How to Save on Yearly Automobile Gas
If you are a typical driver, you drive more than 1300 miles in a month and, over the course of a year you’ll purchase about 600 gallons of fuel to keep your car going. That’s the “typical” driver; you may not drive quite that much or you may drive a lot more than that but the point is, at current gas prices, you might be spending as much as $1500 a year or more just to keep gas in your car. Unfortunately, experts in the field predict gas prices going up from what they are now, giving us all a large incentive to try and find ways to reduce our fuel consumption. There are some ways to do that!
The next time you reach for your car keys ask yourself: ‘Do I really need to drive?’ Every trip to the store does not require car keys; you may find that there are ways of getting to your destination that are less expensive or even free:
Walk! If your destination is just a quarter of a mile or so away, walking those few blocks will not only save your gas money it will help you stay in good shape.
Peddle! You may own a bicycle that’s sitting in a corner and not being used; dust it off and use it for those destinations that are just two or three miles away. Don’t worry! You never forget how to ride a bike! If you don’t own a bicycle, consider buying one.
Public transportation! For those trips that are just not practical for walking or peddling, consider your public transportation options.
Ride sharing! There are literally thousands of carpools operating five days a week and saving their members plenty of money on gas and on wear and tear on their cars. Ask around at work, you may be able to find two or three people who live in your general area and who are willing to start a carpool. Also ask at work if the company has considered starting a van pool — they may already have one that you can get in on.
Neighborhood networking! Many times, in suburbs and small communities, neighbors get together for weekly trips to the grocery store or into town for other shopping or supplies — one week one person drives and the next week someone else drives. That type of arrangement also works great for getting the kids to school and home when you live in an area where there is no school bus service.
Telecommuting! More and more people are working for home and, with modern technology, they can even attend virtual meetings right from home. There are thousands of companies across the country that allow telecommuting and, if you can present it as a practical alternative to your management, you may join the ranks of telecommuters — at least some days of the week.
Perhaps you have no choice — there is just no way, other than driving, to get from ‘Point A’ to ‘Point B;’ there are some things you can do to make your driving a money-saving experience.
Moderation! Watch your speed, if you drive at posted speed limits you’ll actually be driving at the most fuel-efficient speeds; if you have cruise control, use it for highway driving. When pulling away from a stop sign or light, don’t ‘floor it;’ jackrabbit starts are a big waste of gas. Jamming on your breaks wastes gas also and, more importantly, if you find yourself constantly hitting the breaks hard you’re driving far too aggressively; there is no need to add medical bills to your gas bills.
Plan ahead! During the morning and afternoon ‘rush hours’ you may find that the shortest route between home and work is also the most congested. Find an alternate route, even if its a little longer, it will get you out of those gas-wasting traffic jams. It also may be possible to have your work schedule changed so that you can miss the heavy traffic on the major highways.
Driving ‘lite’! The lighter your vehicle is, the less gas it will use. Don’t lug around unnecessary weight. Also, use the cars well-designed aerodynamics to your advantage by keeping your windows closed and not having anything strapped to the top of your car.
Keep your car in shape! A well maintained car will burn less gas than one that has been neglected: keep your tires properly inflated; use the proper (manufacturer recommended) oil and gas in your car; change your oil and have tune-ups at regular intervals. If your tires need replacement, look for tires that are rated as LRR (Low Rolling Resistance). Proper tire inflation along with the LRR tires will be your biggest fuel savers.
Rising gas prices will probably be with us for quite a long time so, if you are interested in saving money on gas, take these tips very seriously.
Related items
Automotive Detailing: How to Clean Automotive Upholstery
Maintaining or restoring the “looks-like-new” condition of their automobiles is a consuming interest for most car owners. Most owners are interested in preserving their investment, and in enjoying the full use of their vehicle as long as possible. Other owners are interested in restoring a vehicle to the best condition possible in order to sell it or get a good trade-in value. Still others are attempting to restore a vehicle as a hobby, joining the many proud owners of classic and antique vehicles. These consumers want quality automotive cleaning products that will enable them to refurbish their autos quickly, with as little effort as possible. One particular problem, especially with older vehicles, is how to clean automotive upholstery. Is it different from furniture upholstery? Can the upholstery be cleaned in place or must it be removed? Is it necessary to use products that are uniquely for these interior automotive fabrics?
