Emerald Isle Blog

Haven’t planned your summer beach vacation yet?  Are gas prices keeping you from your long awaited beach trip?  Well, wait no longer!  We’ve got some helpful hints to help you get to the beautiful Crystal Coast AND save on gas.  So pack up the family, the beach bag and get ready for some barefoot fun!  Note:  Slowing down to island time can do wonders for your gas tank!       

General tips

The folks at Edmunds.com decided to test which gasoline-saving tips really work. They conducted their tests under real-world conditions. Here are the tips that they say will make a real difference in your gasoline mileage.

1. Take the pedal off the metal.

The Edmunds' test showed you can reduce your gas consumption by 31 to 37 percent simply by gently accelerating rather than gunning it. You can also save money by taking your foot off the accelerator as soon as you see a light ahead of you change.

2. Drive the speed limit or less.

Driving at slower speeds can save 12 to 14 percent in gas consumption. Allow a little more time to get to your destination. Not only will you reduce your stress, you'll save dollars at the pump as well.

3. Use your cruise control.

Humans don't accelerate or decelerate as smoothly as a computer does. Save 7 to 14 percent in gas consumption by using your cruise control whenever possible.

4. Leave your air conditioning on; it doesn't change your mileage.

5. Keep tire pressure at recommended levels.

According to Edmunds, tire pressure has little effect on gas mileage. Nevertheless, keeping your tires inflated at optimal levels increases safety and reduces wear. The cost of tires has increased dramatically because of the petroleum products used in their manufacture.

6. Avoid excessive idling.

It's common for people to leave their cars running when they're logging their mileage, waiting for someone to get in the car, or stopping for just a couple of minutes. Eliminating these behaviors can save you up to 19 percent in gas consumption. Bottom line, if you're going to stop for more than a minute, shut it down.

7. Combine multiple stops into one trip.

If you do your own errands, do them all in one trip. Hit the cleaners, the bank, the grocery store, post office, beauty salon, and gas station in a single trip.

If you want to take away the pain at the pump, implement these few simple changes for major savings.

Heidi Barlow