I am feeling a bit guilty about my recent post on wasting gas. Okay, I admit, the guilt is not just 'a bit', it's more like a gnawing feeling inside, an itch that just won't stop. He he. Besides being insensitive in a time of gas crisis, it is embarrassing to flaunt my stupidity to the whole blogosphere. He he. To compensate, and relieve my guilt trip, I came up with the following useful gas saving tips, compiled from various internet sources.

Fill up with lower octane gasoline: I used to fill up my tank with the highest octane grade available until I read this, duped by ads promising greater performance for my car. Besides, who doesn't want that 'vroom vroom' experience? He he. Now I know better.

We should buy the lowest grade or octane that is appropriate for our car (emphasis on the word 'appropriate'). Unless your car requires premium gasoline, filling up your car with high octane fuel is a waste of money. Contrary to TV ads, pricey premium fuel won't boost your car's
performance in the least, so skip it. Don't be a victim of fuel companies' marketing campaigns. If you're not sure what grade of fuel works best for your car, open up your owner's manual and check. As long as your engine doesn't knock or ping on regular unleaded, you're good to drive on this much cheaper gas, and passing up on that pricey premium will save you thousands a year.

Don't top off: I am guilty of this and I know many of you also are so read on. Don't bother topping off when filling your gas tank. Any additional gas is just going to slop around or seep out. Stop pumping at the first indication that your tank is full when the automatic nozzle clicks off. That's the purpose of that mechanism in the first place, to let us know that the fuel has reached its optimum level.

Go for the shade: The hot summer sun that makes the inside of your car fell like a sauna (especially in a tropical country like ours) also zaps fuel from your gas tank. If you let your car bake in the sun there's going to be a greater amount of evaporation than parking it under a shade. And a good windshield shade will greatly help. This blocks the sunlight and helps keep the heat out of the inside of your car, which also causes your air conditioning to work double time - a waste of precious gas.

Use your garage: Are you one of those drivers who park their cars outside because it's more convenient? Or is the garage is too cluttered to be used for its original purpose? Listen to this, clear out and make room for your car. Parking in your garage isn't only more secure, it will also help keep your car stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and you won't have to depend on that gas guzzling air conditioning or defroster when you drive. Doesn't that sound more sensible and 'cents-ible'?

Check if the pressure is right: Here's a tip I can proudly say I follow religiously: Don't get caught with under inflated tires. Under inflation wears down your tires more quickly, and also lowers your car's gas mileage. Tires that have lower pressure offers more resistance so the engine is going to work harder to maintain your desired speed. This will affect your mileage by as much as fifteen percent and will reduce the life of your tires by the same amount. Inflate your tires to the recommended pressure on your owner's manual. Just make sure to check your tire pressure when the tires are cold. A good time is early in the morning after your car has been idle overnight.

Keep your engine in tune: Fixing a car that is out of tune or has failed an emission test can boost gas mileage, so be sure to have regular tune-ups. This has got to be the most basic car care tip fro saving gas. You'll also want to watch out for worn spark plugs. Studies have shown that misfiring spark plugs can reduce fuel efficiency by as much as 30 percent - that's a lot of money these days.

Replace air filters: Check your car's air filter regularly. When the air filters are clogged with dust, dirt and bugs, this makes the engine work harder and becomes less fuel efficient. It is also a good idea to have your engine air filter checked at each oil change. Research has recommended that oil and air filters be changed every three months or 3,000 miles.

I know a lot of drivers (some even members of my own family) who try to save by prolonging the life of air filters until they're close to shredding. I hope they'll read this because they sure don't listen to me.

Use the right oil: Your car's mileage can be improved by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil. Choose motor oil with the words 'energy conserving' on the API performance level. This contain friction reducing additives that help your engine run smoother, work less harder and thus save fuel. I'm sure many of you understand what this tip means. Just think 'lubrication'! He he.

I'm sure there are many more tips out there to save on gas, but these are the most basic I could find that falls under the category of 'car care'. If this guilt trip doesn't end soon, I'll probably come up with another edition, this time under the category 'driving tips'. But that will require a lot more research. For now, I hope this will do.

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guilt relief: simple car care tips to save gas

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