Saving On Gas Could Soon Be A Full-Time Job

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By Tammy Gray-Searles
    Getting better mileage, finding the lowest price at the pump and conserving fuel as much as possible have become priorities for motorists across the nation, but what can local consumers do to stretch their gasoline budget as far as possible? There are a number of tools and tips available for drivers in Navajo County to make sure they are getting the most fuel for their hard-earned dollars.
    With the large number of miles typically driven between central Navajo County towns, both for com-muting and shopping, it becomes especially important to know before setting out on the drive where the lowest priced fuel is located. There are a number of online tools designed for consumers to find the lowest priced gas in their area, and they now include most towns and cities in Navajo County. To find out local gas prices either in your city or the city you plan to travel to, visit www.autos.msn.com/everyday/gasstations.aspx. Consumers can enter a zip code and find gas prices for all stations in the area. For reference, local zip codes include: Holbrook, 86025; Winslow, 86047; Joseph City, 86032; Snowflake, 85937; Taylor, 85939; Show Low, 85901; Pinetop, 85935; Lakeside, 85929; and Flagstaff, 86011.
    The site includes a map of the service stations listed, so consumers unfamiliar with a particular area can easily find them.
    Getting the lowest price on fuel can be little help if consumers aren’t receiving all of the gasoline they paid for. The Arizona Department of Weights and Measures is responsible for testing fuel pumps across the state to make sure they are measuring fuel accurately, but the department is understaffed and only conducts inspections on each pump about once every three years.
    To help consumers be sure they are getting what they pay for, the department encourages consumers to double-check the number of gallons pumped with the price charged. Consumers can also check to see whether fuel stations in their area have fuel pump violations by visiting http://www.azcentral.com/business/datacenter/gas_pump_inspections.html. Any station found to have a violation must shut the violating fuel pump down until it is repaired. Local stations with violations since January 2007 include: Woody’s Food Store in Holbrook for “meter jump,” which means the meter started before any fuel was pumped; Hopi Travel Plaza in Sun Valley for meter jump and pumping too little gas per gallon; Love’s Travel Stop in Joseph City, pumping too little gas per gallon; USA Travel Center in Winslow for pumping too little gas per gallon; and Circle K in Snowflake for meter jump and meter creep, which means the meter kept charging after pumping had stopped. No stations in Taylor are listed as having a violation within the last year.
    Stretching fuel mileage as far as possible is one more way consumers can save on gasoline. Beyond the usual suggestions of keeping tires properly inflated, getting regular oil changes and driving at slower speeds, Navajo County motorists should pay special attention to engine parts that can lose performance due to sand and dust. Air filters should be changed regularly, and spark plugs at intervals as recommended by the manufacturer. Automotive experts agree that regular maintenance improves fuel economy. Pickup truck owners can also improve mileage by paying attention to items in the bed of the truck. Removing any un-necessary tools, storage boxes or other items can improve mileage by reducing weight.
    In addition to price shopping, vehicle maintenance and sharing rides, one other way Navajo County motorists can save on gasoline is by joining an online pre-paid gasoline co-op. A number of such co-ops and businesses are popping up online. Many offer the opportunity to buy gasoline at a low price and pump when it’s at a high price in order to save money. For example, consumers could purchase 50 gallons of gasoline at $4.03 per gallon (today’s price) and, regardless of what prices rise to, would still be able to fill a tank with 50 gallons of gas at $4.03 per gallon. Since many of these sites and co-ops are new, consumers should use caution and research the company or group thoroughly before joining.