Gas Savings

Due to rising gas prices everything is going up from food to airline tickets.  Every business or service that requires transportation of raw materials to finished goods is and will continue to be affected.  But summer is here and Myrtle Beach vacation packages are a great way to spend it without burning a hole in your pocket.  Here are a few tips that will help you cut costs at the pump and possibly increase gas mileage while driving to your Myrtle Beach condo rental.

Driving Behavior

• Slow down.  Research has shown that driving at 55 versus 65, 65 versus 75 and so on will save gas on trips.  Most automatic cars are 4 or 5 speeds.  When driving on the higher RPMs of each gear you waste more gas.  You can control the amount of gas used by keeping your speed down and ultimately RPMs which will burn less gas.
• Slower acceleration.  The faster you accelerate the more gas you burn.  This concept follows the same rule as above.  By accelerating faster your car will run through the higher RPMs of each gear due to the higher flow of gas to the engine. 
• Reduce drag.  If you watch NASCAR or other types of racing then you have heard of drag.  Drag is referred to as the negative effects air has on your car’s motion.  The faster you drive the more drag will affect your car.  On long trips, following behind an 18-wheeler will significantly reduce the effects of drag but be careful and not get too close.  It’s recommended to keep 4 car lengths for safety and at this distance the savings is still worthwhile.  Also, remove bicycle racks and such things to help reduce drag.
• Consistent speeds.  Maintaining a constant speed will use gas at a consistent rate versus constant acceleration and deceleration which uses more gas.
• Windows down versus AC.  At lower speeds, having your windows down will save more gas than using the AC.  However, at higher speeds this is not the case.  At these speeds having the windows down will create more drag.  Running the AC is more fuel efficient in speeds in excess of 45/50 miles per hour.

Maintenance

• Check tire pressures once a week.  Rolling resistance is a factor when it comes to gas mileage; the lower your tires pressure the more rolling resistance and gas usage.
• Change the oil and filter every 3 months or 3000 miles unless you have special oil that allows for longer durations and mileage.
• Get your car tuned up.  A tuned car will help to gain the most miles per gallon.  A car that is not tuned will burn more gas to compensate for the rest of the system.
• Keep fuel injectors clean.  You can buy fuel injection cleaner for under $8 and it only needs to be done every so often.
• Replace air filters and fuel filters when due.  Air filters are relatively cheap and can usually be installed by you quickly.  Fuel filters are a bit more expensive and require some experience but don’t need to be changed very often.

Other Tips

• Consider buying a hybrid, smaller car or motorcycle/scooter for the obvious reasons. 
• Manuel transmissions get better gas mileage, are cheaper to maintain, and cheaper to purchase versus their automatic cousins
• Get a credit card that offers some time of gas savings.
• Remove unneeded junk out of your car the extra weight causes your car to work harder, using more fuel.
• Cheaper gas stations.  There are website that you can find and bookmark that will let you know the cheapest gas stations in your area for that day.
• Drive less.  Carpool, walk, or ride a bike to get where you are going.  If you need to go out, combine trips.
• I suggest filling up when you put gas in the car.  With current conditions where gas keeps rising the gas today could be cheaper than gas next week.   Filling up now could be cheaper than filling up next week.

Happy driving!  Contact a Condo-World agent about condo rentals Myrtle Beach, Myrtle Beach vacation deals, and other vacation rentals in Myrtle Beach South Carolina.