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| 1. Fabulous way to
compare today's gas
prices at stations in your neighborhood, or anywhere else in
the US! Go to:
MSN Local Gas Prices SeniorArk set it to show prices in the
President's neighborhood. (Do you think he goes over to the Sunoco
Station for a fill-up?) Change it to your zip code and start
saving today!
Thanks to Lisa T., Spencer, NY
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| 2. In many towns the bus system
gives reduced or free
transportation to Seniors during non-rush- hour travel. Call them to
inquire. |
| 3. Your town or county may have
special transportation that is
free or very low cost to Seniors. This is especially true for
visits to medical appoints, but may be broader than that. Go to our
links/government page,
click on your state, and contact your agency on aging to see what
might be available where you live. |
| 4.
Change your oil frequently.
This may be the most important thing you can do to extend the life of
your car. I go to one of those special oil change shops because they
check all of my fluids, as well as the air pressure in my tires. I
mean, when did YOU last check your transmission or brake fluids? You
can also return to them to have all of these items checked
at no charge between oil
changes. The last time I did this, they added a quart of oil,
fluid to my window washer, and air in one tire. They
also make suggestions about filter changes, wiper blades, and other
items that may need changing. Be careful that you are not
replacing a good item. The last time I visited, they handed my air
filter to me so I could observe the dust that had built up. I
took the filter, banged it a couple times on the brick exterior of
their building, and handed it back to be reinstalled. Most of the dust
was on their driveway. |
| 5. I have read that
most of the damage done to
your engine occurs the first 30 seconds when you start up.
This is because the oil settles to the bottom of the oil pan, so the
engine parts run a few seconds unlubricated. So, I purchase a special
additive for about $10 per quart and add it when my oil is changed. If
you do this, be sure to ask the mechanics to leave your engine one
quart low, or your additive will overfill. This special additive
adheres to your engine parts when the engine is not running, so your
parts are lubricated during that critical 30 second period. Ten
dollars extra
is a lot to spend a few times a year, but it is cheap if the life of
the engine is extended. |
| 6.
Get a tire air pressure gauge
and check that pressure frequently.
There are multiple benefits
to keeping the tires properly inflated. First, they wear more evenly
if properly inflated. An over inflated tire wears in the center, while
an under inflated one wears on the edges. Second, an under inflated tire
will drag, causing the car to drive unevenly. Also you gas mileage will
suffer. An over inflated tire will not grip the pavement properly, and
may slip more quickly on wet pavement. I confess that I inflate one to
two pounds over the tire manufacturers recommendation. The ride is a
little bumpier than normal, but I hope to save a little more gas. I am
not recommending this practice. |
| 7. I know seniors who
have wonderful new cars that rarely leave the driveway. Consider
purchasing a car with
another senior friend in the
neighborhood, and sharing. Hard to do, but it sure will save
money. This sure would not be my first choice, but it may be
affordable. Agencies have
even formalized car-sharing in some of the larger cities(
http://www.carsharing.net/).
(http://www.flexcar.com/)
(http://www.zipcar.com/)
for example. Go to www.google.com,
and search for "car sharing". |
| 8. Go to a
senior center in your
neighborhood and find a friend whose driving you trust. Work an
arrangement where you do certain tasks at the same time.
You buy the gas and pay for
parking, tolls, etc. Believe me, it will help you, and
you will come out ahead in the
cost area , and your friend will save money too. |
| 8. Call your
department on aging to
see what is available. |
| 9. When I was disabled
for a time, my church deacon's
board brought food to my home, and offered transportation to
anywhere I needed to go. Call your clergyman and check it out. There
are plenty of people in congregations who get much joy in helping you
get somewhere. You may make their day.
ASK FOR HELP! |
| 10.
Most Fuel-Efficient cars---2007
Edmunds.com
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| 11.
Speeding, rapid acceleration, and rapid braking all waste gas
– and reduce
mileage by as much as 33 percent at highway speeds, according to the U.S.
Department of Energy (DOE). Avoid jack-rabbit starts, going instead for
slow
acceleration from a dead stop. |
| 12.