Even new vehicles can become soiled. A misplaced cup of coffee, a forgotten and melted crayon, a wad of gum tracked into the car on the driver’s shoe, or a sick puppy can present a daunting cleaning problem. If the problem was neglected when it was fresh, or if it was only partially cleaned and then allowed to age with the car, it may be extremely difficult to remove. It is always best to deal with stains immediately.
By and large, the same product that will clean a leather or vinyl chair should work on a leather or vinyl car interior. Automotive carpeting should respond to the same techniques as household carpet, depending on the fibers used. The same can be said for fabric upholstery. Therefore, the first step in cleaning your car’s interior is to determine what it is made of.
Second, try to determine what may have created the stain. This step may be difficult if the stain has been there for a while or if you have just acquired the car. Spilled cola and grease may leave stains that are similar in color, but they would respond best to different types of spot removers. It is important to choose the correct automotive cleaning products for the job or stain.
Unusual stains should be dealt with first, before an attempt is made to clean and refresh the entire interior surface. Gum or other, similar, sticky substances need careful handling. There are products available now that will freeze them in place, changing their chemical composition, and thus allowing for easy removal by scraping them away.
Other messes, like the above mentioned crayon, also need special handling. Crayon is wax based, but also has pigment. Its removal may need two steps and two entirely different products, depending on how badly it has melted into the fabric. A product specially formulated for crayon removal is a good first step.
Sugar-based food and drink spills on fabric, even old ones, can be removed with a good spot remover. This step should be followed by a thorough steam cleaning. If these stains are on the stitching of vinyl or leather, they may respond to the spot cleaner alone. Grease-based stains should respond to being blotted with a good degreaser, such as Formula 21 Grease Stain Remover.
Once all the unique stains have been dealt with appropriately, give the interior a thorough, all-over cleaning, depending on the upholstery type. Leather and vinyl can be cleaned with a specially formulated product such as Fuller Vinyl and Leather Cleaner. Built-up grime on older seats may also respond to washing with a good degreasing product such as Fulsol All-Purpose Degreaser. Fabric seats and carpets should be able to handle a thorough steam cleaning. Care should be taken to not get the fabric too wet. Because the upholstery and carpet cannot be removed to dry, work slowly in small areas, and only dampen the surface enough to remove the soil. Leaving the doors and or windows open for a while after the cleaning is complete may also hasten the trying time. Check with the manufacturer before treating or steam-cleaning antique fabrics.
With a little pre-planning and care, and with the right automotive detailing products, you can become an expert in how to clean automotive upholstery.
Related items
New Automobile Plant In Japan For Honda
Just recently, the Honda Motor Company, Ltd. has announced that they are going to build a new automobile plant in Yorii, Osato county, Saitama prefecture in Japan. This new plant that they would be creating would be actually able to operate come the year 2010, during the early part of that year. The company estimates that its annual production capacity would be an approximate of some 200,000 units of engines as well as finished automobiles.
So where is Yorii? Yorii is a town in Japan. It is located in the northwestern part of Saitama prefecture. This is some 35 kilometers away from Sayama City and this is also the location of one of Honda’s existing plants which is known as the Saitama Factory or the Sayama Plant. The company plans that when the Yorii plant starts its operations, they will make sure that the existing Sayama Plant would be renovated and updated so as to make it the most advanced production plant in its operations.
The new plant’s construction still has not yet started although Honda is planning on starting it in a couple of years. The new plant for Honda would be constructed on a lot that measures around 800,000 square meters. They have also already come up with possible statistics and investment numbers. As per investment, they have an expected approximation of some 70 billion yen. They would also be able to employ roughly around 2,200 associates come the start of production of the Yorii Plant. Another fact is that come the total annual production for the company, they would have an increase of production. The current number is some 1.3 million units. They are looking at some 1.5 million units produced.
Takeo Fukui, the president and CEO of Honda Motor Co, Ltd., has something to say about their plans, “Honda will establish a high quality and highly efficient manufacturing system by applying the latest technologies. The new plant will be responsible for evolving these manufacturing systems to other Honda operations across the world.”
Related items
