Comments on: Reducing Your Automotive Expenses http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/ personal finance tips, tricks, and commentary Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:22:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bret @ Hope to Prosper http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139764 Bret @ Hope to Prosper Sat, 06 Feb 2010 07:42:08 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139764 My next car will be electric. I would like to buy a Nissan Leaf or a Ford Focus BEV. Driving around for 4 cents per mile is my idea of saving money. Plus, I am tired of changing the oil, getting smog checks and having the service lights come on every 20,000 miles. I want a car that is simple, quiet and reliable. And, if it doesn't pollute, that's a bonus too. My next car will be electric.

I would like to buy a Nissan Leaf or a Ford Focus BEV. Driving around for 4 cents per mile is my idea of saving money. Plus, I am tired of changing the oil, getting smog checks and having the service lights come on every 20,000 miles.

I want a car that is simple, quiet and reliable. And, if it doesn’t pollute, that’s a bonus too.

]]> By: Trav http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139714 Trav Fri, 05 Feb 2010 18:17:25 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139714 For the red-light crowd: it's oversimplifying to say that "if you're going to be idle for more than 10 seconds, it pays to turn off the car and restart it later." The article you cite actually says: "For modern, fuel-injected vehicles, the break-even point for turning off the engine and then restarting it right before traffic begins to flow may be as little as 10 seconds..." That's a few maybes. I wonder what the breakeven point is for those of us who try to save money by keeping old cars in shape and not buying new stuff. (True, there are hidden costs to not upgrading to the latest tech all the time. Still.) The rule of thumb I remember from a couple of decades ago was more like a minute. Gas was cheaper then :) For the red-light crowd: it’s oversimplifying to say that “if you’re going to be idle for more than 10 seconds, it pays to turn off the car and restart it later.”

The article you cite actually says:

“For modern, fuel-injected vehicles, the break-even point for turning off the engine and then restarting it right before traffic begins to flow may be as little as 10 seconds…”

That’s a few maybes.

I wonder what the breakeven point is for those of us who try to save money by keeping old cars in shape and not buying new stuff. (True, there are hidden costs to not upgrading to the latest tech all the time. Still.) The rule of thumb I remember from a couple of decades ago was more like a minute. Gas was cheaper then :)

]]> By: BG http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139588 BG Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:35:05 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139588 #9 Stephanie) Your husband has got the right idea. The problem with cheaper gas is that it usually has Ethanol mixed in with it (10%). Ethanol in gasoline absorbs water. With gasoline polluted with water, there is no mixing as the water settles to the bottom of the tank. But with the ethanol blends, you may potentially be pumping water into your gas tank, which your car burns inefficiently, killing MPG. Since where I live, all gasoline has 10% ethanol now (thanks Corn-industry/lobby), so I try to fill up my gas tanks before a rain shower. Some water inevitably will contaminate the stations underground tanks. Fill up before it rains, so everyone else can have the water tainted gasohol. #9 Stephanie) Your husband has got the right idea. The problem with cheaper gas is that it usually has Ethanol mixed in with it (10%). Ethanol in gasoline absorbs water. With gasoline polluted with water, there is no mixing as the water settles to the bottom of the tank. But with the ethanol blends, you may potentially be pumping water into your gas tank, which your car burns inefficiently, killing MPG.

Since where I live, all gasoline has 10% ethanol now (thanks Corn-industry/lobby), so I try to fill up my gas tanks before a rain shower. Some water inevitably will contaminate the stations underground tanks. Fill up before it rains, so everyone else can have the water tainted gasohol.

]]> By: forty2 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139586 forty2 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:34:29 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139586 The best way to reduce your car expense is 1) buy a good solid low-mileage used car e.g. older Camry, Accord, Altima, Volvo 240/940, etc (they're out there) 2) avoid the hybrid/diesel hype as the premium you pay for these cars is usually far more than you can make up in fuel costs (unless you really, honestly drive more than 25,000 miles a year, and very few people do that) 3) pay cash for whatever you decide is right for you, 4) live as close to work as you can stand. I'm ~4 miles each way. When winter ends I'm gonna try biking it. Fuel price is a big bogeyman. Unless you have an absurd commute, it's not that big a deal, and if you do have an absurd commute, you're doing it wrong. The best way to reduce your car expense is 1) buy a good solid low-mileage used car e.g. older Camry, Accord, Altima, Volvo 240/940, etc (they’re out there) 2) avoid the hybrid/diesel hype as the premium you pay for these cars is usually far more than you can make up in fuel costs (unless you really, honestly drive more than 25,000 miles a year, and very few people do that) 3) pay cash for whatever you decide is right for you, 4) live as close to work as you can stand. I’m ~4 miles each way. When winter ends I’m gonna try biking it.

Fuel price is a big bogeyman. Unless you have an absurd commute, it’s not that big a deal, and if you do have an absurd commute, you’re doing it wrong.

