Mathmatics: The Undiscovered Country

Oie! I just took a math placement exam online for Western Michigan University and pretty much confirmed what I already knew...I need to take an elementary algebra class. I wrote in an earlier post that I'm going back to school to get a degree in Computer Science. This will indeed be a long and adventurous journey...and I can't wait!

BRING IT!!!

Tips and tricks to gain gas mileage

Okay, yes, there are already tons of websites out here in cyberspace that give tips and ideas of how one can save on gas and gain mileage. Well I thought I'd jot down some of those things that I've learned from experience and that work. So here goes.

1. Slow down! This is the biggest and most effective thing we can do. Whether you are driving a Toyota Prius, a Chevy Aveo, or a Hummer. It doesn't matter. Slowing down is the most effective way to gain MPG, especially upon acceleration. As Christ-followers, we ought to be living out patience anyway. So take your time folks. Accelerate slow and gently and actually drive the speed limit...or even slower if you can help it.
2. Turn the engine off. I realize some of you may be thinking, "huh?". There is a phrase called hypermiling where one does these things to gain the very most out of each drop of fuel. I drive a 1999 Dodge Dakota pickup truck that is a stick shift. Where I can, usually going down a big hill, I'll turn the engine off. This will save on gas. I simply let gravity keep me moving. I put the truck in neutral and let 'er roll. When I get to the bottom of the hill or I start to lose momentum. Sure, with the engine off you lose power steering and power brakes. However, you can still steer and brake. You just may have to push a bit harder.
3. Keep your car/truck well maintained. This is a no-brainer. Keep your tires up to proper pressure. This will help the vehicle roll nice and smooth. Check your oil and change it at least every 3,000 miles. Many cars today come with an on-board computer that will tell you when your car needs service. Take a look at the owners manual for more on this. At least every 10,000 miles, get the spark plugs, plug wires, distributor cap and rotor changed. Also, keep an eye on the air filter. A dirty air filter isn't a good thing. If your engine cannot take in the air necessary for optimum performance, you'll lose gas mileage.
4. Try different brands of fuel. I know this may seem silly, but for a long time I was buying Murphy USA because of the 3 cents off per gallon with the Wal-mart shopping card. In conversations with others, Shell and Speedway have impressed people. You may pay a few cents more per gallon at the time of fill up, but you have to consider the frequency of fill-ups. If you spend 4 times a month to fill up with the cheap stuff, you may actually spend less in a month if you pay more per fill up but only 2 times a month.

Well that's about it. I hope this helps anyone who happens to read this. The biggest thing is slow down. The slower you accelerate, the less fuel you burn per a given distance.