High Fuel Cost And What It Means To Our Everyday Lives

By: Jerry Christopher

According to our recent poll, the rising cost of fuel has caused
many families and individuals to restrain from driving habits
that we've been so accustomed to. Before the fuel cost
skyrocketed we wouldn't think twice about hopping in our car for
a 50 or 60-mile trip, perhaps to a zoo or other recreational
area for a leisurely Sunday outing with our families.

But by the statements of those who responded to our poll, it
appears that these leisurely drives are being limited or in some
cases, families are simply staying home more.

In order to combat his high fuel expense, M. Cooper from Saint
Louis Mo, a consultant that drives 20,000 mile plus per year
recently traded in his Ford Taurus for a new Honda Civic that
gets 41mpg.

Another consumer stated the fuel prices have drastically changed
their life style, they've quit going out to dinner, going to the
movies and even cancelled their vacation plans. What once cost
him 42.00 to fill up his truck, now cost $110.00. We have a lot
less money than we did before this all started. We've
drastically reduced the amount of driving, only when necessary
and have attempted to combine trips, we do not do any extra
driving unless it is for school or work, so we stay home much
more and do not have extra money NOW!

Matt Downer from Downers Grove, Illinois seems to have at lease
somewhat of a positive spin on the situation. I've become a lot
more in shape because I walk everywhere or bike, I think it's a
blessing in disguise, America is the most obese country in the
world and maybe this will slim it down a bit, also a lot fewer
fuel emissions if people don't drive the earth won't die.

What ever your thoughts and opinions are for the recent climb in
prices, I think it's clear that until the prices come down, the
majority of the everyday working class people will be forced to
continue to deprive themselves of even the most basic luxuries.

While we can't control the price per gallon, we can at least
follow a few basic guidelines and reduce our cost, albeit a
minimum amount, but at $3.00 per gallon, even a minimum amount
will help our pocketbooks.

Listed below are UsedCarWise.Com's Top 10 tips for increasing
your fuel mileage.

1. Set the tire pressure to the recommend psi as per the tire
placard or label of your vehicle. (Always adjust tire pressure
with cold tires)

2. Avoid excessive idling times, such as warming your car up in
the mornings (It serves no purpose anyway)

3. Instead of going thru the drive thru at fast food chains, go
inside to order. This will of course avoid excess idling while
in line.

4. Remove any excessive weight from the trunk or bed of your
truck (This doesn't include over weight spouses either)

5. Remove luggage racks for aerodynamic reasons.

6. Make sure the steering and suspension system end is aligned
properly, a mis-aligned steering system will cause excessive
drag and reduce fuel mileage.

7. Use Cruise Control while driving at highway speeds.

8. Reduce your speed by 5mph, this may be the biggest saver of
all, and if you think about it, 5mph will not get you to your
destination much quicker. (Just be prepared for 1 finger hello's
and horn honkers)

9. Make sure your vehicle is properly maintained, especially the
air filter. If your check engine light is on, have it corrected
as soon as possible, it could be a defective sensor or other
mechanical fault that will severely impact fuel mileage. Always
use the proper grade of engine oil as well, the wrong grade can
impact fuel mileage by 1% or more.

10. Avoid jackrabbit starts and aggressive driving habits.

While the above tips may not be new, they certainly bear not
just repeating, but adhering to as well. And with the cost of
fuel at record highs, we need all the help we can muster.

About the author:
Jerry Christopher, owner http://www.usedcarwise.com offering a
unique and innovative approach to buying a used car the smart
way.