Consumers Can Ease Pain at the Pump with Money-Saving Tips From Alliance to Save Energy

WASHINGTON, April 29 -- As the 2004 summer vacation season approaches, U.S. motorists are already reeling from record-high gasoline prices. To ease pain, the Alliance to Save Energy offers consumers tips for cutting gas costs:

  Before Hitting the Road ...

  * Keep tires properly inflated.  Properly inflated tires are safer, last
    longer, and can improve your gas mileage by more than 3 percent.

  * Use the recommended grade of motor oil.  Improve your gas mileage by 1-2
    percent by using the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil.
    Select motor oil with "Energy Conserving" on the API performance symbol.
    It contains friction-reducing additives.

  * Keep your engine properly tuned.  Fixing a car that is noticeably out of
    tune or has failed an emissions test can improve its gas mileage by
    about 4 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.  DOE adds
    that replacing a faulty oxygen sensor can improve gas mileage up to 40
    percent!

  * Check and replace air filters regularly.  Replacing a clogged or dirty
    air filter can improve your car's gas mileage by as much as 10 percent,
    according to DOE, and keeps impurities from damaging the inside of your
    engine.

  * Plan ahead for the shortest, most gas-saving itinerary.  With a little
    planning, you can not only save fuel, but wear and tear on your car as
    well.  Avoid retracing your route to reduce the distance you travel.
    Combining errands into one trip saves you time and money.  Several short
    trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer,
    multi-stop trip of the same distance with a warm engine.

  * If you own more than one vehicle, drive the one that gets better gas
    mileage whenever possible.  Do you really need that SUV for trips to the
    video store?

  Once You're Behind the Wheel ...

  * Don't speed!  Gas mileage declines rapidly above 60 mph.  Each 5 mph
    increase above 60 is like paying an additional 10 cents a gallon for
    gasoline.

  * Road rage costs.  Aggressive driving wastes gas and can lower your gas
    mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and 5 percent in town.  Nix
    jack-rabbit starts in favor of slow acceleration from a dead stop.
    Sensible driving also is safer for you and others -- so you may save
    more than gas money.

  * Avoid excessive idling, which gets 0 miles per gallon.  Cars with larger
    engines usually waste more gas while idling than those with smaller
    engines.

  * Take advantage of cruise control.  Using cruise control on the highway
    helps maintain a constant speed and, in most cases, save gas.

  * Use your overdrive gears to lower engine speed, save gas, and reduce
    engine wear.

  Think Before You Commute ...

  * Stagger your work hours, if possible, to avoid peak rush hours.  You'll
    spend less time sitting in traffic, consume less fuel, and avoid
    additional stress.

  * Take advantage of available carpools and ride-share programs.  Sharing
    your commute with others cuts weekly fuel costs, reduces wear on your
    car, and may allow you to use less-congested High Occupancy Vehicle
   (HOV) lanes.

  * Consider public transportation.  Check the American Public
    Transportation Association's website for local information
   (www.apta.com/links/state_local/).

  * Consider telecommuting -- working from home -- if and when possible.

  Taking a Trip?

  * It's a "drag."  Avoid carrying items on your vehicle's roof.  A loaded
    roof rack or carrier increases aerodynamic drag, which can cut mileage
    by 5 percent.  Place items inside the trunk whenever possible to improve
    your fuel economy.

  * Travel light.  Avoid carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones.  An
    extra 100 pounds in the trunk cuts a typical car's fuel economy 1-2
    percent.

  * When renting a car, ask for a model that gets better fuel economy.
    Also, remember to fill up the tank before returning the car to the
    rental company, which always charges much higher gas prices -- and
    perhaps even an extra gas surcharge.

  Craving that "New Car" Smell?

  * When buying a new vehicle, think high gas mileage.  Check out the DOE
    website (www.fueleconomy.gov) and the ACEEE website
   (www.greenercars.com) for information on fuel-efficient vehicles.  Learn
    about current electric drive vehicles on the Electric Drive
    Transportation Association website (http://www.electricdrive.org/).

  * Consider purchasing a hybrid, which can provide a $1,500 tax deduction
    this year.  Consumer Reports says that in its tests, the redesigned
    Toyota Prius hybrid -- which gets 44 mpg with near-zero emissions --
    outscored four midsized family sedans and finished sixth out of 15
    similarly priced sedans.  The consumer magazine named the Prius its "Top
    Pick" in the Green Car category.

  And Finally ...

  * Get your exercise!  Whenever possible, walk to your destination.  You'll
    lose weight, lower stress, save gas, and reduce pollution.

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, economy, and national security.