Speeding cuts fuel economy
7 to 23 percent, as gas mileage decreases rapidly above 60 mph. Each
five mph you drive over 60 is like paying an extra 25 cents per gallon, or
more. |
|
13. Avoid idling.
There are no miles-per-gallon to measure while idling. The larger the
engine, the more fuel wasted by idling.
If you will be stopped more
than 30 seconds, turn off the engine. |
| 14. Think ahead.
Combine your errands in
a given area. Put off a non-urgent errand until you need to do
another. Go at a time that traffic is reduced---avoid
commute periods. |
| 15.
Use cruise control when
possible. Your car will adjust acceleration in a more
fuel-efficient way than you will manually. |
| 16. Fuel
economy while using air conditioning is an interesting area. I have
read that if you are driving
around town, you will save dramatically by turning off the air
conditioner and opening the
windows. But on the
open highway, the air "drag" of having your windows open offsets any
savings you experience from not using the air conditioner.
So on the
interstate, close those windows and enjoy that cool air. |
| 17.
A light colored car and
interior will reflect the heat
of the sun, and you should need less air conditioning. Some
folks also feel that placing an internal cover
over the windshield and back
window will reduce the
heat buildup in your car while you are parked, thus reducing your
inclination to hit the air conditioner immediately. |
| 18. Go to this site
for more gas-saving tips.
http://www.aaanewsroom.net/Files/gaswatch02.pdf. |
| 19. Great article
from AOL and
thecarconnection.com on
which fuel grade to use in your car. |
| 20.
Your debit card might be a
convenient way to pay for gas, but it's a no-win proposition.
When you swipe a debit card at
the pump, the bank doesn't know how much money you'll be
spending until you've finished pumping. So to make sure you have the
funds to cover the purchase, some stations ask banks to automatically
set aside some of your money: That amount used to be $20, but with gas
prices going up, stations have
started asking banks to hold $50,
even $100. That means
even if you just topped off your tank for $10, you could be out $100
until the station sends over its bulk transactions, which can take up
to three days. If your funds are running low,
you might end up bouncing a
check in the meantime — even though you had the money in your account. |
|
21. Oil companies spend lots of money
explaining why their gas is better than the competition's. Chevron's
gas, for example, is fortified with "Techron," and Amoco Ultimate is
supposed to save the planet along with your engine.
But today more than ever, one
gallon of gas is as good as the next. |
| 22.
Oil companies charge each
station a different price for gas, depending on things such as
the station's competition and its location.
Buy your gas, if possible in
an area of several stations who compete. |
| 23. Call your local
Jiffy Lube to see if they
participate in a Senior discount. Many in the country do. My
experience is that although they are a bit more expensive than some
other locations, they do give some good service like topping off auto
fluids and checking tire pressure. But be careful about the extras
they will try to sell you. And if you decide to do extras,
insist on
watching. Recent TV
investigations showed that when extras were suggested, some very
expensive, they were never
done. This problem is not limited to Jiffy Lube, I suspect.
I just hope my oil is really changed and the filter is not just shined
up to look new. Mark it before you go in, and check it later. |
| 24.
Finding a good repair shop
is one of the toughest tasks of car ownership, because there often
isn't a good, clear choice. The key is, of course, to find a
good, trustworthy mechanic
before things go wrong. If you've already found a competent, honest
mechanic, good for you. For the rest of us, here's how you might try:
11 Ways to
Find a Good Mechanic |
| 25.
New car to save gas, or keep
the old one? Even if it gets just 15 mpg, a paid-for vehicle
can be a better money saver than a new car that saves more on gas.
After all, the bottom line is how it much it costs to operate your
vehicle; not just how much it costs to feed it. Does it really matter
whether you're spending cash on gas at $3 per gallon or $300 per month
on a new car payment? More on
this... |
| 26.
Do I need premium gas?
Don't be gulled by slick oil company marketing ploys about the
benefits of premium fuel: few new cars really need it and those that
don't won't run any better from using it. Take a look at your
owner's manual; it will
tell you the manufacturer's fuel recommendations.
