Around.

Prices vary from company to company, so it pays to do your homework. Get at least three price quotes. You can call companies directly or access information on the Internet.

• Get Slick To Reduce Maintenance Costs And Save Fuel.

Upgrading to one of today’s modern high-performance motor oils can make a meaningful improvement to your car’s fuel economy and engine life. For instance, independent studies have documented that Royal Purple motor oil improves fuel economy by as much as 5 percent and significantly reduces engine wear. Using high-performance synthetic motor oil, as opposed to conventional oils, also allows for more miles between oil changes, reducing maintenance costs and time spent working on the car.

You can find out more at www.royalpurple.com.

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How To Spend Less Money On Fuel When Gas Prices Rise

How To Spend Less Money On Fuel When Gas Prices Rise gives some solid tips on how to save money on the gasoline for your car. Find out how to use your gas more economically with this fun article.

Gas prices proudly flaunt gravity. They rise faster than a helium balloon and can fluctuate quicker than anything else I can think of. And in the wake of rising gasoline prices its victims are riled, traumatized and nearly bankrupt.

Be not afraid. Wipe the tears and put away the wallet. Here is how to spend less money on fuel when gas prices rise.

What You Know

Most parents have instructed their children on the proper don’ts of driving: don’t idle lengthily, don’t brake unnecessarily, don’t accelerate quickly and don’t speed. Almost perfect: one should idle 2-3 minutes to warm an engine in extremely cold weather.

What You Don’t

The following driving techniques were likely not included in your parents’ speech, “Driving Is a Privilege, Not a Right.”

To achieve maximum gas mileage, use the following hypermiling routines.

Pulse And Glide:

Smoothly accelerate five mph past your target speed, then coast until you are five mph below your optimal speed, and repeat.

Draft:

Select a benevolent semi-truck cruising nearby and draft behind it.

Coast:

Unless absolutely necessary – meaning that jail or death is a distinct possibility – do not brake!

For fuel economy purposes, cleanliness is next to godliness. A clean air filter, spark plugs and oil sump can increase fuel efficiency 5-30%. Use synthetic oil and replace it every 3,000 miles or per manufacturer’s recommendation.

If cash is more important than comfort, reduce the use of air conditioning, entertainment systems and all power accessories.

Inflate your tires regularly to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI, which balances rolling resistance, ride comfort and traction. This can improve fuel efficiency 3-10%.

Install smooth hubcabs, side skirts, a grille block and other cosmetic alterations to improve aerodynamics and increase fuel efficiency.

Only use cruise control on flat terrain.

Feed your fuel tank like it's a baby. Fill it slowly, do so in the morning or evening, do not top it off, never run the vehicle on empty, and do not use high-octane fuel unless recommended by the manufacturer.

Here are four extra tips for the unhealthily desperate.

Walk everywhere.
Bribe your gas station attendant.
Eliminate all teenagers from driving your car.
Build your own refinery.

Okay, so those last three ideas aren't going to happen...but they are something to think about and I bet at least one of them made you crack a smile!

Automotive : Link Sponsors

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Car Sharing Makes Sense To Drivers, But Can It Make Money?

Zipcar

How would you like to go online and reserve a nearby car so you can leave to do errands later that morning? When you’re ready, you'd simply walk or take public transportation to where the car is parked, use your electronic key to gain access, start the vehicle, and drive away. An hour later, you would return the car to the same parking spot.

The best news of all is you could pay a reasonable monthly fee for this service, and about $7 for the hour-long use of the car. Fuel costs and insurance: included. Easy as pie.

Car sharing is an emerging trend in large, urban areas—or near major university campuses. But will it become economically viable in a way that can sustain the growth of this niche vehicle rental service?

Companies like Zipcar and City Car Share are growing in popularity among a segment of the population that chooses not to own a vehicle. For some, it’s the economic downturn that’s forcing cost-cutting. For others in large urban areas such as the San Francisco Bay Area, nearby stores and services, along with accessible public transportation make owning a vehicle an option, rather than a necessity. Car sharing becomes economically viable because they no longer have to deal with car payments, insurance, and fuel or maintenance costs associated with vehicle ownership.

Zipcar’s economic viability

If car sharing makes sense to those using its service, is this business model viable for the companies making short-term vehicle use so easy for the end-user? The short answer: not yet. In a recent article on Gigaom’s Earth2tech series, Kate Fehrenbacher wrote that car sharing leader Zipcar reported revenues of $186 million last year, but experienced a net loss of $14 million. They have also accumulated $65 million in debt. The article states that Zipcar doesn’t know when they will be able to turn the tide on the red ink.

Working against Zipcar’s ability to operate in the black is the rising price of gasoline. Because fuel costs are included in the fee it charges for service, $4-plus gas is not helping its profit and loss statement. Another concern is the growth potential of car sharing and how many more cities this business model can expand to.

