Summer 2008: Tips for Saving on Fuel

      Despite numerous, well-documented analyses of "Peak Oil" and the risks of oil dependency, many people were not affected by the emerging energy crisis until the past two years. Today, the high price of fuel threatens the commuter lifestyle of many in the United States, especially in areas like Phoenix. As painful as the current situation is, it will likely motivate much-needed changes that will lessen our dependence on oil while improving the environment. In the meantime, Kelley's hopes to help you manage your fuel expenses with the following tips. We cannot be responsible for the quality or accuracy of the resources we reference herein, but we have tried to find the most relevant, helpful information for you.

      Tips for saving on fuel fall into three broad groupings: Driving Less, Driving Wisely, and Maintaining Your Vehicle Properly.

Driving Less

      The rapid rise is oil prices has outpaced people's ability to adjust, but adjust we must! For Fountain Hills residents, many everyday activities require personal automobile transportation. That being said, there are times when nearly everyone can economize on their vehicle use. Here are some alternatives:

• Walk or bicycle. Never walk or bicycle when it is unsafe or unhealthful to do so. When it is safe, you might make a rule for yourself on your personal "walking radius." You might say that you will walk anywhere within a one-mile radius of your home or office. If you take a look around the fountain, you'll see right away that Fountain Hills residents are big fans of walking already! For bicycling, set a wider "cycling radius." The Maricopa Association of Governments recently published their "MAG Regional Bike Map 2008," which has some good safety reminders and an updated map of bike lanes in Maricopa County. The file is VERY large, and you'll need Adobe software to read .PDF files. You'll want save it to your computer and then use the Marquis Zoom tool to get a close look at just Fountain Hills. Follow this link to download the map: http://www.mag.maricopa.gov/detail.cms?item=8884.
• Take the bus. There aren't a lot of options for busing in Fountain Hills right now, but that could change soon (maybe it already has!). For downtown Phoenix commuters, one option is Valley Metro's Route 512 Express http://www.valleymetro.org/bus/Bus_Routes_Jan_28_Framed/512a.html. The "Bus Book" on Valley Metro's web site has much more info, including transfer points, fares and schedules. http://www.valleymetro.org/default.asp. Fountain Hills also is serviced by the Maricopa County Special Transportation Services http://www.hsd.maricopa.gov/sts/default.asp?link=about. This is a low-cost service for elderly, disabled or low-income individuals.
• Carpool. For regular commuters, carpooling is probably the most feasible solution to the gas and environmental problems. Although many people put together carpools on their own, there are public and private matching services available. We do not have any experience with or opinions about these services, nor do we know if you or your information are safe with them. When we did try a few out, it appeared that very few Fountain Hills residents are availing themselves of these services. Valley Metro's Rideshare Program http://www.valleymetro.org/Rideshare/ has resources that go beyond simple carpooling, while offering a convenient matching program (with a few FH residents on board!). Other options include, but are not limited to,
  eRideshare: http://www.erideshare.com/carpool.php?dstate=AZ,
  Craig's List: http://phoenix.craigslist.org/search/rid?query=fountain+hills
  Pooln: http://www.pooln.com/location/arizona/fountainhills
  State employees should check out http://www.capitolrideshare.com/
• Telecommute. It may not hurt to ask your employer if telecommuting is an option some of the time. With the severity of the issue affecting us all, more and more employers might allow telecommuting. Arizona state employees working in Maricopa County should visit http://www.teleworkarizona.com/
• Other. There are numerous government and private resources, online and offline, offering commuting and other transportation solutions.

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Driving Wisely

      While the tips in "Driving Less" may not be practical or appealing for many, the tips in this section are easy ways for everyone to save on their gas expenses. These tips are common sense, but most people are unaware of the extent to which they can affect you at the pump! Since most savings are expressed as a percentage change in your fuel economy, your personal driving habits will determine the dollar savings. Using data from the 2001 National Highway Transportation Survey (2008 Survey is in progress), a reasonable estimate for the miles driven for the average driver is around 35 miles per day (http://nhts.ornl.gov/2001/pub/STT.pdf). According to the U.S. Department of Transportation "Revised Summary of Fuel Economy Performance" published January 15, 2008, the standard fuel economy for passenger cars is 27.5 miles per gallon. So, we estimate that the average driver burns roughly 1.27 gallons per day or 8.9 gallons per week. At $4.40/gallon, that would mean a weekly gas bill of $39, or $2,038 annually. For most people, fuel expenses are paid in after-tax dollars, so every percentage of savings matters!