What happens, in fact, if you
use regular or even mid-grade gas in a car that
really does need premium? If the car in question is a
late-model one, nothing that will cause any permanent problems. The
computer will adjust the ignition timing and other engine parameters
to compensate for the lower-octane juice. You may notice a slight
fall-off in acceleration, but no engine damage or drivability problems
should arise. |
27.
10 Steps to Buying a New Car |
28.
10 Steps to Selling Your Car
 |
29.
How to Shop for Insurance 
CLICK THIS INSURANCE NIGHTMARE |
| 30. If you are
having a tough time separating
hybrid truth from reality, you're not alone. The warp-speed
adoption of hybrids into popular culture -- and into hundreds of
thousands of American driveways -- has produced more than a little
confusion and misinformation. Read:
The Myths Behind Hybrids |
| 30.
Automobile
insurance plays an important role in protecting consumers from
serious financial losses resulting from accidents, but
choosing the best options
can feel daunting. The Better Business Bureau Inc., serving eastern
Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont
has information to
help cut the cost of auto insurance while remaining well protected
in case of an accident. |
| 31. There are
at least 7 things everyone
should stock in the car in case of emergency. There may be
times when this is our last line of defense.
Emergency
Car Equipment |
|
32.
MPG versus Money The conventional wisdom about many
things is often not very wise. Tips on how to battle high
gas prices, for example, can sometimes end up costing you
a fortune. |
 33.
If you just need a vehicle for short trips around your
neighborhood, then you might consider buying a
“neighborhood
electric vehicle,” or NEV. In most states, these
“carlets” can legally travel on public roads with speed
limits of 35 mph or less. • These
small, quiet and
inexpensive cars can travel 25 mph for up to 30
miles before their lead-acid batteries must be recharged.
Read more |
|
34. Fluid Flush Fallacy
Have you been swindled into thinking you need to
change other fluids every time you ask for an oil change?
See what an experienced mechanic says about that and his
own industry.
Inside scoop here |
|
35. How does your state
compare when it comes to auto insurance prices? See
survey of 47 states done by Insurance.com |
|
36. Interesting talk and
tips on cars:
http://www.cartalk.com/ |
|
37. Protect yourself----and
your diriver's license.
10 Safety Tips for the Road |
|
38. What is horsepower? For
years we have thrown around the term "by the hundreds".
Now you can be the smartest guy (or gal) in the grease
pit. Definition
|
|
39. Survey of top 25 US
cities.
Least to Most Courteous drivers. |
40.
Gas prices have
topped $3 per gallon in most of the US by May 2007.
Here are some tips you can use that wil, according to
Consumer Reports, save you a little gas:
Make sure
your tires are properly inflated for
starters. Besides posing a safety hazard,
underinflated tires can reduce your fuel
economy slightly, based on Edmunds.com's
2005 study.
Removing
excess weight from your car can also help
save you gas. The Department of Energy
estimates that drivers can save anywhere
between 3 and 6 cents a gallon (assuming
gas prices of $2.97 a gallon) just by
removing those golf clubs and other
unnecessary weight from your trunk.
If your
car comes equipped with cruise control,
make sure you use it, especially on long
trips. Edmunds.com's study revealed that
using cruise control at highway speeds
offered an average fuel economy savings of
7 percent.
But the
biggest fuel saver is driving the speed
limit and driving sensibly. Rapid starts
and stops and exceeding the speed limit
will dent your pocketbook. Just by
adhering to one of those, the Department
of Energy estimates that drivers can save
anywhere between 15 and 98 cents a gallon,
again assuming pump prices are at $2.97 a
gallon.
more from Consumer Reports
|
|
41. Useful government site:
www.fueleconomy.gov |
|
42. Thought about buying one
of those gas saving devices. Save your money. Read the US
Government test results.
