Have you heard the old saying, "There are only two things you can count on in life: Death and Taxes"? Well, that saying is no longer true; there are three things now: Death, Taxes, and the cost of fuel forever spiraling upwards. Here at Clarke Automotive, your local Brandon FL mechanic, with over 30 years in the automotive industry we've heard our fair share of complains about the increasing fuel prices. Even if you don't have the newest, most fuel efficient vehicle, there are still things you can put into practice to make your dollar go farther.
1. Be mindful of your right foot. If you're speeding away from red lights and stop signs, you're wasting fuel. If you're racing cars down the interstate at 80 mph, you're wasting fuel. Here's a rule of thumb: your gas mileage can drop off up to 15% when driving at or below 65mph and driving above 65mph.
2. You can change your octane! A lot of people drive around with medium or premium gas in their tank when they just simply don't need to. If your owner manual says "regular," it means regular. Using anything else is just a waste of money.
3. Use the internet to gauge gas prices in your area. There are several sites that will compare the gas prices around you and show you where you can find gas the cheapest.
4. This one may seem obvious, but check your tire pressure. If your tire pressure is low, the rolling resistance on the road is increased thus lowering your fuel economy.