While oil prices had previously receded to back below $90, oil prices have surged lately. Oil is now well over $100; current trading is around $105. Part of the reason for the increase in oil prices is the continued decline of the dollar. Since the dollar is less valuable, global commodities become more expensive to buy. Also, many investors appear to be buying oil as an investment itself. This is driving up the overall demand for oil.

Some believe oil might come down in price. For example, legendary oilman T. Boone Pickens believes oil will go back down to $85 soon because of the US recession. However, he sees oil going back to over $100 by the end of the year.

Whatever the reason may be, it seems we may be looking at pricier oil and pricier gas. More than ever, it just goes to show the benefits of getting good gas mileage on your car.

It is doubtful that many people had “save gas mileage” on their list of New Year’s resolutions, but why shouldn’t they? Saving on gas mileage can be accomplished by following a few simple guidelines.

To kick off 2008, we’ve assembled a list of eight easy-to-implement tips to help you save on fuel this year. Of course, the best way to save gas is to walk or bike to nearby destinations, but when you must drive, practice these eight simple tips to help maintain a cleaner environment:

1. Maintain tires.

Did you know that by keeping your tires inflated to their recommended pressure coupled with periodic wheel alignments can help improve gas mileage? Take a few minutes to make a pit stop to check your tire pressure. While driving on an even road, you can take your hands off the wheel to test your steering alignment. If the car begins drifting left or right after you removed your hands from the wheel, this could mean your wheels need aligned. Of course, be careful when testing your steering.

2. Avoid high speeds.

Studies have shown that gas mileage can be improved by driving at slower speeds on the highway.

3. Refrain from sudden acceleration and braking.

Accelerating gradually instead of aggressively helps save gas mileage. Likewise, braking gradually is much preferred to sudden stops.

4. Lose the dead weight.

No, we don’t mean your spouse and kids. Carrying golf clubs, bowling balls, luggage, or any other heavy items in your truck increases the weight in your car and thus decreases your gas mileage.

5. Roll down the window.

Using your car’s air conditioning system hurts gas mileage. Try driving with your windows down. It’s more fun than you’d think.

6. Turn off the car.

Idling for extended periods of time can burn more gas than restarting an engine. Next time you go to McDonald’s, don’t be afraid to turn the car off and walk inside rather than wait in the drive-thru line.

7. Avoid high RPM usage.

Vehicles with manual transmission can be utilized to save on gas mileage by shifting gears at a lower RPM. Also, utility vehicles like pick-up trucks and SUVs are geared for optimal towing. This means they climb to higher-than-necessary RPMs before shifting. If you drive one of these vehicles and do not need it for it’s towing capabilities, consider switching to a more practical option.

8. Get a tune-up.

Changing worn spark plugs, topping off fluids, and replacing worn brakes can have a tremendous impact on your car’s gas mileage.

[tag]Saving Gas, Increase Gas Mileage[/tag]

The price of oil keeps going higher and higher. Oil has reached almost $100 a barrel. We all know what that likely means for gas prices.

It’s making more and more economical sense to buy a car with better gas mileage. The price of oil keeps going up mainly because of demand. With growing economies around the world, there is a higher demand for energy, and oil is still a primary means for energy. Alternative sources of energy seem to still be in very primitive form, so it seems like we will be stuck with high oil prices for awhile.

The war in Iraq and tensions with Iran are also raising the prices of oil. A lot of fear of a potential oil shock has resulted in higher oil prices.

For now, the only thing a consumer can do is to buy a car with better gas mileage and to employ tips to save on gas mileage. Also, remember, the one sure fire way to save on gas is to just drive less too!

To most people, the most obvious way to save gas is buying a new car that gets better gas mileage. But before you head to the dealer to make your trade-in, you should know that there are easier ways to save money on gasoline.

Do you stop short at traffic lights and then make a jack-rabbit start? Do you weave in and out of traffic? Driving more sensibly can save you 5%-33% on your gasoline costs. Driving the speed limit can save you another 7%-23%. It is estimated that every 5 miles you drive above 60 miles per hour is comparable to spending an additional $0.20 on gas. Using your cruise control can also save gas since it regulates your speed. Additionally, using your overdrive gears when climbing hills can help. Excessive idling wastes fuel as well so you might want to consider turning off your car if you need to wait for someone or are completely stopped in traffic.

If you’re carrying around a lot of junk in your trunk, now is the time to clean out your car. Every extra pound you carry in your vehicle reduces your gas mileage. This formula applies more accurately to small vehicles rather than larger ones, but the total savings of reducing the weight in your car by 100 pounds is 1-2%.