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/autos/gasave.pdf |
|
43. New Car Hits 92mpg.
Is the Ale
the Car of the Future? |
|
44. SeniorArk feels this
might take the fun out of riding in a car, but we do print
reasonable and safe submissions. Bill W from Florida says:
"You can strip your car of all the interior. I know it
sounds really bad but take everything out that doesn't
need to be there. This will reduce your car's weight, and
increase your gas mileage. Do you really need your back
seat? Your carpeting? Interior door coverings?" Glove box
door?" |
|
45. See the
25 Things You Should Always Have In Your Car
from thesimpledollar.com
|
|
46. Ready to take that road
trip, but dreading the construction delays you might
encounter? Now you can access construction projects,
delays, and a lot more at
this Federal Highway Administration Page. Click the
map for complete information on the state you need. |
|
47.
Toyota iQ: Toyota
could use a
motorcycle-derived Yamaha engine to power its IQ,
the microcar concept that was unveiled at the Frankfurt
motor show in September.
Frugal fuel
consumption and very low emissions will certainly
be priorities, as basic versions of the IQ will be aimed
at developing markets as well as chic young European
urbanites.
Production of this diminutive urban runabout will begin
late in 2008 and a compact 1.0-litre engine could be
packaged into its small rear engine bay.
more |
|
48.
Road test: Mini Cooper D The Cooper D's on-paper
stats are pretty impressive. The car's new 1.6-litre
engine pumps out a respectable 110bhp, and pulling power
(torque) is a considerable 177lb/ft available from just
1,750rpm. This all translates into a top speed of 121mph
and a more-than-acceptable 0 to 62mph sprint time of 9.9
seconds. This combines with an average fuel economy of
64.2mpg and a C02 rating of 118g/km, which means VED tax
band B. |
49.
The Honda Clarity.
What you see pictured is the world's first
fuel cell-powered car designed from the ground up
expressly for that purpose with series production in
mind...The Honda FCX Clarity takes the layout and design
themes first seen in two years ago in the FCX concept to
completion. As we reported earlier this week, the FCX
Clarity will be available for lease to retail customers
beginning in the summer of 2008.
Read article.
See More 2009 Honda FCX Clarity Photos |
50. Many states have reduced
fees for seniors, sometimes associated with income levels.
 My
wife just applied for a reduced auto registration fee of
$10 in Pennsylvania. The regular rate is $36. Finding this
reduction was not easy on the state web site. But we were
alerted by our state representative to this benefit. We
will also qualify for a multi-hundred dollar reduction in
our real estate tax. A PA senior may also qualify for
reduced dog license fees, hunting and fishing license
fees. Talk with your state government representative about
benefits for seniors in your state. |
|
51. According to laboratory
tests, hydroplaning occurs on a wet road surface at speeds
of 50MPH or higher. The deeper the water, the worse it
becomes. You're driving along in the rain, and suddenly
your car is out of control, acting as if it were on ice.
What is happening? A thin sheet of water has formed
between the tire tread area and the road surface. Your
vehicle has become a powerful sled and you're along for a
wild ride! Read
more on
hydroplaning. |
|
52. I don't know what you
guys are paying for gasoline.... but here in California we
are also paying higher, up to $3.50 per gallon. But my
line of work is in petroleum for about 31 years now, so
here are some tricks to get more of your money's worth
for every gallon. |
53, Are those
unsettling
warnings appearing on your car's message center?
You know, "service
engine soon", "anti-lock
brakes (ABS)", "check
engine". First, yellow usually means be
concerned. Red usually means STOP AND CALL FOR HELP. My
"check engine" light was coming and going
 for
a couple weeks. Rather than go to the dealer or service
center for an expensive diagnosis, I stopped at the local
"Advance Auto" parts store. They connected their computer,
we ran the car, and they gave me the results---TOTALLY
FREE. I need some kind of valve, and my plugs are
misfiring for some reason. Nothing dire, but I was advised
to take this information to my mechanic. I will ask them
to replace the valve first, and then see if things
improve. Then I may need a 100,000 mile tune up on
my 94,000 mile , 11-year-old DeVille. |
54. One of our readers
suggests this little "feel-good" trick in this day of
$3.49/gal gasoline: Fill up your tank for $7.
