Do Trucks Save Money In The Long Rub

Posted past Marking Williams | June 8, 2014

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By Bob Carpenter

When it comes to conserving fuel, the easiest thing to practise is ho-hum down. But that'south not likely is it? You're reading this because you are a pickup truck enthusiast and you're, well, enthused about driving. Nosotros get information technology. You don't accept to drive like a granny to save some coin on fuel, though. Just realize that resistance goes up equally the square of velocity. It gets harder and harder for your engine to increase the speed of your truck as you go faster. Realistically, in that location are significantly diminished returns afterward you hit 40 mph. So you lot might want to go the actual speed limit when it is 55 or 65 mph, especially if fuel prices continue to climb.

But, hey, we're not your mom, and so here are ten things you tin can practise to save fuel that don't take the fun out of driving.

1. Anticipate Stop Signs and Lights

Slowing downwardly far enough in advance that you lot tin can coil through the intersection just after it turns green is a lot less wasteful than sitting at the low-cal. Of course, don't go crazy and run the red. Likewise, when you lot are on urban center streets and you know y'all have to terminate in 100 yards for a stop sign in that location's no reason to lean on the throttle when you lot accept off from the previous stop sign. Just roll off the line and mildly accelerate when you know y'all're going to be stopping again soon. Y'all'll be surprised how far and how fast your truck will coast. Some people accept found that they can increase their fuel mileage past as much as 50 percentage by simply doing this. Think of it as a game.

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2. Pump Them Up

Keep your tires inflated properly. Yeah, yep, you've no doubt read that a hundred times earlier, but there's a reason everyone tells you that. Proper inflation can mean as much as iii.3 percent in fuel savings according to the Department of Energy.

3. Don't Idle

Don't sit in a bulldoze-through line if you are in a pickup with a gasoline engine; nevertheless, diesels don't utilise most every bit much fuel when idling. Either way, if yous are idling for less than a minute it probably doesn't affair.

iv. Become a Bigger Tank

Since you lot're driving a pickup truck you are lucky because you tin can add together an aftermarket fuel tank to concur a whole lot more of the precious "go juice." When you find fuel at a specially attractive price, buy a lot of it and save money over the grade of the full tank.

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5. Use an App

There are apps that will assist you find the cheapest fuel — information technology might be at Costco, a supermarket concatenation (if you belong to its loyalty club) or an independent station. Apps know where you are and where the cheapest fuel is. And here's a expert tip: Don't buy fuel on Fri, Sabbatum or Sunday — that's when the prices are the highest. In fact, most stations raise their prices afterwards ten a.m. on Thursday in anticipation of weekend sales.

vi. Go on the Tank Total

OK, some pundits say you should run around with the least amount of fuel possible then that you aren't carrying extra weight (gas weighs near 6 pounds per gallon while diesel is almost 7 pounds per gallon), but we think that'due south dicey. Instead, we're more concerned about the evaporation and condensation that occurs in an "emptier" fuel tank. Proceed information technology full and yous won't have these bug. And park in the shade or in a garage to minimize any oestrus buildup.

7. Proceed It Clean

A dirty air filter can cost you as much as 7 percent in your fuel mileage. Don't drive effectually dirty.

8. Follow the Blue Line

Apply your GPS to discover the quickest way around traffic or through busy towns and cities. Less traffic ways less idling and amend fuel economy.

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9. Buy Gas Gift Cards

Places similar www.plasticjungle.com and www.giftcardgranny.com sometimes sell $100 gas gift cards for $95. That'due south like getting almost 2 gallons of fuel for gratis. If yous don't like souvenir cards, then pay greenbacks at stations that offer a greenbacks discount.

x. Continue 'Em Closed

Keep your windows closed. The drag can cost you upward to 10 percent in fuel efficiency, on the highway anyway. Effectually town you're better off turning off the air conditioning and opening the windows.

Cars.com photos past Bob Carpenter; manufacturer photos

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