AAA OFFERS TIPS TO COMBAT HIGH GAS PRICES

NEWS from AAA Oklahoma, Feb. 25 – Oklahoma’s retail gasoline price average has risen 16 cents over the last seven days, according to AAA’s gas price tracking Web site, FuelGaugeReport.com. While motorists may have a hard time finding inexpensive prices at the pump, they can easily find ways to stretch each gallon of gas.

AAA says that in addition to the financial savings, fuel conservation also helps provide a healthier environment and improved safety on the road.

• Check your tires with a gauge regularly. Under-inflated tires are a safety hazard and can cut fuel economy by as much as 2 percent per pound of pressure below the recommended level. 
• Keep your front suspension and steering in proper alignment, and make sure your brakes are properly adjusted to minimize rolling resistance.
• Change your motor oil as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Check and replace air filters. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10-percent increase in fuel consumption.
• Don’t let your vehicle idle unnecessarily. Turn the engine off every time you need to “quickly run into” the store, bank, daycare, etc. 

Practicing fuel efficient driving techniques also can improve fuel mileage more than 10 percent, the U.S. Department of Energy reports. The following tips will not only save gas but will help ensure your safety:

• Take advantage of car pools or plan your errands better to make one trip instead of three or four. 
• Observe the speed limit. As you drive faster, aerodynamic drag increases. At speeds above 55 mph, fuel economy drops rapidly.
• Take advantage of your cruise control feature to help you maintain a constant speed when traveling on highways.
• Avoid hard acceleration and drive defensively; try to brake and accelerate smoothly. Do not idle unnecessarily; most cars today do not need to be warmed up.
• Don’t use premium fuel if your car does not require it.
• Visit www.AAA.com and click on Fuel News & Tools in the AAA News & Safety section.  Here you can check gas prices station-by-station with AAA’s free Fuel Price Finder, use AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator to figure your gas expense for your specific trip based on your specific vehicle, look at gas price averages around the country, and access additional fuel-saving tips.
• Keep your eyes open for low fuel prices, but don’t waste gas driving to a distant station just to save a few cents.