For seniors and others who may only drive their car a few
times per week on short trips, you can fill your gas tank
for $7. How you ask? This is easy on the pocket book, and
one that I prefer. The next time you fill your tank and
you make a short trip, your tank is about perhaps 2
gallons short. On your next outing pull into the gas
station and put in about $7 worth, no more. So your tank
is not completely full perhaps. Well on your next trip get
$7 more, no more. Try it, you'll like it. Isn't it a
little bit better than spending $50 or more filling up?
Sent by haiki
SeniorArk adds: This little
trick may make the fill-up less painful, but it sure is
time consuming. |
|
55.
Environmentalchemistry.com suggests:
Highway driving in
hilly terrain is another opportunity for saving fuel.
Typically people try to keep an even driving speed up and
down hills, which requires pressing harder on the gas up
hill and riding the brakes down hill to maintain a safe
and presumably legal speed. This wastes fuel up hill and
opportunity down hill. If you maintain an even pressure on
the gas peddle up a hill and allow some speed to bleed off
near the crest of the hill you will have used less fuel to
crest the hill and will have a wider margin of speed you
can increase going down the other side before you have to
touch the brakes. This habit has to be moderated by other
considerations like how many cars are behind you and how
long/steep the hill is, but it can be a useful way to save
gas.
Read entire article. |
|
56. Three simple ways to
save money on your car.
Check
gas cap: One in six car
owners on the road is spending more on gas than they need
to because of their gas cap. Approximately 17%
of vehicles on the road have gas caps that are either
damaged, improperly placed on or missing altogether. Gas
caps that aren't firmly closed allow gas vapors to escape
resulting in the loss of 147 million gallons of gasoline
each year which vanishes into the air.
Check spark plugs:
Dirty and worn spark plugs cause misfiring in the engine
that wastes fuel, increases exhaust emissions and reduces
power. Most people learn that they need to change spark
plugs when their engine has a hard time starting, but they
have been wasting money long before things got this bad
since the wear is gradual. Most standard spark plugs need
to be changed every 45,000 miles while long-lasting
platinum spark plugs need replacement every 100,000 miles.
Check air filter:
Air filters get clogged with dirt, dust and other material
from the road. As the filter becomes clogged, the airflow
through it decreases, which results in a "rich" mixture of
too much gas and not enough air going to the engine. The
result is wasted gas and a loss of engine power. Simply
replacing or cleaning a badly clogged air filter can
improve gas mileage by as much as 10%. |
|
57.
It appears that
buying a used car every 5 years would be less expensive
than purchasing a new car every 10 years. Of
course, pretty big assumptions were made in this post so
the calculations were meant to be relative. The biggest
issue with new cars is the massive depreciation after the
first year. If you are a new car person, why not buy an
"almost new" car that is one or two years old? At least
that way you still get the new car feel, intact warranty,
AND you don't need to pay for the initial 30% depreciation.
Read More, if still available. |
|
58. In all new 2008 auto
models, you'll hear a ding on your dashboard with an alert
that your tire pressure dropped or if it's too high. The
tire pressure monitoring system valve will help with your
fuel efficiency and your safety. For all other models,
remember, all
vehicles give you a cheat sheet right on the inside of the
driver's side door for tire size and pressure. |
|
59.
Gas-saving myth and truth? |
|
60.
26 Great Tips on how to save money on gas in this
expensive market. |
 61.
Most people are sick of paying high prices at the pump,
but for many Utahans, neglecting to drive is not an
option. Instead of not driving, some
Utahans are
switching to vehicles that run on natural gas. At a
Flying J in Springville, the price of unleaded gas is
almost $4 a gallon. But if you look over at the price on
natural gas, you see it’s only 63 cents a gallon.
Read Article |
|
62.
75
Gas-Saving Tips submitted by Jan in Oregon. Along with
links to the source,
Christian Personal
Finance online. |
|
63. Is your life at risk
because your tires are older than you think? ABC News
exposes a problem with a lot of the tires being sold as
new, but which have been on the shelf for years,
dangerously drying out. Watch the report at:
http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=4826897
You will need the free
Adobe Flash Player. |
|
Seniors
are waiting for your tip here. ***** Or submit a
useful link for a links section. |
