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Road Trip Forecast: The Cost of Gas

by Adrienne Wilson (RSS feed) on Apr 11th 2006 at 10:25PM

This news from CNN shouldn't be surprising or shocking. Vacation drives are looking to be a lot more expensive than last year, with regular gas averaging at 25 cents higher than 2005. However, AAA predicts folks won't be cutting back on driving and that the summer travel season will be a busy one. Now I'll leave it right there for now in terms of what they've got to say. We all know what the situation looks like in our own neck of the woods, so you tell me how the gas is affecting your travel plans. Is it? To some, 25 cents is quite a hike, especially if you're trying to push your vehicle coast to coast on I-10. That kind of money adds up. Should we not even bother to think or worry about the gas cost and take the scenic route on our summer drives? For those of you who find money an issue and are unwilling to compromise your dreamy drives down the unknown road, here are a few money and gas-saving tips:

Before the Trip:

Air filter -Make sure your air filter is clean. Air filters are easy to check and change and can help the performance and economy of your vehicle by allowing good air flow to the engine.
Tire pressure - Tires that are under-inflated can cost you 2 to 3 MPG and then some. Keep a reliable tire gauge handy and be sure to keep tires inflated properly.
Rims - I highly doubt many of you will be taking to the highways with 24" chrome and spinners on your wheels, but should that be the case you may wish to reconsider. If the rims widen the tire stock you could decreasing fuel economy by creating more rolling resistance. (See About.com)
Evaluate your load - Clean out your car before adding all your travel necessities. Roof racks and carriers can help provide additional space, yet keep in mind they decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent.
Vehicle selection - Sure you're only using your summer whip for a couple of weeks, maybe months, but when it's time to rent or take one of your vehicles aim for the one with the best fuel economy. Use www.fueleconomy.gov to find and compare vehicles. The extra hundred dollars could become quite useful elsewhere.

During the Trip:

Slow down - You're on vacation, there is absolutely no reason to rush, plus traveling 55mph gives you 21% better mileage.
Roll down the windows - Gasp! No A/C? Mother Nature's air is often the best kind of air to help give your vehicle a break. Consider keeping the A/C off a good portion of your trip when driving at reduced speeds around town or in city traffic.
Keep the A/C going - Confused? Well, many studies show that keeping the A/C going isn't all that bad when driving at increased speeds on highways. The air conditioner will still consume fuel, but having the windows up will decrease the drag on your vehicle created from wind resistance.
Gas purchases - Always try to buy gasoline when it's cooler. HowtoAdvice.com notes that gas tends to be densest during the early morning and late evening, where gas pumps measure volumes of gasoline, note densities of fuel concentration. You are charged according to "volume of measurement."
Brand and grade - Don't be fooled into thinking high octane gasoline is going to give you stellar mileage or performance. While very few cars require the use of premium gasoline, most vehicles only need regular to fill up the tank. When in doubt, thumb through your owner's manual.
Carpooling and friends - A road trip wouldn't be a road trip without a few close pals. Bring them along and plan to save on fuel together.

After the trip make plans to do it all over again and if you've got a few tips of your own pass them this way.

Filed under: Learning, Business, Stories, North America, United States

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Reader Comments (Page 5 of 10)

dwgray Apr 21st 2006 10:18AM

We are at the mercy of the big gas companies. Why? I propose targeted boycotts of selected gas stations, i.e. Exxon/Mobil. If we, the gas-buying public, put some pressure on the big boys we can take back control of supply & demand. We obviously are not going to quit buying gas altogether. We can't; however, we can choose to not buy gas from certain oil companies.

Connie Apr 21st 2006 10:20AM

We usually go 2 to 3 weekends a month camping to our State Parks but this year we are taking long weeks so we won't have the extra mileage on the short trip weekends. Also, staying home alot and invest the money on backyard or home improvements. American people are spoiled on the good life, some folks need to back up and take a look at things. Maybe you would have more money in the bank..............Just my humble opinion.

