Brian, 3% savings (and that's an overestimate because most of the efficiency has nothing to do with mass, it's air drag - about 28-31%) of 600 gallons of gasoline (the average consumed by the average driver over a year) at $4/gal is $288. Over 10 years (I have owned and maintained a car as long as 14 years) is $2880. What do you suppose you spend on your telephone bill over that 10 year period? Cable? Food? Insurance? Medical bills? I think you can find more efficient and >more predictable< places to cut that will actually make you much more money over the same time frame. I am not ignorant. Just much better with numbers than you.

I found that for commutes around town the best way for me to save gas was buy a motor scooter. It gets a legitimate 100 miles to the gallon. Can't take it on the freeway, but is great on surface street travel where speed limits are 45 and under.

Vehicle: 2003 Honda CR-V, 2.4L V-tech DOHC, in Over Drive setting. Tune up & oil change to dealer schedule as well as proper tire pressure. No funny fueling, just when it is needed, usually 1/2 to 3/4 marker. No special fueling time.

Driving condition:  Mix street and mostly Los Angeles freeway. Avoided A/C went possible and limited to freeway drives. Street A/C on heat wave days. Cruise control to avoid high speeding, 70 plus. Average speed 65 to 70. During rush hours, I use freer flowing streets.

Info: I have installed mileage devices that work by testing each one and keeping detail mileage data.

My average before any device was 21 mpg and acceleration was abrupt. With all devices together, it smooth out the acceleration and added quicker response. My mileage average is at 24.6 mpg and engine runs so smooth that I catch myself easily at 70 plus mph. CHP is getting tougher so I use cruise control at 65 plus to avoid them. That has paid off twice.

I avoid the high lane to keep from getting caught up in the flow and tail riders which makes it easier to use cruise control.

Total of all devices cost about $200. Base on 4.50 a gallon at 21 mpg, save .75 a gallon divided into $200, it comes to 266.66 gallons, 50 gallons a month, payoff is less than 6 months.

Another friend got an extra 100 miles per tank on his Durangos, old and new. He only used one of 3 devices I use.

Pretend there is an egg between your right foot and the accelerator pedal. Never

push down any harder than what it would take to break the egg shell.

In other words, 'Don't push the pedal to the metal'.

If you get used to using the "EGG", you will increase your millage.

Its easy to use less as you drive. Ease the pedal down, do the limit, sort of coast to the stop. I crack up at the one who take off fast then slams the brakes ..............duh.

*****Just so you all know....The reason for your fuel gauge not moving for a long time after fill up is that the gauge float is pinned to the top of the tank, fuel is above the float. Once the level drops enough to Un-pin the float it will begin to float on top of the fuel. How can anyone think they get more MPG with the first half of fuel than the second half. It's amazing. People like that vote and have kids too. No wonder.

Step back and think about what it costs to have a car. Gas is only a piece of the cost. Purchase price, insurance, fixing it, etc.

If owning and operting a car costs $5,000 a year - 15,000 miles of driving - gas is just a variable cost in the total scheme of things. Drive 7,500 miles instead of 15,000 to save money?  you saved money, yes, but you saved about $1,250 of an annual cost of $5,000. You still spent $3,750 to drive half as much as you wanted. What did it cost to get to the places you went to with the car sitting on the street?

You spent 50 cents a mile for the mile you drove by cutting back instead of 33 cents a mile if you had driven where you wanted to go.

Maybe the right answer is to sell the carr and use alternative transportation? Gas is just a small portion of the cost of owning and operating a car.

dave said :Dang. If you read my post (I can't find it), it should have stated you save 4 cents per gallon if you pump first thing in the morning.

Your idea makes sense until your realise that thee gas station's fuel tank is underground where the temperature varies very little from one day to the next.

Also starting your car does not take 3x more fuel for Fuel Injected cars.

The first half in your tank (as indicated by your fuel gauge) covers more distance because most fuel gauges are calibrated to vary very little the first 50miles.  Fuel gauge used to be very accurate (some are still like BMW & Benz) until drivers started complaining that the needle moved too fast after fill up.  So, now it does not move for first 50miles and everyone is happy and think the car is most efficient with the first half tank.

Slow drivers, stay in the slow right lane and you won't get run over.  You can save gas without puting yourself and everyone else in danger.  

Please, Chevy....Bring this model back!

I still like to laugh at the folks who laughed at me when I bought a Geo Metro hatch back in '92 for $1100. The thing now has over 250000 miles and still gets 35-38 MPG around town.

Still gets 50-53 mph on the freeway @ 65-70 mph!

Zebra

Going 60 with my explorer I jumped from 18mpg to 21-23mpg  and of coursw i stay on the right lane

THis is a respose to Tom F about buying a more efficient vehicle.  I drive a V8 Jeep grand Cherokee and I average about 15mpg, it sucks but I love my car and I will not get rid of it because some european pinko communist tells me to.  We have freedom in this country, unlike Europe and I will drive whatever car I wish....