]]> By: BG http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139584 BG Wed, 03 Feb 2010 03:29:02 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139584 Edmunds tire test is not too real world for me. My tires can get easily more than 10psi under-inflated without much noticeable difference (visually), but surely has a bigger effect on MPG. Since Edmunds only tried down to 8psi below, then that's not real enough for me. Besides, who accidentally overinflates their tires? As for the cruise control, I drive with it off. In hilly areas, you will have cruise control going into WOT while trying to maintain speed going up a hill. Best bet is to slow down going up a hill, and go faster on the downside (don't use the brakes going downhill) -- don't try to work against gravity. Driving slower is a big saver, as well as letting off the gas pedal at least 15-30 seconds before needing to use the brake (anticipate stop-lights and stop signs). Edmunds tire test is not too real world for me. My tires can get easily more than 10psi under-inflated without much noticeable difference (visually), but surely has a bigger effect on MPG. Since Edmunds only tried down to 8psi below, then that’s not real enough for me. Besides, who accidentally overinflates their tires?

As for the cruise control, I drive with it off. In hilly areas, you will have cruise control going into WOT while trying to maintain speed going up a hill. Best bet is to slow down going up a hill, and go faster on the downside (don’t use the brakes going downhill) — don’t try to work against gravity.

Driving slower is a big saver, as well as letting off the gas pedal at least 15-30 seconds before needing to use the brake (anticipate stop-lights and stop signs).

]]> By: Money Reasons http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139580 Money Reasons Wed, 03 Feb 2010 02:07:01 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139580 One of the biggest ways that I reduce my car expense is by carpooling once gas prices rise above $3.00 a gallon. I'm fortunate to live about 2 miles away from another coworker, so once gas goes above that magic amount, we start carpooling. By carpooling, not only do we save on gas, but also reduce the wear and tear on the entire car, prelong the life of our tires, etc... Then there are the entire world economic benefits. By carpooling, we reduce the demand for oil, and lessen the carbon emissions. One of the biggest ways that I reduce my car expense is by carpooling once gas prices rise above $3.00 a gallon. I’m fortunate to live about 2 miles away from another coworker, so once gas goes above that magic amount, we start carpooling.

By carpooling, not only do we save on gas, but also reduce the wear and tear on the entire car, prelong the life of our tires, etc…

Then there are the entire world economic benefits. By carpooling, we reduce the demand for oil, and lessen the carbon emissions.

]]> By: Stephanie http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139578 Stephanie Wed, 03 Feb 2010 01:41:30 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139578 My husband uses some tips we learned both from the tv news and his work newsletter. Fill up your tank during the coolest part of the day and the gas is not expanded from the heat,giving you more actual gasaline and therefore more miles AND fill your tank slowly to prevent fumes, which also take up room in the tank and you end up with more gas and more milage. He does both of these and swears they make a differance. He is on the road before dawn so he can fill up when it is the coolest part of the day in summer and then it takes him up to twenty minutes to fill his tank on the slow setting, but from what we heard and read, and what he has noticed, both ideas help a lot. Also, be careful where you buy gas with an older car. Last year when we took our truck in for its yearly inspection, it is a 1989 Ford Ranger, it passed with flying colors as it has every year, and then he started to go to a cheaper gas station and it barely passed. We would not have known the connection but the guy running the test asked if we had been filling up at a specific station and my husband said yes, and he told us the ethenol in those cheap gases is too high for cars older than 2006, and to use better gas because high ethenol in a car older than 2006 could damage the O2 sensor and affects how the car runs. It was a noticable differance as for years he had gone to a name brand gas station and only the past year had switched to the cheap gas. An aside to this is, he actually has found he gets more milage per tank if he fills at the better station, but due to their often higher prices and longer lines, he started to go to a cheaper and easier place. He has since swtiched back. My husband also said that you are supposed to fill it at half full, also to help with vapors when you fill, slowly, lol. I called and checked all this with him to make sure I got it right. So, the tips are, better gas, fill early when its cool during hot weather , fill at half full and fill on the auto slow setting. Hope this helps !! My husband uses some tips we learned both from the tv news and his work newsletter.
Fill up your tank during the coolest part of the day and the gas is not expanded from the heat,giving you more actual gasaline and therefore more miles AND fill your tank slowly to prevent fumes, which also take up room in the tank and you end up with more gas and more milage. He does both of these and swears they make a differance. He is on the road before dawn so he can fill up when it is the coolest part of the day in summer and then it takes him up to twenty minutes to fill his tank on the slow setting, but from what we heard and read, and what he has noticed, both ideas help a lot.
Also, be careful where you buy gas with an older car. Last year when we took our truck in for its yearly inspection, it is a 1989 Ford Ranger, it passed with flying colors as it has every year, and then he started to go to a cheaper gas station and it barely passed. We would not have known the connection but the guy running the test asked if we had been filling up at a specific station and my husband said yes, and he told us the ethenol in those cheap gases is too high for cars older than 2006, and to use better gas because high ethenol in a car older than 2006 could damage the O2 sensor and affects how the car runs. It was a noticable differance as for years he had gone to a name brand gas station and only the past year had switched to the cheap gas. An aside to this is, he actually has found he gets more milage per tank if he fills at the better station, but due to their often higher prices and longer lines, he started to go to a cheaper and easier place. He has since swtiched back.
My husband also said that you are supposed to fill it at half full, also to help with vapors when you fill, slowly, lol.
I called and checked all this with him to make sure I got it right.
So, the tips are, better gas, fill early when its cool during hot weather , fill at half full and fill on the auto slow setting.
Hope this helps !!