Rick Apr 21st 2006 10:22AM

Yesterday I passed by $3.15 for regular at Getty on the highway service road, but paid only $2.93 at "Delta" station on the "back way" home from work. I get to & from work in about the same time, 35-45 minutes, depending on the traffic. Don't go out of your way, but change your daily route to use a discount gas station. I also enjoy the "scenic route" and the slower drive, which is closer to "as the crow flies," in contrast to the "rat race" on the highway, where if you try driving 55 mph and if you don't cause an accident, here on Long Island, they'll blow you off the road , honk the horn and give you the "bird," without putting down the cell phone"! It'll keep your blood pressure down and opening windows at slower speeds won't affect your mileage. And yes, boycott George W's. big oil company buddies and next-time, vote Democratic!

JIMBO Apr 21st 2006 10:24AM

WE TAKE OUR 24' JAMBOREE MOTORHOME TO SEACLIFF STATE BEACH WHENEVER THERE IS A SPACE AVAILABLE. ALTHOUGH WE ONLY GET 11 TO 15 MPG, THE BEACH IS JUST A FOUR MILE HAUL AWAY, AND WE FEEL WE ARE IN PARADISE.

Mike Turner Apr 21st 2006 10:27AM

Keep your tire pressure at the maximum air pressure listed on the sidewalls to reduce your rolling resistance. Drive at the speed limit (or below it if you have plenty of time to get there and don't have traffic behind you). When you accelerate, shift early and keep the RPM's below 2000. Allow enogh distance between you and the vehicle ahead of you so that it can slow down and make a turn without you having to hit your brakes. When you approach a red light, stop sign, or other event that will require you to slow down or stop soon, release the accelerator and let the vehicle coast and slowly reduce speed. Hopefully the light will change to green or the event will clear itself before you reach it. Since every time that you hit the brake pedal or use engine braking you are wasting gas, try to drive in a manner that minimizes the use of your brakes. Try to drive as though your brakes were non-functional. Just plain common sense driving techniques like this can save you a lot of gas in your urban and suburban driving.

For the more adventurous, you can modify your car to reduce its aerodynamic drag. I spent less than $50 on materials to make and install underbody panels, a partial grill block, and rear wheel well skirts. In addition to greatly reducing wind and road noise, this greatly increased the distance I can coast. Between these mods and the driving techniques mentioned above, have been able to raise the average MPG of my 92 Honda Civic from about 45MPG to above 70MPG, more than enough to compensate for the increase in gas prices.

pete Apr 21st 2006 10:28AM

If you have a manual you can put it in neutral when going down hills. Idling your engine uses the same amount of fuel per intake stroke whether in gear or not. When left in gear you're using the little amounts much faster.
...BTW, 210,000 miles and no clutch problems

Mildred Apr 21st 2006 10:29AM

I believe in natural gas. So let your husband drink all the beer and eat all the eggs he wants. Stick him in the trunk of your car and see how much mileage your get.

runing bull Apr 21st 2006 10:30AM

Me ride horse to work.

Jeannie Apr 21st 2006 10:33AM

Thank you everyone for the advice and great laughs this morning. I sure needed it.

Sonny Gadway Apr 21st 2006 10:35AM

Don't always use cruise control. It can save gas on flat roads, and keep you out of trouble if you can't manually control your own speed, but on the other hand if you are in a hilly region, it lets off the gas going down a grade, just to floor it at the last second to go up the other side. Let the car roll down the hill and get ready for it(within reason LOL)then as you take the hill you don't have to floor it and kick it into passing gear to just get over the top. Keep your foot lightly on the gas pedal next time you have cruise on and you'll see just what is going on with it. In the north east especially it isn't a gas saving option.

bob diller Apr 21st 2006 10:36AM

There are always neat things to see and do within 2 hours of most places people live. Why take a long trip that uses tons of gas when we often ignore the beautiful things to see and do close to home. Who out there has really exhausted their local vacinity. Stay close to home and it also helps your local economy when you vacation nearby instead of half way across the country. Check out your local bookstore for books on short day trips in your area of the state. Perhaps look for a book on hiking trails in your area and take the family on a healthy vacation that includes burning calories instead of gas. There are many sensible ways to not guzzle gas. Be inventive!

