Life Support - Tax Facts
Tame The Road And The Pump With These Gas-Savings Tips
Tips from The Tax Institute at H&R Block
The escalating price at the pump is a reality making hypermiling more important than ever! Here are some fuel-economy, hypermiling tips that actually work to help stretch that fill-up and the life of your auto.
Tip #1: Lose the lead foot and stay within the speed limit. Gas mileage rapidly decreases once you reach speeds above 60 mph. So slow down; you really won't add that much more time onto your commute.
Tip #2:Clean out your car. Sounds simple, but the more weight you haul, the harder your gas has to work. An extra 100 pounds in your trunk can reduce fuel economy by up to 2 percent. Ask yourself: do you really need those sand bags from last winter?
Tip #3: Gas savings "gadgets" don't work. Repeat. Gas savings "gadgets" don't work. The EPA has tested more than 100 of these devices and found they provide little, if any benefits. Some might even damage your engine. Ouch.
Tip #4:Open those windows...sometimes. At lower speeds, you will save fuel. At higher speeds, however, it's probably more fuel efficient to keep the air conditioning running because of wind resistance from your open windows and sunroof.
Tip #5:Check those tires as size really does matter. Under-inflated tires are not only dangerous, they can negatively impact your miles per gallon, whereas properly inflated and aligned tires can increase your gas mileage by as much as 3 percent.
Tip #6: Plan your outings. By bunching your errands geographically, and making one trip versus several short trips with a cold engine, you will save twice as much fuel covering the same amount of distance because your engine will be warm.
Tip #7: Practice the "buddy system." Carpooling with friends or business associates can help you all save on the high cost of frequent gas fill-ups. Some companies have even started to reward their associates who carpool and/or offer help in matching up commuters.
Tip #8:Use your cruise control. Frequent speeding up and slowing down, wastes fuel. It takes much more fuel to get a car going than it takes to keep a car going. For long hauls or on the highway, use your cruise control.
Tip #9: Replace your oil filter. A dirty oil filter not only hinders your car's performance, it can also harm your fuel economy. Replacing clogged oil filters can increase your gas mileage up to 10 percent.
Tip #10: Alternative transportation options. Okay, you've tried all the gas-savings tips, and still are having a hard time coming to terms with the cost of a fill-up. It's time; time to explore alternative transportation options. Try mass transit buses or trains and leave the driving (and the gas) up to others. You might just have a new reason to enjoy your commute.
These tips are brought to you by The Tax Institute at H&R Block.
To view other tips and helpful tax information or listen to our podcasts, visit www.digits.hrblock.com
Tips from The Tax Institute at H&R Block
The escalating price at the pump is a reality making hypermiling more important than ever! Here are some fuel-economy, hypermiling tips that actually work to help stretch that fill-up and the life of your auto.
Tip #1: Lose the lead foot and stay within the speed limit. Gas mileage rapidly decreases once you reach speeds above 60 mph. So slow down; you really won't add that much more time onto your commute.
Tip #2:Clean out your car. Sounds simple, but the more weight you haul, the harder your gas has to work. An extra 100 pounds in your trunk can reduce fuel economy by up to 2 percent. Ask yourself: do you really need those sand bags from last winter?
Tip #3: Gas savings "gadgets" don't work. Repeat. Gas savings "gadgets" don't work. The EPA has tested more than 100 of these devices and found they provide little, if any benefits. Some might even damage your engine. Ouch.
Tip #4:Open those windows...sometimes. At lower speeds, you will save fuel. At higher speeds, however, it's probably more fuel efficient to keep the air conditioning running because of wind resistance from your open windows and sunroof.
Tip #5:Check those tires as size really does matter. Under-inflated tires are not only dangerous, they can negatively impact your miles per gallon, whereas properly inflated and aligned tires can increase your gas mileage by as much as 3 percent.
Tip #6: Plan your outings. By bunching your errands geographically, and making one trip versus several short trips with a cold engine, you will save twice as much fuel covering the same amount of distance because your engine will be warm.
Tip #7: Practice the "buddy system." Carpooling with friends or business associates can help you all save on the high cost of frequent gas fill-ups. Some companies have even started to reward their associates who carpool and/or offer help in matching up commuters.
Tip #8:Use your cruise control. Frequent speeding up and slowing down, wastes fuel. It takes much more fuel to get a car going than it takes to keep a car going. For long hauls or on the highway, use your cruise control.
Tip #9: Replace your oil filter. A dirty oil filter not only hinders your car's performance, it can also harm your fuel economy. Replacing clogged oil filters can increase your gas mileage up to 10 percent.
Tip #10: Alternative transportation options. Okay, you've tried all the gas-savings tips, and still are having a hard time coming to terms with the cost of a fill-up. It's time; time to explore alternative transportation options. Try mass transit buses or trains and leave the driving (and the gas) up to others. You might just have a new reason to enjoy your commute.
These tips are brought to you by The Tax Institute at H&R Block.
To view other tips and helpful tax information or listen to our podcasts, visit www.digits.hrblock.com