]]> By: John http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139576 John Tue, 02 Feb 2010 23:53:36 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139576 The best efficiency is at cruising speed in the top gear that a car has. The most efficient way to get to that speed is typically about 60% throttle with most engines. You don't want to floor it to get to 60 mph as quickly as possible, but slowly accelerating leaves you in an inefficient lower gear for longer. Another major cost of ownership is tires. The Chevy Metro gets almost as good mpg as a hybrid Prius or Insight, but it does it by running 13" tires, weighing 1900 lbs, and having an 85 hp engine. By the time you figure the cost to keep $40 tires on a car versus $75 larger ones that last no longer, the Metro is cheaper to buy gas and tires for, let alone the purchase price. The best efficiency is at cruising speed in the top gear that a car has. The most efficient way to get to that speed is typically about 60% throttle with most engines. You don’t want to floor it to get to 60 mph as quickly as possible, but slowly accelerating leaves you in an inefficient lower gear for longer.

Another major cost of ownership is tires. The Chevy Metro gets almost as good mpg as a hybrid Prius or Insight, but it does it by running 13″ tires, weighing 1900 lbs, and having an 85 hp engine. By the time you figure the cost to keep $40 tires on a car versus $75 larger ones that last no longer, the Metro is cheaper to buy gas and tires for, let alone the purchase price.

]]> By: daddy paul http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139566 daddy paul Tue, 02 Feb 2010 18:13:28 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139566 There are people who I call gas pedal bouncers. They are constantly pumping the gas pedal up and down. This drinks gas like crazy. There are people who I call gas pedal bouncers. They are constantly pumping the gas pedal up and down. This drinks gas like crazy.

]]> By: Nickel http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139562 Nickel Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:30:58 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139562 Jeremy, I'm also a big fan of Fuelly. If you have a smartphone, they have a great mobile interface so you can log your data at the pump. Jeremy, I’m also a big fan of Fuelly. If you have a smartphone, they have a great mobile interface so you can log your data at the pump.

]]> By: Anthony http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139560 Anthony Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:13:10 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139560 Cruise control helps for the longer distance drives. Also, don't drive an SUV everywhere. SUV's are VERY popular in the southeast, probably moreso than everywhere else in the US. SUV's are nice when you're traveling with a bunch of luggage, need to go grocery shop, need to pick up kids, or are carpooling. They're not for one-person commutes! Cruise control helps for the longer distance drives.

Also, don’t drive an SUV everywhere. SUV’s are VERY popular in the southeast, probably moreso than everywhere else in the US. SUV’s are nice when you’re traveling with a bunch of luggage, need to go grocery shop, need to pick up kids, or are carpooling. They’re not for one-person commutes!

]]> By: Jeremy Olexa http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139558 Jeremy Olexa Tue, 02 Feb 2010 16:07:03 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139558 > Take a page from my husband’s book and record your miles driven and gallons burned after every fill up in a mileage spreadsheet. What is this manual spreadsheet concept?! Use www.fuelly.com :) > Take a page from my husband’s book and record your miles driven and gallons burned after every fill up in a mileage spreadsheet.

What is this manual spreadsheet concept?! Use http://www.fuelly.com :)

]]> By: Melissa http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139554 Melissa Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:59:30 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139554 Drive stick :) Drive stick :)

]]> By: Laura http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139552 Laura Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:31:27 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139552 I'm still working on the red light/turn off car aspect of it. I do know some lights that may be slow enough where I'd feel comfortable to try it. I’m still working on the red light/turn off car aspect of it. I do know some lights that may be slow enough where I’d feel comfortable to try it.

]]> By: Kyle http://www.fivecentnickel.com/2010/02/02/reducing-your-automotive-expenses-gpt/comment-page-1/#comment-139550 Kyle Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:22:18 +0000 http://www.fivecentnickel.com/?p=3862#comment-139550 I change my own oil which really helps cut down on costs. It takes less time and costs less money when you do it yourself. I do try to turn my car off at stop lights where I know the timing of the light well. It really does help increase your MPG's I change my own oil which really helps cut down on costs. It takes less time and costs less money when you do it yourself.

I do try to turn my car off at stop lights where I know the timing of the light well. It really does help increase your MPG’s

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