R Rice Apr 21st 2006 10:48AM

We're taking the train from Texas to Seattle via
a stop along the way. Figured out that with the
increased price of gasoline, the cost of motels and
food, at the most Amtrak (sleeping car) will cost us
$300 more. In the meantime we can rest, lean back, eat
and sleep comfortably, watch the scenery and leave the
driving to them!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob Apr 21st 2006 10:54AM

My 6,000 pound F-250 diesel gets 25+ MPG on the highway and rides like a Caddie. Plus, if some idiot runs into me I'll be the one who walks away from the crash.

Anette Apr 21st 2006 10:54AM

I'm getting out the rototiller. Going to plant some corn. When the *make your own gas out of corn* home kit comes out, will be all ready.

Anything that can be done to boycott the number one gas hog Chevron I support. We are being ripped royally with no government intervention, too many getting rich off of it. But we do have a choice who's retirement package we want to support. Will NEVER buy Chevron gas again knowingly...have to look up all their subsids to see what brands they sell under. Here's to corn in your backyard and mine....

Gary McGavran Apr 21st 2006 10:55AM

We have a 3-year old car with a 225 horsepower engine. I�ve been puzzled by complaints about cars not achieving EPA mileage ratings, as we usually meet or better our car�s ratings (19/29) without becoming a rolling speed bump. By staying close to speed limits, not tail-gating or racing from light to light, having a �soft� foot, etc., we�ve averaged over 25.5 mpg overall. I�ve come to realize that, except perhaps with hybrids, the difference between the EPA mileage rating and what a driver actually experiences is a measure of how aggressive that driver is.

Consumer Reports testing shows that reducing freeway speed 10 mph increases mileage about 15%; other techniques such as I mentioned help further. Is there some reason people don�t want to save money and lives, reduce pollution, lower gas prices, help our balance of trade, reduce funding for terrorists, etc., etc. without even passing a new law? I hope we don�t have to return to the 55 mph limit and penalize law-abiding drivers.

The only added cost might be for testosterone-lowering drugs for the thousands of Danika Patrick/Kasey Kahne wannabes terrorizing the freeway.

pamela Apr 21st 2006 11:08AM

Forget the whole gas thing and just stay home. Spend some time doing all those things that give you stress all year. Then you spend $0 on gas, relieve your stress better than a vacation and as Dorothy said, 'If it isn't in your own back yard '....you probably don't need it anyway.

RUSTY Apr 21st 2006 11:10AM

IF EVERY ONE SWICHED TO E-85 OR BIO DIESEL AND SLOWED DOWN TO 55-60 THIS WOULD CUT ARE OIL AND GAS USE BY AS MUCH AS 75% :) MOST CARS TODAY WILL RUN GREAT ON E-85. ECELPLUS HAS A KIT THAT FITS MOST GAS CARS TODAY. MY 99 FORD RANGER FLEX FUEL IS WHAT I DRIVE AND IT RUNS ASSOME . LEAD FOLLOW OR GET OUT OF THE WAY...........................................

Michael Texidor Apr 21st 2006 11:12AM

All these are good points but were are all forgetting an important tip. Changing your Oil on or before the 3,000 mile recommended interval helps to ease Gas consumption. In the past I noticed that right after I change my oil I would get better Gas mileage. We should also stay away from Mobile, Exon and Shell. They made billions and they can afford to give the ex employees almost half a billion. They are greedy! The President should also stop be greedy and do something positive for a change like free up the reseve, give tax breaks to real companies that help the us out in times like this!And 2025 is a joke why not 2010!

ken Apr 21st 2006 11:13AM

By keeping the out side of your car clean and waxed it has less wind resistance and will save you about 5mpg on the hwy and 0 in the city... also try not to let your rpms go above 2000.. i have a 04 chvy malibu and i get the fuel injectors cleaned every 25k and throttle body every 3000miles. change air filter every 6k. the fuel injector cleaner is not the stuff you add to gas its the machine you get hooked up to your vehicle. I have 55000 miles on my vehicle and i get 36 mpg on the hwy and 27mpg city. that is at hwy speeds of 70-75. good luck