Hi all....Here is the main subject of my advice, the site is a valuable resource as to how you can clean up your driving habits and increase your fuel mileage. It is a technical site, however, if you go to the hypermile information, you will find specific simple techniques you
can use to help you increase your gas mileage.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/
I know this is a bit off topic in parents forum style of Minti, however as parents we drive a good many miles to transport our kids. In addition, as adults we are responsible to maintain the earth as best as we can for the future of our children.
In the past months, families all over the world have been effected by the current oil price rate hikes, no matter what climate you live in, no doubt you will need to adjust your lifestyle to accomodate these increases.
I live in the US, on the East Coast in the state of Connecticut. Our climate has four seasons. Over my lifetime, I've found the temperature in winter months much warmer, the waters don't freeze as they did during my childhood, but I feel the cold more now that I'm older. I'm a single parent of a pre-teen, who eats me out of house and home, with a yard, house to maintain, and limited income potential due to caring for my son who has some disabilities.
I only found the website on the 4th of July, and have used some of the techniques for many years, however I found several that I will type out now, giving credit to the website for the information by using an **.
1. Drive at the posted speed limit and under 60mph on highway.
2. Do not brake hard, coast to stop signs and red lights.**
3. When parking, always face out, from the highest part of the parking lot.**
4. If possible, try to face out when parked, to avoid reverse, stop, and turn/drive.**
5. Keep your car clean inside and in trunk, fuel up to 1/2 tank, this reduces the weight of your car.
6. When doing errands, make your list, make a travel plan for the furthest place first, then work backwards to home.
7. If you have a garage, place your car there in winter months. Do not warm your car in idle, if possible, drive slow to warm up, always in warm or cold, slow exceleration will reduce gas usage.
8. Know your car, if manual try to keep rpm's as low as possible for efficiency, if automatic watch and feel if no rpm meter how your car shifts by speed, read manual carefully.
9. Keep your tire pressure up as high as mfg, (usually on tire wall) will allow, and check tires weekly, more in winter as air pressure reduces in the cold. Also keep car in best mechanical shape by changing oil, keeping tuned up.
10. At all times, if you have friends near by, or family, try to car pool taking turns to avoid extra cars on the road.
If you have young children, try to have fun things in reach for them to play with or just keep them happy during your travels. I've found if I am calm, I tend to not feel rushed and don't drive so fast to complete my errands. So pack a juice, snack, favorite teddy or book or play favorite music.....sure makes for a happier ride :o)
Best of luck to all, happy travels and please post your experiences.
Curiousnamow
(July 6th) (
