Florida Consumer E-Newsletter - May 2007
Download PDF version [806K PDF]
A Message From the Commissioner...
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Dear Friends: Saving money has always been a top priority for Florida consumers, especially at the gas pump. Regardless of its make and model, your car’s estimated gas mileage, remember it is just that — an estimate. There are major variables that affect your vehicle’s fuel consumption, including how you fuel, drive and maintain your car. What may seem insignificant to you may actually drastically reduce your fuel economy and thus create a larger expense for you. It’s important that you understand what affects your consumption and what you can do to reduce your fueling costs. |
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Remember, we're here for you. Our consumer hotline, calling within Florida 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352), outside of Florida 850-488-2221 or en Español 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832), will answer any consumer related questions you may have or direct you to the most appropriate resource for assistance. You can also visit us online for additional consumer information. Remember... consumer education is the best defense against fraud and deception. Sincerely, |
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Use the Right Gasoline – Follow your owner’s manual recommendation for the right octane level for your car. For most cars, the recommended gas is regular octane. Using a higher octane gas than the manufacturer recommends offers no benefit — and costs you at the pump. Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gas is a waste of money.
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Beware of Gas Savings Gadgets – Be cautious about any gizmo that promises to improve your gas mileage. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has tested over 100 proclaimed gas-saving devices — including “mixture enhancers” and fuel line magnets — and found that very few provided any fuel economy benefits. Those devices that did work provided only a slight improvement in gas mileage. In fact, some products may even damage your car’s engine or cause a substantial increase in exhaust emissions.
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Keep Your Vehicle in Good Repair – Fixing a serious maintenance problem, such as a faulty oxygen sensor, can improve your mileage by as much as 40 percent. Keep your engine tuned. Studies have shown that a poorly tuned engine can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 to 20 percent depending on a car's condition. Follow the recommended maintenance schedule in your owner's manual; you'll save fuel and your car will run better and last longer. Make sure you’re up to date on your scheduled oil changes. Clean oil reduces wear caused by friction between moving parts and removes harmful substances from the engine. You can improve your gas mileage by using the grade of motor oil in your owner’s manual and changing it according to the schedule recommended by your car manufacturer. Motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the performance symbol of the American Petroleum Institute contains friction-reducing additives that can improve fuel economy. It also helps to make sure that you check and replace your air filters regularly. Replacing clogged filters can increase gas mileage up to 10 percent.
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Keep Tires Properly Inflated and Aligned – You can improve your gas mileage by around 3.3 percent by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure. Under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.4 percent for every 1 PSI (pounds per square inch) drop in pressure of all four tires. Properly inflated tires are safer and last longer.
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Drive Sensibly – While each vehicle reaches its optimal fuel economy at a different speed (or range of speeds), gas mileage usually decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Aggressive driving, such as speeding, rapid acceleration and braking, wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is also safer for you and others, so you may save more than just your money. Additionally, unnecessary idling wastes fuel, costs you money and pollutes the air. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a wait.
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Remove Excess Weight – Avoid keeping unnecessary items in your vehicle, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your MPG (miles per gallon) by up to 2%. The reduction is based on the percentage of extra weight relative to the vehicle's weight and it effects smaller vehicles more than larger ones. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce fuel economy by up to two percent. Removing non-essential stuff can save you at the pump.
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Consider Altering Your Transportation – Try combining errands whenever possible. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm. Many cities make it even easier by matching up commuters. Or, why not leave your car at home and consider public transportation, a bike ride, or a stroll across town? In addition to saving money, you can get exercise too!
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Consider Buying a Fuel Efficient Vehicle – Deciding which vehicle to buy may be the most important fuel economy decision you make. The difference between a car that gets 20 MPG and one that gets 30 MPG amounts to $3,125 over 5 years, assuming gas costs $2.50 per gallon and you drive 15,000 miles a year.
For more consumer information, or help finding the right resource for assistance, give us a call today at 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) calling within Florida, 850-488-2221 outside of Florida, 1-800-FL-AYUDA (352-9832) en Español, and a consumer specialist will be happy to assist you.
Additional Resources
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The links below are for your information only. The goal of the Division of Consumer Services is to provide additional information to consumers. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services does not review or confirm these sites for accuracy.
United States Department of Energy
Here at the fueleconomy.gov website you'll find useful information about gasoline prices, hybrid vehicles, energy efficiency, gasoline vs. ethanol, MPG ratings and so much more!
Scambusters
With the summer driving season in full swing -- and high gas prices at the pump -- subscribers have been asking how they can save on gas.
Edmonds.com
With gas prices so high, the media is awash with lists of gas-saving tips. Well how's this for a tip? By changing your driving habits you can improve fuel economy up to 37 percent right away (depending on how you drive).
Federal Trade Commission
Gas prices are up, causing many drivers to look for ways to improve fuel efficiency. Although there are practical steps you can take to increase gas mileage, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) suggests that you proceed with caution when you consider buying automotive devices or oil and gas additives based on gas-saving claims.
