With oil cost on the rise again, your customers are becoming more sensitive to prices at the pump. Be a hero and earn trust by providing the following tips in your marketing materials and presentations to encourage your customers to take advantage of saving fuel and money. (Part 2 of this tip -coming soon- will offer money-making service ideas on the same subject of fuel savings for your customers.)

Observe Speed Limits.
Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each 5 mph over 60 mph is like paying an additional $0.10 per gallon for gas.

Avoid Excessive Idling.
Idling gets 0 miles per gallon. Cars with larger engines typically waste more gas at idle than do cars with smaller engines.

Using Cruise Control…
…on the highway helps you maintain constant speed and will save gas. It may also be feasible in some rural areas where the largest fuel savings will be earned.

Planning & Combining Trips.
Combining errands into one trip saves time and money. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a longer multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

Commuting.
If possible, stagger your work hours to avoid peak rush hours, you spend less time sitting in traffic and consume less fuel. (Note the “cruise control” tip above, also.)

Choose the Best Vehicle.
If you own more than one vehicle, you should drive the one that gets the best mileage whenever possible.

Traveling.
We all know a roof rack or carrier provides additional cargo space. However, a loaded roof rack can decrease your fuel economy by 5 percent. Reduce aerodynamic drag and improve your fuel economy by placing items inside the vehicle whenever possible.

Lighten up!
Remove all extra weight from your vehicle not absolutely needed. Carrying extra weight uses more gas. Put those golf clubs away in the house until you’ll really need them!

Refuel in the early morning.
Remember science class? When it’s colder, gasoline molecular structure will condense. You are paying for volume, not weight. You actually get more fuel for the same price in the early morning than in late afternoon. It’s a negligible amount, yes, but every drop counts these days, don’t they?