Road Trip Travel Tips

Long Road Trip Tips

There’s nothing like a full tank of gas, a nice tail wind, the perfect music mix and the promise of the open road. Before you get your kicks, say on Route 66, take a short tour through our recommendations for a safe, trouble-free trip.

Gas-Saving Tips for Money-Hungry Travelers

Develop Good Driving Habits

Don’t feel the need for speed. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. If you can, slow it down a bit.
Set your cruise control. Maintaining a constant speed burns fuel more efficiently.
Drive steadily. Avoid hard starts and stops and your mileage could improve up to 5%.
Avoid excessive idling. It burns up to a gallon an hour and pollutes the air. Turn off the engine if you expect a long wait and if possible, try to avoid rush hour traffic.
Use overdrive gears. This reduces your car’s engine speed, saving gas and reducing engine wear.
Remove junk from the trunk. An extra 100 pounds can reduce your miles per gallon by 2%.
Avoid rooftop carriers. The additional wind resistance drags down your fuel economy by 5%. If necessary, use an aerodynamically designed carrier.

Maintain Your Car

Keep your engine tuned. It can increase your gas mileage up to 4%.
Check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing clogged filters can increase gas mileage up to 10%.
Change your oil. You can improve your gas mileage 1-2% by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Also look for motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the API performance symbol — it contains friction-reducing additives that can improve fuel economy.
Service your complete timing system. This keeps your engine running at its peak efficiency and improves fuel economy. Your timing system includes the timing belt, idler, crankshaft/camshaft oil seals and tensioners.
Keep tires properly inflated and aligned. It can increase gas mileage up to 3%, plus it’s safer and they last longer.

Practice Proper Procedures at the Pump

Use the correct fuel grade. Check your owner’s manual for the most effective octane level for your car. Using a higher-octane gas than is recommended is a waste of money.
Fill up when it’s cool and before holidays. Cooler temperatures in the early morning or late evening create fewer vapors, so gasoline is at its densest – giving you more gas for your buck. If you’ll be traveling during the holidays, try filling up 3 days prior, when prices are slightly lower.
Don’t top off gas. It’s bad for the environment, your wallet and fuel/emissions system. Gas vapors are extremely toxic and harmful to you and the ozone layer. When you overfill your tank, you’re just paying for extra gas that evaporates, spills on the ground or feeds back into the station’s vapor recovery system.

Plus, your tank needs extra room for gas to expand. When it’s too full, that extra gas may slosh into your vehicle’s vapor recovery system, causing poor performance and high gas emissions. Stop filling when the pump shuts off automatically and make sure the cap is tightened completely to avoid any vapor leaks.

Source: FTC Consumer Alert, “Good, Better, Best: How to Improve Gas Mileage,” www.ftc.gov,
Updated 7/1/08.

Tourism Attractions Trivia

Route 66 started in Chicago, Illinois, and ended in Santa Monica, California, crossing 8 states and 3 time zones.
85% of Route 66 is still drivable today.