Keeping your car properly maintained can improve your gas mileage as much as 19%. Visit your mechanic to check if your car is properly in tune and that there are no major mechanical problems detracting from your gas mileage. Discuss a schedule for changing your air filter, as this can improve mileage by up to 10%. Perhaps the simplest mileage savings comes from keeping your tires properly inflated. Purchase a tire gauge at your automotive supply store and learn to use it!

Many employers are now offering their employees the ability to telecommute and work from their home offices. Telecommuting just one day out of ten will obviously save you 10% on your gas costs. Carpooling, ride-sharing and public transportation are also ways to save gas, but these things may not an option for you due to scheduling conflicts. You can still save gas by avoiding rush hour commuting, combining errands into one trip and arranging your route to avoid backtracking.

Many families are unwilling or unable to give up their annual driving vacation, but can save money by making sure their car is properly maintained as described above and by driving the speed limit. Additionally, using a top carrier causes drag and can reduce efficiency by as much as 5% in addition to the reductions caused by carrying extra weight.

About the Author:
Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Automotive, Recreation, and Travel

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathon_Hardcastle
Tag: Saving Gas

[tag]Saving Gas, Increase Gas Mileage[/tag]

I’m one of many children across America whose moms and dads drove their cars with two feet: one on the brake and the other on the gas.

I suppose this became a widespread practice after the advent of the automatic transmission. It’s predecessor, of course, the manual trans, requires two (or more!) feet to manipulate.

Anyway, this habit of two-footed driving is emblematic of what most of us do with our daily lives. We stop-and-go in fits and starts toward our goals.

It takes more time for us to reach our destinations; and the “ride,” the pleasantness of the overall experience is diminished, tremendously.

One of the key ways we do this is by setting a goal, or by agreeing to do something at the request of somebody else, and then by holding back, at least a little in our execution.

For example, my accountant always asks me to organize my documents before tax time, to make it easier and faster to do my returns.

I hate this kind of work! To me, I’d rather get nearly anything else done that sifting through papers, receipts, and miscellaneous clippings, organizing them into piles, rubber banding them, and then sending them off to him.

So, I do a little, get distracted, do a little more, get distracted gain, and continue this way until I get just enough done to satisfy him.

Like a little kid who drags his feet when he has to go to a relative’s house, I make it harder than it has to be.

That’s just one of my “two-footed” driving habits.

What I should be doing, instead, is letting go of holding back. Once I’m in the driver’s seat with any project, I need to just keep driving toward my destination without stopping.

Well, this is one of my resolutions, and I thought I would share it with you.

I couldn’t think of a better opportunity, now that tax time is coming up!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone® and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service.

About the Author:
He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC’s Annenberg School, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: gary@customersatisfaction.com.
Tag: Don’t Drive on Gas & Brake Paddles

[tag]Don’t Drive on Gas & Brake Paddles, Save Mileage, Increase Gas Mileage[/tag]

In his first trip to Michigan last Monday as a presidential candidate, Barack Obama, took a big risk and told the leaders of the region that the Big Three should increase their vehicles’ fuel mileage by four percent which is approximately a mile per gallon each year. This is for the purpose of curbing dependence on foreign oil. Obama also is offering billions to aid the automakers.

Unfortunately, that was not the message that the Detroit automakers wanted to hear. “How do you impose that cost on an industry that’s going through this right now?” said General Motors Corp. spokesman Greg Martin. “(Our) position is that four percent is simply not achievable without great consequence to the industry and consumers.”

In his 35-minute speech before a huge crowd at a Detroit Economic Club meeting in Cobo Center, Obama offered the automakers a carrot if they improve fuel mileage: up to $7 billion through 2017 to help defray costly retiree health care costs; or $3 billion over ten years to help them retool their plants to make more fuel-efficient vehicles.

“Today, there are two kinds of car companies: those that mass produce fuel-efficient cars and those that will,” said the Illinois Democrat. “The American auto industry can no longer afford to be one of those that will.”

Obama, who has drawn a frenzy elsewhere, got a standing ovation as he started with his talk. But he heard only polite applause during his candid speech. Obama, 45, acknowledged that he chose a difficult venue to deliver his opinions on fuel efficiency, but he said he wants to be consistent, and not just tell the Detroit crowd what they might have wanted to hear.

“Here in Detroit, three giants of American industry are hemorrhaging jobs and profits as foreign competitors answer the rising global demand for fuel-efficient cars,” he said. “America simply cannot continue on this path. The need to drastically change our energy policy is no longer a debatable proposition For the sake of our security, our economy, our jobs and our planet, the age of oil must end in our time.”

He delivered a direct blow like Rancho shocks at Detroit automakers, saying that for years they have lobbied against increasing fuel-efficiency standards. “Even as they’ve shed thousands of jobs and billions in profits over the past few years, they continued to reward failure in some cases with lucrative bonuses for CEOs,” said Obama, who also met with Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick during his brief visit to Michigan.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has estimated that it would cost $114 billion to defray expenses related to the improved fuel standards that Obama supports. According to the estimate, the Big Three would bear 80 percent of that cost, adding $3,000 to $5,000 to the price tag of each vehicle.

