WITH THE PRICE OF GASOLINE CLIMBING ever higher, hitting the road for this year’s summer vacation in a conventional gas-powered vehicle might really put the pinch on your pocketbook. While drivers have no direct influence over the price at the pumps, they can maximize their miles per gallon by following these simple fuel-conservation tips:
Choose the most fuel-efficient vehicle
This may not be an option if you’re taking the whole family on a camping trip or other excursion that requires lots of gear, but if you have a choice of family vehicles, consider taking the smaller, more fuel-efficient one rather than the bigger gas-guzzler. The same applies to renting a vehicle if you fly to your destination. If possible, opt for a model that offers the best possible fuel economy. You may have to compromise somewhat in the areas of comfort and cargo room, but your wallet will thank you for it every time you stop at a gas station to fill up.
Tune it up
Whichever vehicle you decide to take, make sure it’s operating at peak efficiency. For example, verify that your tires are inflated to the appropriate pressure. (Under-inflated tires can cut fuel efficiency by as much as two percent per pound of pressure below the recommended level.) Also, have your vehicle’s radiator checked along with the belts and fluid levels, spark plugs, air and fuel filters, etc. If your car is due an oil change, get it done before you travel and be sure to replace the motor oil with the manufacturer’s recommended grade. These modest investments in routine maintenance will pay big dividends in the form of better vehicle performance and longer intervals between fill-ups.
Economize your air conditioning
Summer road trips and air-conditioning use typically go hand in hand. But keep in mind that, in addition to cooling down the driver and passengers, a blasting air conditioner can really heat up your fuel consumption. To use your air conditioning more conservatively, choose the “economy” or “recirculation” setting whenever possible. These settings reduce the amount of hot outside air that must be chilled, thereby reducing the air-conditioning load and saving you gas.
Choose a closer destination Okay, so maybe a “stay-cation”—
Okay, so maybe a “stay-cation”— where you stay at home and take advantage of recreational and entertainment opportunities right in your home town—isn’t your idea of a satisfying, reinvigorating vacation, but that doesn’t mean you have to travel across the entire country just to get away from it all. There are plenty of great travel destinations within a very reasonable driving distance from the Toledo area—think Hocking Hills, Cedar Point in Sandusky, the Lake Erie islands, Columbus, Cincinnati, and Ann Arbor to list just a few options.
If you’d still prefer to travel somewhere farther away, try to choose an all-inclusive tourist destination where food, entertainment, natural attractions, etc. are all very centrally located so you can stay put once you arrive.
Pack light
When packing for your trip, take only what you need in order to minimize your vehicle’s weight. For example, if you plan to take a chest cooler with you and you know there’s a reasonably priced grocery store at your destination, consider waiting until you get there to fill it with ice and food. Also, try to avoid packing items on top of your vehicle on a roof rack or inside a roof carrier. If practical, try to fit all of your items inside the trunk or the rear cargo area. While roof-top packing helps to open up space inside the vehicle, it also significantly reduces the vehicles aerodynamics, which cuts gas mileage.
Know where you’re going
With all of today’s smartphones offering convenient access to GPS navigation, it’s easier than ever to identify and stay on the best route to your vacation destination. If you don’t have a smartphone or other GPS device, it’s a good idea to spend a little time studying road maps so you’re familiar with the route you’ll be taking. In either circumstance, you’ll feel more confident driving in unfamiliar territory and be considerably less likely to miss an exit or make a wrong turn, which can waste a lot of gas getting back on track.
Practice fuel-efficient driving
If possible, schedule your driving times for off-peak hours when you’re less likely to encounter gas-guzzling, stop-and-go traffic. Also, keep in mind that exceeding the speed limit can cost you more than the price of a potential ticket because driving at an excessive speed burns a lot of gas. In fact, fuel efficiency drops dramatically when you exceed 60 miles per hour.
Other driving habits that actually help reduce fuel consumption include avoiding idling; using cruise control on the highway when conditions allow; using an electronic toll-collection system on turnpikes and other toll roads, which reduces stopping and starting at toll booths; avoiding rapid acceleration and braking; and reducing the use of air conditioning.
Take advantage of alternate transportation
Depending on your destination and what you plan to do when you get there, you may be able to park your car for the duration of your visit and utilize alternate modes of transportation. For instance, many destinations offer very efficient public mass transit that connects visitors to popular tourist sites and relieves them of the burden of driving in an unfamiliar area. If you’re visiting a smaller town or city, you might even be able to do much of your sightseeing by bicycle or on foot.
