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How to save fuel when driving?

 
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You can monitor your fuel use in Excel.
My car hasn't a handy trip meter, so I write the mileage on my petrol receipt. Get home and enter the litres (gets converted to gallons) and miles (previous miles subtracted) and out comes mpg.
 
master pollinator
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r ransom wrote:An interesting article on gas rationing in canada

Rationing throughout history is very interesting to me. Cand places that manage to avoid rationing like canada using the carrot approach of easy carpooling, increasing public transport, etc, to reduce fuel use.

Although the news article focuses on the problem, and ignores the fuel sales rationing in British Columbia, Canada in 2021...anyway, what the artical fails fo point out is that the actions of individuals, especially ones that like saving money by saving fuel, can impact how much rationing, if any, is needed during tough times.  


I agree, stories of historical rationing are very interesting.

As of today, the risk of rationing in BC is zero. The mad dogs on the Prairies can and will keep you supplied.

The cost is the world price, though. Ouch --that's what we pay as well.  

 
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A couple of years ago I needed new all terrains for my 4x4 and found some Y T reviews included the weights of the tyres they were testing, a huge variations between them made me go for one of the lightest but still performed well in the mild conditions I needed them for. I don't think tyre weight would normally factor in anyone's purchase decision, and paying someone to fit them you may never realise how much extra you added over oem.

I seem to remember with a fuel injected car unless you get entirely off the throttle fuel is still going in. So foot off when coasting!

I used to have a really realty fast sports car. One day my wife and I went separately to a function some distance from home, quiet country roads.  At the end she drove her very boring slow car at her slow pace and I drove as fast as I sensibly could. Almost an hours journey, she took about five minutes longer. After that illustration I havn't really bothered driving fast (to get there quicker) since.

And now we just have a Honda Jazz/Fit anyway :)
 
pollinator
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All great suggestions, R. Ransom. The best one for me is making sure that in 1 trip, I accomplish as much as possible and I make a list. I found that making each trip pay off also lowers the number of trip total that I take, and, BONUS : I plan exactly what I'm going to buy and can find the cheapest option online. So I reduce my expenses and do a lot less "impulse" buying.
I plan to make a "Victory garden" of sort. Plant maximally, harvest and share maximally. Planting for my chickens is something I have not done reliably (they only got all the kitchen scraps), but I didn't go out of my way to grow something for them. This year, I will, as chicken food is getting more expensive too.
Another, but maybe that's what your meant when you said "bike" is a motorcycle. I have a Spyder with 2 large saddlebags (that I would not be able to fasten on a bicycle (which I don't have anyway)).
If you don't drive like a jackrabbit, you get a decent mileage. In the winter, in Wisconsin, my option is still limited, but as soon as good weather comes, I will be using my Spyder for everything (except large lumber).
Hubby loves his big Nissan Titan that barely fits in the garage, but because I don't have a cab separated from the cargo portion, I can haul 14 ft lumber, which he can't.
I had an employee follow me in the parking lot saying :"this, I gotta see". I lowered that passenger window and introduced the lumber that way, with the passenger seat laying down (my back sitting is always down, to max storage). I had the board sticking out of the front a bit, but not illegally.
 
pollinator
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Easy tip for daily commuting. Leave home 5 minutes early.
If you don't feel rushed and stressed for time, you drive more carefully. Saves a bunch over time. Trying to 'make up time' is what costs gas.
 
Anthony Powell
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My dad, a car salesman in the 1970s, had a lady come in about her new car. It was over-revving, inefficient and misbehaving. He passed it to the mechannics, who could find nothing wrong. It went back to the lady, who returned with the same complaint. Bit more back and forth. Eventually the mechanic said 'take me for a drive so I can see what's happening'.
He took the passenger seat, she got in the driver's side, pulled the choke out, hung her handbag on it....
(For youngsters unfamiliar with  the choke, it's a device to supply more fuel to the engine when it's cold. You push it in gradually as the engine warms. Nowadays the choke's automatic.)
 
pollinator
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For Best fuel savings is drive less. (group errands, carpool, and do the farthest spot first then work way back home).  Leave early for errands so you're not rushed and tempted to drive more aggressively.
Remove extra weight from your car (clean out your trunk).  Inflate tires to proper rating to reduce rolling resistance.  Maintain vehicle tune ups, wheel alignment, bearings, brakes ect.   Avoid using the heater use until the engine has reached operating temperature.  Minimize air conditioning use, below 40mph use windows, park in shade use sun shield when parked. dress for the weather.  When driving on a multi-lane roadway, try to maintain a "space cushion" around you, so you can avoid speed variations.  Conserve momentum avoid coming to a complete stop whenever possible.  Be aware of your surroundings, try not to drive in a manner that will annoy those around you, give the impatient drivers an easy opportunity to pass you.  Some will see your atypical driving style and give you a thumbs up, most will be annoyed that you held them up from a very important stop light they rushed up to, only to wait until it changes green, right about the time you gently roll up to the light.
 
I remember because of the snow. Do you remember tiny ad?
Your suggestions have been mashed into the PIE page - wuddyathink?
https://permies.com/t/369924/suggestions-mashed-PIE-page-wuddyathink
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