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Background
Name: Ron
Location:
Eugene, Oregon
United States
Eugene, Oregon
United States
School:
San Francisco State, University of Oregon
San Francisco State, University of Oregon
Hometown(s):
San Francisco, Honolulu, Eugene
San Francisco, Honolulu, Eugene
Quote:
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. - Mark Twain
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. - Mark Twain
About Me
For more than two decades, I've been an advocate for consumer rights, helping thousands of people fight back against uncaring and unscrupulous companies. I covered the topic as a broadcast journalist, developed a series of consumer empowerment seminars and then wrote a book on the subject titled, Unscrewed: The Consumer's Guide to Getting What You Paid For (Ten Speed Press, 2006).
A year ago, we launched the "On Your Side" column in AARP Magazine, which has now expanded into a presence on the web site and a spot on AARP's new television show, My Generation, which can be seen weekly on RLTV.
If you've got a consumer challenge you'd like to nominate for the magazine or web column, just email me. You can also drop by our online group to share your experiences with other AARP members.
Interests:
Flying, Tennis, SkiingMy Photos (2)
My Videos (1)
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My Journals (11)
April 30, 2008
You can save a buck on every gallon of gas with a few tricks of the driving trade. With a gallon of regular nearing four dollars at many pumps, most of us are looking for ways to get more out of what we’ve got. But, once if you’ve already tuned up, checked your tire pressure, and are driving less… what else can you do? Well, here are five clever fuel conservation secrets I recently picked-up from a real pro... a friend who drives a gypsy cab in San Francisco. (The fuel savings calculations are courtesy of AAA.)
1. Use your cruise control – This little piece of technology is much better at controlling speed than any human foot. Today’s advanced cruise control devices can also optimize fuel/air mixture and other aspects engine performance.
Potential Savings – 15% to 20%
Potential Savings – 15% to 20%
2. Shift Into Neutral – Slipping your automatic transmission out of “Drive” at stoplights and on long downhill sections keeps the engine from fighting against your brakes and gravity. At a stoplight, an idling engine is still connected the wheels, which you’re holding still via the brake. Your engine’s energy just creates heat by stirring the transmission fluid. Shift into neutral, the motor will experience less drag and use less fuel. When going down long grades or hills, shifting out of drive keeps the wheels from “pushing” the engine and burning fuel unnecessarily.
Potential Savings – 11 to 17%
Potential Savings – 11 to 17%
3. Change your air filter – The more air an engine gets, the more efficiently it runs. Changing a filter with scheduled service is rarely often enough. In the spring, when pollen fills the air, an air filter can lose as much as 50% of its efficiency is just a couple of weeks. Filters are generally inexpensive and most are easily changeable.
Potential Savings – 7% to 17%
Potential Savings – 7% to 17%
4. Close your windows – The additional drag created by open windows or a sun-roof can significantly decrease gas mileage, particularly at freeway speeds. As TV's Mythbusters proved, it's also better to drive with the pickup tailgate up, rather than down.
Potential Savings – 6% to 14%
Potential Savings – 6% to 14%
5. Wash your car – Just like the windows, anything you can do to increase the smooth flow of air over your car reduces drag and thereby increases gas mileage. A clean car always drives better anyway.
Potential Savings - 3% to 7%
Potential Savings - 3% to 7%
While none of these tips is a wallet-stuffer on its own, cumulatively they can boost your gas mileage by 75%, cutting your fuel bill by more than a third. That’s equivalent to trading-in a 24mph Camry for a for a brand new Prius hybrid, and you won't have to pay the dealer $20K for the privilege.
Added: April 30, 2008
Views: 118 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
Views: 118 | Comments: 0 | Bookmarks: 0
Comments (3)
saltoby13 says:
Thank you for even reading about my problem but also for giving me hope in resolving this situation.
Posted: April 12, 2008 10:10PM EDT
saltoby13 says:
On Feb. 10, 2008 I called Dell financial to find out why I had a $39.00 late charge applied to my account. I have never been delinquent and was shocked to see this. I paid $58.00 on 12-10-07, $57.00 on 1-16-08, and $60.00 on 2-1-08. I spoke to Crystal who looked at my account and saw the payment had been made and she arranged for the late charge to be eliminated. On April 5, 2008 I received another bill and not only did they take the $39.00 late charge off but they put another $39.00 late charge on and it said that I owed $110.00. I called Dell on 4-7-08 at approx. 8:30 and got Jerome and I immediately asked to talk to his supervisor. Then I got Chris Thomas. I explained to Chris that I pay my bill on time and I don't understand why I was getting late charges. He said it was because the billing periods starts on 2nd of every month and because I was 1 day early in February, my payment was applied to my principle and not my bill. I told him I understood but it was my payment and should be treated as that. This is what was discussed with Crystal. He stated there was nothing he could do about it as they can only credit 1 late charge a year. I then asked to speak to his supervisor, and I got Tracy. All Tracy did was reiterate what Chris said only she explained to me I was supposed to make another payment in March to make up for the payment they did not credit me for making. I told her this was never explained to me by Crystal. So now my credit is being ruined and I am stuck making an extra payment and a $39.00 late fee. Since then I have paid them $60.00 on 3-11-08 and $60.00 on 4-7-08 and they are not satisified with that. I cannot get through to them. Can you help?
Thank you.
Sally Case (saltoby13@aol.com)
Thank you.
Sally Case (saltoby13@aol.com)
Posted: April 7, 2008 9:18PM EDT
ronburley says:
Sally, please email the "On Your Side" email address (onyourside@aarp.org) with your situation. We'll be happy to look into it. - RB
Posted: April 10, 2008 2:29PM EDT
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