In the meantime, Enterprise Holding, owner of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, is testing the waters of this automated local rental market. In her article, Fehrenbacher said that Enterprise has begun a new, limited service through WeCar in places like Mountain View, Calif., and Nashville, Tenn. It has recently expanded service to  a few major colleges including Tulane and the universities of Washington and Missouri.

It’s not known if Enterprise has succeeded where others have failed, and is able to operate this cutting-edge car sharing service for a profit instead of a loss.

[GigaOm]

View the original article here

How To Spend Less Money On Fuel When Gas Prices Rise

How To Spend Less Money On Fuel When Gas Prices Rise gives some solid tips on how to save money on the gasoline for your car. Find out how to use your gas more economically with this fun article.

Gas prices proudly flaunt gravity. They rise faster than a helium balloon and can fluctuate quicker than anything else I can think of. And in the wake of rising gasoline prices its victims are riled, traumatized and nearly bankrupt.

Be not afraid. Wipe the tears and put away the wallet. Here is how to spend less money on fuel when gas prices rise.

What You Know

Most parents have instructed their children on the proper don’ts of driving: don’t idle lengthily, don’t brake unnecessarily, don’t accelerate quickly and don’t speed. Almost perfect: one should idle 2-3 minutes to warm an engine in extremely cold weather.

What You Don’t

The following driving techniques were likely not included in your parents’ speech, “Driving Is a Privilege, Not a Right.”

To achieve maximum gas mileage, use the following hypermiling routines.

Pulse And Glide:

Smoothly accelerate five mph past your target speed, then coast until you are five mph below your optimal speed, and repeat.

Draft:

Select a benevolent semi-truck cruising nearby and draft behind it.

Coast:

Unless absolutely necessary – meaning that jail or death is a distinct possibility – do not brake!

For fuel economy purposes, cleanliness is next to godliness. A clean air filter, spark plugs and oil sump can increase fuel efficiency 5-30%. Use synthetic oil and replace it every 3,000 miles or per manufacturer’s recommendation.

If cash is more important than comfort, reduce the use of air conditioning, entertainment systems and all power accessories.

Inflate your tires regularly to the manufacturer’s recommended PSI, which balances rolling resistance, ride comfort and traction. This can improve fuel efficiency 3-10%.

Install smooth hubcabs, side skirts, a grille block and other cosmetic alterations to improve aerodynamics and increase fuel efficiency.

Only use cruise control on flat terrain.

Feed your fuel tank like it's a baby. Fill it slowly, do so in the morning or evening, do not top it off, never run the vehicle on empty, and do not use high-octane fuel unless recommended by the manufacturer.

Here are four extra tips for the unhealthily desperate.

Walk everywhere.
Bribe your gas station attendant.
Eliminate all teenagers from driving your car.
Build your own refinery.

Okay, so those last three ideas aren't going to happen...but they are something to think about and I bet at least one of them made you crack a smile!

Automotive : Link Sponsors

View the original article here

Save Money On Gas

You drastically increase the fuel you consume and the emissions your car gives off when you accelerate quickly and stop quickly. Also, the more errands you take care of in one trip, the better for your mileage.

2. Do Keep Your Car In Shape.

Regular tune-ups will keep your car producing less greenhouse gases, using less gasoline and preventing future trouble. If every American’s tires were properly inflated to the right level, it could save 3 billion gallons of gas every year.

3. Don’t Run Hot And Cold.

Unless your car’s a classic, chances are it’s electronically controlled and doesn’t need to be warmed up by idling. Also, go easy on the air conditioner. Park in the shade.

4. Do Upgrade For Efficiency.

Invest in quality high-flow air filters, synthetic oils and spark plugs for better performance. Also, try not to carry unnecessary weight in your car. Check your trunk for unused items that add to the weight your engine has to move.

5. Do Add An Engine Conditioner When You Fill Up The Gas Tank.

It lubricates the combustion chamber to help prevent engine damage. Engines break down and operate inefficiently with long-term wear and tear on vital parts. By lubricating them, you can increase the longevity of your vehicle.

What’s more, every time you fill up at the pump, there’s one conditioner that can save you money while reducing the amount of toxic emissions. It’s called Force For Earth Fuel & Engine Conditioner. Force is 100 percent natural and biodegradable and works with all fuels. The easy-to-use conditioner helps your engine burn more efficiently and is nontoxic and nonhazardous so it’s safe for the environment.

Other benefits include:

• Increased fuel economy

• Reduced heat and friction

• Clean, lubricated engine parts

• Improved vehicle performance

• Lower maintenance costs

6. Don't Forget

Don’t forget to add Force in your oil to clean and lubricate your engine for better performance and to extend the life of the oil.

Unser uses the product in his race car, family car and even in his boat’s outboard motor. As he explains, “Force increases fuel mileage and reduces emissions by 30 percent or more. Leaving a smaller carbon footprint is very important to me as well as saving up to 19 percent on fuel and money. Who doesn’t like doing that?”

To learn more and to order the product with free shipping, visit www.gasnewsusa.com or call toll free (877) 342-2111. And like them on Facebook: www.facebook.com/forcefuel.

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