pagesChoosing Diesel Can Lower Your Gas Bill
Cited: Forbes
Every summer gas prices go up, this summer is no different. The cost of a gallon of gas is probably going to average about $2.92 between April and September. That will be $.45 higher than last summer’s $2.44 per gallon and even higher than the $2.83 that is the national average according to the Energy Information Administration’s Short-Term Energy and Summer Fuels Outlook.
Oil industry analysts say 46,000-square-mile oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico won’t inevitably affect pump prices in June, although it could interfere with crude prices later this summer if oil deliveries to Gulf coast refineries are disrupted, or if the spill leads to increased drilling restrictions in the Gulf.
Crude prices play the biggest role in determining gas prices: They typically make up between 65% and 70% of the total cost of one gallon of regular gasoline. State and federal taxes contribute about 15% of the cost, distribution and marketing contribute 10%, and refining contributes about 6%.
It’s also a question of supply and demand. Summer weather means people drive more (according to AAA’s annual Memorial Day forecast, 32 million Americans will travel away from home that weekend, with 87% of them driving a vehicle to reach their destination, up 5.8% over 2009), and higher demand for gas leads to higher prices.
Tropical storms can also affect prices because they disrupt distribution channels and drilling conditions.
“Hurricane season has been playing a toll on gasoline prices just since hurricane Katrina,” says Patrick DeHaan, the senior petroleum analyst and lead blogger for GasBuddy.com. “In the last five years we’ve seen a lot of storms that have done quite a bit of damage to the oil industry, so it’s something to keep an eye on now.”
But there are plenty of things drivers can do to reduce how much they spend at the pump this summer. Using cruise control on the highway, babying the engine and driving smartly can all add multiple miles to a single tank of gas–and save hundreds of dollars over a year of driving.
Choosing Wisely
We consulted Gas Buddy’s DeHaan and reports produced by the United States Department of Energy in compiling ways to save this summer. All fuel-economy benefit data and equivalent gasoline savings estimates are from www.fueleconomy.gov. We talked with spokesman Dave Engelman about what the Stuttgart, Germany-based company is doing to improve efficiency in their racecars. We also consulted Christie Hyde, a spokeswoman for AAA, about how fuel efficiency affects depreciation rates and the best way to increase gas mileage during summer driving.
Have you get into trouble with the law? Whether it’s a criminal charg hime or a traffic ticket there are often more options than you may realize. You may need to hire an Ottawa criminal lawyer if you have been charged with crime. If you have gotten a speeding ticket Ottawa, then you may need a lawyer who can handle provincial offenses.
The biggest gain in fuel economy is a one-time decision with far-reaching consequences: it involves the type and size of the engine in the car itself.
Smaller engines (4-cylinders and V6s) need less fuel than larger engines (V6s and V8s), which can mean a 20% difference in the amount of miles sucked from one tank of gas. Assuming a year of 15,000 miles, on fuel that costs $2.86 per gallon, the difference between getting 20 miles per gallon on the highway and one that gets 30 mpg is more than $700.
According to a AAA depreciation report released last month, the prospect of saving money at the pump–or not–affects not just what vehicles people choose, but the depreciation of the cars themselves. Last year small sedans were the only auto segment that decreased the amount they depreciated. He
Hyde knows why: “We really believe it is being driven by this desire for more fuel-efficient vehicles. Even though gas prices had dipped for awhile, they’re starting to come back up, and people are starting to look for more fuel-efficient vehicles and realizing–whether for financial reasons or environmental reasons or both–the benefit of those.”
Certain types of engines also get better mileage than others. Diesel-powered vehicles offer a fuel-economy benefit of 40% better mileage than gasoline-powered engines. They do cost a bit more up front, but they save money in the long run: the $22,830 Jetta TDI gets a whopping 42 miles to the gallon on the highway and costs less to own over the long run than the base $17,735 Jetta, which gets 30 mpg on the highway ($35,021 over five years, versus $36,220).
Details Matter
After that initial purchase decision, it’s the little things that add up to cheap driving. Shedding ski racks, tow apparatus and old luggage is one of them.
Even the pro racers do it: “We’re spending lots of money trying to reduce the weight everywhere we can, every place that we can,” says Engelman, who heads communications for Porsche’s racing team. It’s one reason why the company developed a unique flywheel system for its 911 GT3 R Hybrid racecar, rather than using a heavier hybrid-battery system. This is a power generator fitted inside the car, next to the driver, delivers energy to electric motors near the wheels.
Just using the correct motor oil affects gas mileage and is something very simple to do. Using the correct oil may only give you a gain of about 2% or $.60 per gallon on the highway, but combined with everything else, it will add up.
——————————————————————————–
My Take: I definitely agree with this article. Saving money on gas allows people to put it in other areas of their life that is actually more important to them. Being able to afford birthday party invitations for their kids or getting a Greek shirt for the man of the house on Father’s Day. These things may not seem important to some people, but buying things for family members is important to others.
Greek apparel and communion invitations are just minor purchases in people’s lives. With this tough economy some people need to hire a Portland OR bankruptcy attorney. Of course, before this economy gets better it may be that a lot of people needed to hire Portland Oregon bankruptcy attorneys.
——————————————————————————–
Other Resources
Listing Your Home for Rent
MN property management companies offer expert tenant placement services, including a thorough screening process and full-service property management. They will care for your property as if it were their own, giving you freedom and peace of mind that your property is safe. Every Apple Valley property management company employs expert tenant placement services that include a thorough screening process and full-service property management.
Tags: Apple Valley Property Management company, birthday party invitations, greek apparel, ottawa criminal lawyer, Portland Oregon Bankruptcy Attorneys