Mike Moran, Ford Motor Co.’s spokesman in Washington, said that Ford supports “equitable” reform of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy regulations, with “auto companies, fuel providers and consumers all involved.”

The United Auto Workers (UAW) also is concerned about modifications in fuel-efficiency requirements. In a letter last Monday to a U.S. House committee considering such a proposal, UAW legislative director Alan Reuther said those standards could cost the jobs of 17,000 auto workers and 50,000 auto parts workers.

After his speech, Obama told reporters that his plan would cost the auto industry billions of dollars. But, he added, “at some point you have to recognize the path you’re on isn’t working. The sooner we start, the better off we’re going to be.”

A national poll released Monday showed U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., leading Obama 34 percent to 26. Obama had held a slight lead over Clinton last week.

Notwithstanding the chilly response that his fuel-efficiency plan got from carmakers, Obama was not without supporters in the crowd. The Rev. Gail Slater, a pastor from Silverwood in the Thumb, commended Obama for taking on a tough issue in the Motor City. “It took courage but he said it at a time when gas prices are so high, we’re all ready to do something about it,” she said.

Mark Jones, 45, of Farmington Hills said Obama delivered a “sound speech” and offered timely comments for a Detroit audience. “But I’d like to hear more about an urban agenda,” he said. “And on his energy policy, he didn’t say anything about nuclear energy.”

Jeannie Jackson of Southfield, the president of EEO Monitoring Consultants, found Obama interesting. “He seems like he has good moral values and that’s what I’m looking for,” said Jackson, 60. “I like him, but I can’t say I’d vote for him, yet. I’m watching. “He brings some excitement and that can help rejuvenate the party in the election. It’s good that he’s like a rock star. Let’s see if he can back it up.”

Kilpatrick spokesman Matt Allen said the mayor “had an excellent meeting in his office” with Obama. In a statement, Allen described the meeting as “serious and straightforward,” but said Kilpatrick is not prepared to endorse a candidate.

About the Author:
Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today.
Tag: Increase Gas Mileage

[tag]Increase Gas Mileage[/tag]

As a nation it seems we’re becoming fixated on the price of a gallon of gasoline.

To an extent, this is only natural. Can you name another product that we use every day that has spiked in price by nearly 50% during the last year or two, and that has nearly doubled from its lowest point during the last eight?

The price of crude oil topped $75 a barrel this past week, a record high, and developments in oil supply and shortages are widely reported, so it shouldn’t be a shock that people are hyper-sensitive to the topic.

Still, you have to wonder, are we overreacting?

For example, I’m not happy with the fuel economy of my smallish SUV. It has a six-cylinder engine, appears tiny next to a Navigator or Escalade, and it looks like a micro-car next to a Hummer.

With the air conditioning blasting on 100 degree days, as it has been lately, I’m getting about 11 miles to the gallon in the city.

I hate this.

Am I having an irrational reaction?

Was I promised a rose garden?

Yes and no. The EPA mileage estimate for the city was 16, which isn’t 11. But now, we know from recent disclosures that the phrase “Your mileage may vary” is really a hoot.

When the EPA does its tests, the air conditioning is off and highway speeds are no more than 55 miles per hour. I understand this will change, soon.

From an economic point of view, a $3.35 versus a $2.35 gallon of premium gas is statistically great, but financially modest, given the other fixed costs of driving.

I drive about 1000 miles per month. I’m consuming about 85 gallons, so more expensive gas is costing me $85 additional dollars per month. Given the fact that my payments for my lease, for insurance, for tires and maintenance come to about $1,000 per month, my overall added cost of driving has been a mere 8.5%.

My fixed costs are higher than many, but still, a 42.5% increase in the price of premium gas has made my overall costs only 8.5% higher.

So, what do those Escalade and Navigator and Hummer drivers, or I for that matter, have to complain about?

Even if I got 30 miles per gallon, my overall costs of driving wouldn’t drop significantly, all other things being equal.

As long as these sorts of economics inform the costs of driving, people will not have a significant incentive to economize, unless they’re concerned about global warming, geopolitics, and dependency on unstable, foreign nations.

Dr. Gary S. Goodman is the best-selling author of 12 books, over 700 articles, and the creator of numerous audio and video training programs, including “The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable,” published by Nightingale-Conant-a favorite among salespeople and entrepreneurs.

About the Author:
For information about booking Gary to speak at your next sales, customer service or management meeting, conference or convention, please address your inquiry to: gary@customersatisfaction.com
Tag: Increase Gas Mileage

[tag]Increase Gas Mileage[/tag]