Mike Pouraryan
5 Ways to Ease Pain at the Pump
Gas Prices Are Out Of Control
Ok folks. We it is clear that we can complain until we are forced to telecommute, the price of gas is not going down. George W. Bush and his oil buddies have won this battle. Last week I paid $4.79 per gallon in California because my car requires premium gas. I decided not to get wait on getting my hair done. For too many Americans they are forced to make tougher sacrifices such as driving their children to school. The only way I believe we can help ourselves is to increase our fuel efficiency. My first recommendation is to use Gas Buddy. This helps you to find the cheapest gas prices in your area. Private citizens go on to this website and puts in the current information on gas prices. Gas prices are so volatile there may be a change before you arrive so please keep that in mind. Second, tighten up that gas cap. Gas will evaporate from your car's gas tank if it has an escape. Loose, missing, or damaged gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate each year, according to the Car Care Council. So be sure to tighten up that gas cap each time you fuel up your car. Third, go for the shade. The hot summer sun that makes the inside of your car feel like a sauna also zaps fuel from your gas tank. So park your car in the shade of a building or tree whenever possible. And buy a good windshield shade. A windshield shade blocks sunlight and helps to keep heat out of the inside of your car. Fourth, Replace air filters. Keep a close eye on your engine's air filter. When the engine air filter clogs with dirt, dust and bugs, it causes your engine to work harder and your car becomes less fuel-efficient. Replacing a clogged air filter could improve your gas mileage by as much as 10 percent and save you 15 cents a gallon. It is a good idea to have your engine air filter checked at each oil change. The Car Care Council recommends changing your car's air and oil filters every three months or 3,000 miles or as specified in your owner's manual. Fifth, keep your engine in tune. Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emissions test can boost gas mileage by about 4 percent. So, be sure to give your car regular tune-ups.
