saving gas and money…
pretty typical that as soon as i get myself a car and have a need to get back and forth to work, gas prices would shoot right up. grumble grumble…
some things i’ve been trying to do to save on gas and money:
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when i drive 65 mph on the interstate, my car is at 2500 rpm, and when i go 70 mph, my car is at 3000 rpm. i am not a mechanical engineer, so i don’t at what rate gas is burned in a four cylinder engine per rpm, but i do know the motion = energy = fuel = money and 3000 rpm is more motion than 2500 rpm. people might be annoyed with me going 65 on the interstate, but its saving me money.
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i have spent a good deal of my life learning how to handle being uncomfortable (distance running, full-time missionary, etc). i can handle no air conditioning in my car. windows are down when i am on surface roads, fan is on when i am on the interstate.
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i will never let my gas tank get empty. in fact, it would be better if i never let it drop below 3/4 full. gas keeps jumping up on price. the more i can keep my gas full of yesterday’s cheaper gas, the less i have to spend on today’s more expensive gas.
a lot of these things do have time costs, but since i am paid hourly, its hard to monetize my off work time. i am relatively free of commitments, so a five minute longer drive home and a three minute fill up at the gas station seem like they are worth the money savings.