A Little Relief
The average price of regular unleaded gasoline is $3.69 in Nevada, according to AAA.
But that's today. With the cost of oil at record highs and no drop in sight, gasoline prices could continue to rise.
How can drivers save gasoline?
"Don't drive," cracks Jeff Korhonen, owner of Precision Performance.
For those of us who would like to take that advice, but can't, Korhonen does have fuel-saving tips to improve gasoline mileage and decrease your trips to the pump.
Most importantly, make sure your air filter is clean and your tire pressure is where it's supposed to be, he says. The air filter keeps dirt out of the motor.
"If the air filter is dirty it has to work harder to clean the air, which will use more (fuel)," Korhonen says. "The harder tires are, the easier they roll. Try to push a car with a flat tire, it's almost impossible."
Korhonen recommends changing air filters at least once a year. Tire pressure should be checked monthly, if possible, he adds. The proper inflation is expressed in pounds per square inch on the edge of the driver's door.
"Every little thing helps nowadays," he says.
OTHER TIPS
• Rapid acceleration and speeding use more gasoline, Korhonen notes. If you push your accelerator to the floor and speed when you drive, you could decrease your gasoline mileage by 33 percent on the highway and 5 percent in the city, according to fueleconomy.gov. The Federal Trade Commission estimates that drivers can save as much as 5 percent of fuel by driving "gently." That means avoiding sudden stops and starts.
• Tune-ups are important for fuel economy, Korhonen says. Newer cars built in the 2000s don't require tune-ups as often as older cars, he says. Changing spark plugs once a year in an older car can significantly improve gasoline mileage, he says. A clogged air filter can decrease gasoline mileage by 10 percent, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
• Lighten your load. If you drive around with stuff in your trunk, you could reduce your mileage by 2 percent for every 100 pounds, according to the FTC, which could save 4 cents to 7 cents per gallon.
• Buy an economy or hybrid car. The 2008 Toyota Prius gets 45 miles per gallon on the highway (48 in the city), while the 2008 Hummer H3 gets about 18 miles per gallon on the highway.
• Driving the speed limit can save more than your life, it can save you money. Driving more than 60 mph decreases a vehicle's gas mileage, rapidly. For each 5 mph you drive over the speed limit, it can cost you about 20 cents per gallon extra, according to fueleconomy.gov.
• Carpool. That is, if your employer won't let you work from home. That is one way to save a lot of money on gasoline.
Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.
TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT With gasoline prices at record highs, now might be a good time to start thinking of alternative forms of transportation. Tracy Bliven is married to her car, she says, but when gasoline prices started going up last year, she started carpooling with co-worker Matt Leck. They joined the Regional Transportation Commission's Club Ride program. "We seriously were driving next to each other coming into work," says Bliven of her friend, Leck. Both are assistant management analysts for the Las Vegas Valley Water District. Last month, Leck, an engineer by education, calculated that they save $4 a day by carpooling to work, a $20 weekly savings. That includes the cost of gasoline, insurance and regular maintenance. But that was when gas was $3.07 a gallon; now, it's averaging $3.69 a gallon so their savings are much higher, Leck adds. "With gas prices the way that they are you can definitely see a savings add up quickly," says Tracy Bower, director of government affairs for the Regional Transportation Commission. Club Ride is an employer-based program, Bower notes. The RTC asks employers to offer it and sometimes it comes with perks such as covered parking spaces or preferred parking for carpoolers. There's no charge for the program, which includes carpooling, public transit, walking and bike riding. "We ask them to let us know anytime they use alternative forms of transportation," Bower says. "For every fourth time, their names are entered into a drawing." The prizes are small -- commuter mugs, canvas bags -- but they help reinforce and reward people for impacting the environment, Bower says. Currently, there are 301 club sites, which represents 123,482 employees. About 18,000 commuters have joined the program, with the two-person carpool reported as the most common choice, Bower says. You don't have to work at the same place to carpool with someone, either. The RTC will match people based on how closely they work and live to each other, Bower says, and individuals can decide for themselves how many days they want to carpool. Walking also is an option and a great way to combine your daily exercise with your commute, Bower says. April statistics show that 21,465 commutes were reported. Of those, 618 were walkers, almost 16,000 carpoolers and the rest were bus and bike riders. Public transit is a great alternative to driving, too. A monthly transit pass costs $40 and enables you to ride anywhere, Bower says. If you want to plan your bus trip or see if it's feasible, check the route at rtcsouthernevada.com. By 2009, the RTC ACE rapid transit system will be running, providing commuters with a park and ride option. People will be able to park at a safe place, catch the express and go directly to downtown or possibly the resort corridor, Bower says. Over the next few years, the RTC is planning to add 735 miles of bike lanes and 395 miles of bike routes.
