Gas Rewards

Another sweepstakes to enter. Chance to win a Toyota FJ cruiser and a buncha gas. Good luck!

Enter here.

The second installment in our article series focusing on rising gas prices and how we, as consumers, can help conserve gasoline and save money.

Gas prices are higher than ever, so you are likely to see more advertising for gas saving products. Yes, we want to improve on fuel efficiency, but are these products really helping? Or are they just taking an extra bite out of our already shrinking car budget?

The truth is you should be suspicious of any gas saving claims for certain devices or oil and gas additives. Even for the few gas saving products that have been found to work, the savings have been miniscule.

You will see all sorts of claims and testimonies. This gas saving product improves fuel economy by 20 percent. Yeah right. Actually, the EPA has tested over 100 of these supposed gas saving doo hickies, and none of them were found to do the job well.

Some of the products can even damage your car. So much for cost savings! Please be skeptical of advertising claims for gas saving devices.

Here is another quote you might read. This gas saving device is approved by the Federal government. Actually, no government agency endorses gas saving products for cars. If the seller claims the EPA has evaluated its product, ask for a copy of the report, or check EPA government website for information. Ah, I love the power of the internet.

If you want to save money at the pump, try these tips. They will serve you much better than some snake oil product.

Buy only the octane level gas you need. The faster you drive, the more fuel you use. It is a fact. Use overdrive gears during highway driving. This also saves wear on your engine.

Use cruise control on highway trips. Avoid unnecessary braking and acceleration. That means no tailgating. This tip alone can improve your fuel economy by 5 to 10 percent. Sudden starts and sudden stops are wasteful, not to mention the barf factor involved for those of us who get car sick.

Unnecessary idling wastes fuel. Avoid carrying excess weight in your trunk. Keep your engine tuned. Engine troubles can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 to 20 percent.

Make sure your tires are properly inflated and aligned. Check them once a month. Under inflated tires increases fuel consumption by six percent.

Change your oil when it is advised by the manufacturer. Check and replace air filters regularly. Clogged filters can cause up to a 10 percent increase in fuel consumption.

There is no need to buy products that cost you more money than they save. These little fuel saving tips can add up to an extra hundred bucks or so in your pocket each year!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/tips-for-saving-some-cash-at-the-gas-pump-254730.html

About the Author:
Author: Terry Parker

For more information about fuel saving devices or other car repair information visit our site.

Gas card sweepstakes #2 for those who enjoyed the first.

Same deal… short survey, chance to win a gas card valued at $1500.

Editor’s note: This is part of a series of articles we will be publishing about fuel costs, conservation, and of course its impact on you, the American consumer. Look for more articles coming soon.

With extremely high gas prices straining consumers’ pockets in recent months, it is only natural for people to wonder where all the money they pay at the pump goes. Contrary to popular belief, the price of gas is not solely reliant on the price of crude oil. There are many parties involved in setting the price of the gas you purchase at the pump, and below is a quick run-through on who they are and what portion of the entire price they require.

• Crude oil: Crude oil suppliers require the largest share of the pie at about 45%. This share is determined by the oil-exporting nations and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in particular. The price of one barrel of crude oil depends on how much crude oil these oil-exporting countries produce. Sometimes gas prices rise despite the fact that there is enough crude oil to go around, and this is because of a variety of other factors, one of which is the quality of oil. Oil can be heavy or light, and sweet or sour. These words only describe the quality, not the taste, of oil. For example, light, sweet crude oil is cheaper and easier to refine, but quantities of this kind of oil have been running lower recently. However, there is still a lot of heavy, sour oil, which means that refineries must spend more money refining it.

• Taxes: Federal and local taxes take about 31% of the price you pay at the pump. Federal excise taxes account for about 18 cents per gallon, while state excise taxes require about 20 cents per gallon. There might also be some additional state sales taxes, along with local and city taxes.

• Refining costs: Refining crude oil makes up approximately 13% of the price you pay at the gas pump.

• Distribution and marketing: The costs of transporting and marketing gas make up about 13% of the price of gas. Crude oil must be transported from oil-producing countries to refineries, then the gasoline must be transported to distribution points, and then lastly to the gas stations that fill your tank. All of the costs of this shipping and transportation are transferred to you, the end consumer. Along with all this comes the marketing that is involved in increasing a brand’s awareness and appeal, and these costs are also passed on to the consumer.

• Gas station markups: There is no set percentage for this number. Gas stations are at their own discretion as to how much to add on to the price in order to actually make a profit on the gas that they sell. Some stations (usually the larger ones) will only tack on a couple cents, while others will add a dime or even more. Some states have laws that prevent stations from adding on less than a specified percentage over the price that the wholesaler sets. These markups are also dependent on the area where the station is located. Demographic information such as median income and population affect the decisions that stations make concerning the exact price they set for the gasoline that they sell from their pumps.

Cars

Author: Jason Hahn

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/automotive-articles/gas-where-does-the-money-go-21690.html

Fill out this short survey for a chance to win one year of free gas. We checked the survey form, and it doesn’t require a credit card number, but will ask for address, phone number and email address. Still, worth a shot if you’ve got a few minutes to spare!

NEW YORK (AP) _ The rising price of gasoline has certainly increased the amount of complaining from drivers paying $3 a gallon or more to fill up their cars, but it so far has done little to curtail how much people are driving.

That’s the message from government statistics showing that demand for gasoline is only just starting to level off even as refinery outages and tight supplies have sent pump prices soaring by 43 percent since the end of January.

And brace yourself: experts say with gas already closing in on $4 a gallon in Chicago and San Francisco ahead of the peak summer driving season, higher prices could be in the cards.

The average U.S. household is already spending $1,000 more per year on gasoline than it did five years ago, two consumer groups say in testimony they planned to present to a House Judiciary Committee task force Wednesday.

That’s an increase of 85 percent, and rural households have been hardest hit because they spend about 20 percent more on gas than urban residents, the Consumer Federation of America and Consumers Union said, citing Labor Department figures.

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Yet another cash reward card that can help you save not only on gas, but many other items as well. You’ll have to keep up with this one, as the categories gaining higher discounts change several times per year. Still, if you’re into saving cash, playing by the rules on this one can save you big. Also, a big thumbs-up for Discover Card’s customer service. I’ve gotten nothing but friendly service, flexible help and complete satisfaction from Discover, and so feel good giving you the scoop on yet another great deal with the More Card, from the good folks at Discover.

Full details below.

Again, another rewards card that’s not just about gas rewards - but still has plenty to offer. Why limit the savings? Overall, a solid offering with an excellent interest rate to boot.

Looking for rewards, great rates, and more benefits all wrapped up with a pretty little bow? The American Express One Card may be the one for you. Check out the review below for specifics.