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Your driving habits can save you money at the gas pump. If you drive a lot and don’t have a fuel efficient vehicle, the best way to save money is to change the way you drive. Timely vehicle maintenance and good driving habits can enable your car to go an extra 30-40 miles or more between re-fueling.

If you run your car on less than a quarter tank of gas, fuel from the bottom may damage the fuel injector. Therefore keep your tank at least a quarter full. Use your car’s transmission, to control it and save money. Don’t drive when you can roll. If you have a manual, don’t use the clutch to brake on an incline. Use the transmission for switching gears.

Pay attention to maintenance check-ups; prompt action can save you time and hundreds of dollars in the long run. A well maintained car also fetched a higher value in the market. Take care to warm up your car, so that the oil gets enough running time to lubricate the engine. When budgets are tight, the first thing that is compromised is routine maintenance. However, over time, routine maintenance like oil changes, tune-ups, tire rotations and wheel alignments can save money in repair expenses and fuel economy.

Consumers heave a sigh of relief as gasoline prices nationwide show signs of decreasing, following a slump in the demand for crude oil. On September 9th, the national average fell to $3.65, down from a peak of $4.11 in July. After hitting $145 per barrel in July, the market for crude oil collapsed when oil closed Tuesday at $103.26 on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Many financial analysts expect crude oil prices to slide below $100 in the near future.

Gas prices in California plunged 76 cents per gallon after a high in June, according to an update from the AAA of Northern California auto club. A gallon of gasoline touched $3.85, down 28 cents from the previous month. Prices in San Francisco and San Jose have also dropped by 29 cents, making $4.03 and $3.94, respectively.

Californians, who paid almost 25 cents to 35 cents more than the national average for a gallon of gas, are now relieved as prices are falling faster than in other states. High taxes, refining capacity and the use of fuel blends not found elsewhere, have always kept California’s gas prices above the national average.   The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has announced that it will curb production in an attempt to keep prices from falling further.

The AAA auto club says the average price of a gallon of gas in
Washington is $4.23. The average cost of a gallon of gas in Washington dipped by 12 cents since July 6^th, which is not saying much, since a gallon of gas in Washington costs 27 cents more than the national average of $3.96. Bellingham recorded the most expensive gallon of gas ($4.27 per gallon), while the cheapest was in Spokane at $4.15.

While gas prices skyrocket past $4 a gallon, consumers are engrossed with cost cutting measures and fuel efficient choices. High gas prices seem to have had a catalytic effect in putting the brakes on consumption, changing consumer behavior and driving habits, which in turn, should reduce prices.

The AAA club’s survey today found that the average price of diesel in Washington was $4.90, 8 cents less than the record on July 18. Diesel prices in Seattle were $4.24; Olympia $4.18; Vancouver $4.13; Yakima $4.23 and Tri-Cities $4.26.

The effects of high fuel prices have trickled down into consumer lifestyles; from free pizza deliveries, plunging SUV Sales, to commuting patterns. 

Funding for a new program that would reduce domestic dependence on foreign oil and create jobs and technologies in the US, has received support from 71 US House members. The program would be required to lend up to $25 billion to automakers and auto parts suppliers over the next couple of months, a move that is crucial to the future of the US auto industry.

The Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program was initiated to help car manufacturers to concur with new fuel economy standards of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. The $25 billion in loans would be limited to 30% of the cost of any plant or technology program and engineering work within the United States.

The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers asserted that the NHTSA’s goal of raising fuel economy standards by 4.5 percent per year between 2011 and 2015 was “not technologically feasible or economically practicable”. Raising fuel economy standards would put additional pressure on an industry already reeling from dismal sales figures and economic distress, they said. The alliance said NHTSA had underestimated the costs related to improving technology.

The NHTSA has the task of implementing a law passed by Congress in 2007 that required new cars and trucks to meet a collective fuel economy average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

With fuel prices pushing $4 a gallon, “Hybrid-hysteria” has set in among commuters looking to beat the gas pump. People are grabbing fuel efficient vehicles and hybrid cars like the Toyota Prius, sending sticker prices on a spiral upwards by as much as $5,000. With buyers shifting away from gas guzzlers, small car sales seem to be picking up, but none can match the outstanding fuel rating of the Prius at 48 mpg (city). For most buyers, this car offers a combination of generous features, eco-friendly emission levels and fuel economy. According to several dealer websites, a year-old Prius with average mileage was now fetching more than it was new, at $28,000.