• Plan and Combine Trips. Planning your shopping trips can reduce your miles traveled meaningfully. Planning meals for several days and then combining grocery shopping trips with visits to the dry-cleaners, etc., saves time and money.
• Drive the Speed Limit. Driving the speed limit not only reduces traffic tickets and improves safety, but it also affects gas mileage. Different cars achieve optimum efficiency at different speeds, but most estimates we have read suggest that highway cruising at 10 mph over the speed limit can cut fuel economy by around 15%. Consumer Reports tested the Toyota Camry and found that every 10 mph over 55 mph cost 5 mpg in fuel economy.
• Easy Does It. Acceleration burns fuel rapidly, and braking converts a vehicle's kinetic energy into heat through friction. It's easy to see that aggressive driving, speeding up and braking a lot, can result in waste. FuelEconomy.gov states that aggressive driving can lower highway fuel economy by up to 33%!
• Avoid Heavy Traffic. This is obvious, we know. Heavy traffic means lots of accelerating and braking, which dramatically reduces fuel economy. What is less obvious to many people is the abundance of resources available that can help you avoid the jams. Radio and television broadcasts of traffic information have been around for a long time, but there are other sources online that can help you zero in on your specific routes "live." The Arizona Department of Transportation maintains a system of cameras to monitor area traffic patterns AZDot, and they supply data to private companies who make live traffic data easier to access, albeit with advertisements. A few popular traffic info sources include AZ Central.com, Traffic.com, and AZFamily.com.
• Remove Excess Weight. The EPA estimates that each extra 100 lbs in your car reduces fuel economy by 2%. So, taking golf clubs and other gear out of your trunk if you're not using them can help a little.
• Air-Conditioning. Most sources suggest that reducing the load on your engine by running the A/C only when necessary improves fuel economy. This may not be feasible in the Phoenix summer, practically speaking! Besides, at higher speeds, having windows open can reduce fuel economy by increasing air drag.
• Overdrive. If your car has overdrive gears, please read your Owner's Manual to see how and when to use them - they can improve the quality of your ride and your fuel economy.

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Maintaining Your Vehicle Properly

      This is where Kelley's Automotive Repair can really help. Proper vehicle maintenance is crucial to the longevity, performance and fuel economy of your vehicle. Some, but by no means all, maintenance items having a direct bearing on fuel economy are listed here.

• Tire Inflation and Alignment. FuelEconomy.gov estimates that each 1 psi of tire pressure under specification reduces fuel economy by 0.4%. Tire pressure also is important for safety and ride quality, and it's free to check and maintain! Like tire pressure, wheel alignment will affect safety, ride quality and mileage. Make sure you get it done correctly. At Kelley's, we use the best, state-of-the-art, laser-guided equipment for our alignments. The following picture shows Darian Hyde by our Hunter alignment machine, aligning a fine automobile which can be forgiven for its gas mileage.
  
  
  
  
• Monitor Engine Performance. Emissions inspections can reveal fuel-consuming problems, but if you notice that your gas mileage is lower than normal, you may not want to wait for an engine performance checkup. Engine performance problems can be among the worst in terms of fuel economy. Some relatively low-cost maintenance items can boost mileage and performance, such as cleaning fuel systems.
• Replace Air Filter. Replace your air filter at standard intervals, or when needed based upon your driving patterns. A dirty or clogged air filter can reduce fuel economy by up to 10%, according to the EPA.
• Check Brakes. If a vehicle's brakes are improperly adjusted or malfunctioning, including the emergency brake, they can create a friction drag that wastes energy and accelerates brake wear. Be alert to brake noises or an unusual feel when NOT braking as well as when braking.
• Secure the Gas Cap. Be sure you are using the correct type of gas cap and that it is tightened properly. The failure to tighten your gas cap completely after fueling your vehicle may result in the vehicle's "check engine" light coming on, and escaping vapors will damage the environment and your wallet.

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