The Right PSI for the Best MPG

With high fuel prices apparently here to stay, proper tire inflation and common-sense driving tips can help control transportation costs

During the presidential election campaign, John McCain poked fun at Barack Obama for suggesting that proper tire inflation and regular engine tuneups are keys to reducing the impact of the fuel crisis.

Obama suggested that if Americans maintained optimum tire pressure and tuned up their engines, the fuel savings would equal the amount of oil that could be gained from offshore drilling as touted by McCain.

Wherever you stood in the political debate, it seems many drivers, maybe even many cleaning contractors, do not check tire inflation regularly and keep their vehicles properly tuned.

Do you floss?

Tire-pressure checking to many people is a lot like flossing teeth. You know you should do it regularly, but you only think about it the day before your dental appointment.

If that’s true, Obama may have been on to something. While his argument seems simplistic, Time magazine tested his theory.

According to Time, the Bush administration said more offshore drilling could increase oil production by 200,000 barrels per day, about one percent, by 2030. Meanwhile, the research found that proper tire inflation raises mileage by 3 percent and regular tuneups by four percent. So if everyone did those things, demand for oil would drop by several percentage points.

When it comes to the tires, I speak from experience. I’ve been lazy on checking tire inflation. I would check the pressure before leaving on a big vacation, or if I hauled a trailer. Once in a while, I would check the tires during the first really cold days of winter.

But recently, the mileage on my car has been poorer than usual. So I had my mechanic look it over, and I got more serious about checking the tires. With a tweak here or there and properly inflated tires, my mileage went back close to where it should be.

And checking tire pressure more regularly has provided a side benefit: I’m more aware of the condition of my tires. On my most recent pressure check, I noticed my front tires were down to the wear bars and President Lincoln’s haircut was in full view when I did the penny check on the rear tires.

Buy a better gauge

To measure pressure, I used to use the old-fashioned pencil-type gauges with stick indicators. But these are notoriously inaccurate. Try using several pencil gauges on the same tire. Or simply use the same gauge on the same tire several times. Chances are you’ll get different readings.

For less than $10, you can get a much better mechanical dial-style or digital gauge. Sturdier gauges preferred by professional drivers cost $30 to $50 and up. It stands to reason that better gauges give more consistent results and help you keep tires inflated to the optimum range for fuel economy.

It’s clear that checking the tires pays off in fuel economy, but there are other reasons to make sure you and your drivers include that task in vehicle inspections. Longer tire life is another incentive. If you’ve bought a set for one of your trucks recently, you know tire prices are going up. Conservative driving habits and proper tire inflation are the best things you can do to make sure your tires last long and wear evenly.

Perhaps the most important payoff of proper tire inflation is safety. Proper inflation keeps the meat of the tire on the road at all times and ensures firm, predictable handling in corners and while braking. This is especially critical when pulling a heavy payload in the bed or on a trailer.

Common-sense reminders

And there’s more you can do to save fuel than just check tires. One good practice is to minimize idling. Today’s vehicles use very little gas starting up, and it’s always a good idea to turn the engine off rather than idle. If you think of all the time you spend idling – taking a cell call or reading a map – you realize you can put a dent in your fuel consumption by turning the ignition key.

Also, watch your speed. I used to hover just above the 65-mph speed limit on the highway. But when gas inched toward $4 per gallon, I let up on the accelerator. It made a difference. By dropping to 59 or 60 mph, I added as much as 3 to 4 miles per gallon. In addition, I find that when I drive at 60 or less, I seldom come up to slightly slower vehicles that I have to accelerate to get around. And fuel-wasting merging traffic usually sneaks in ahead of me, so I don’t have to pull into the left lane, then accelerate to find my spot in the slow lane again.

Next, shed some pounds. There may be 50 to 100 pounds of equipment you really don’t need to carry to every job. What’s in your equipment inventory or toolbox that you really don’t need there? Do an inventory when you have a few minutes and transfer to your workshop anything you rarely use in the field.

These common-sense measures won’t take you back to fuel bills of a few years ago, but they can help you keep today’s bills lower.



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