Keeping Your Costs Down on a Cheap Road Trip

Have you been watching the price of gasoline over the last couple of days? We have and we've seen the price jump from $2.45 to $2.57 over the last three days at one station and rise from $2.52 to $2.65. It's a trend that will likely continue at least through the holidays as people drive to Grandma's and as more heating oil is produced, cutting the supply of gas.

Don't be discouraged, though, you can still have a cheap road trip -- one that keeps your gas costs down -- by doing some basic maintenance right now. That maintenance should include having your mechanic check to see if your car is in tune. A poorly tuned car can cost you 4 miles per gallon (mpg) right from the start. And, make sure your tires are at their proper pressure. You can find a good tire air gauge at your local AutoZone or NAPA store. Tire gauges can cost as little as $2.50 or as much as $10 or $15, depending on just how fancy you want to be. Ours cost about $2.75 and it works well.

It's always a good idea not only to start out a road trip with a check of your car's tuneup, but also an oil, filter and lube. You can have it down at a quick lube franchise Valvoline or Jiffy Lube or your dealership. At any of the franchise stores, you will find the work quick and efficient and general cost about $25 or $30. Some dealers actively compete in this area and since they are dealers, they can cut costs to the $15 range and you can schedule the oil change at your convenience.

Use, good synthetic 5W30 weight oil such as Mobil 1 because it not only helps keep your engine running smoothly, but it also cuts internal energy losses that are a function of a car. You will find the cost of a six-quart case of Mobil 1 is about $46.95 or about $7.83 per bottle, but it is worth it. Over the life of a 12,000-mile-per-year driving experience, you'll save about $146.

Finally, you can program the GPS unit in your car, asking it to find the lowest cost gas stations along your route. Devices by Garmin and Tom-Tom . You can ask these devices to provide you with information on the lowest cost gas stations on your route or you can ask for a route that has them included and you can use that route. These devices are very available at Best Buy or a similar store and the should cost between $125 and $179.

sources: Mobil, Autozone, Jiffy Lube, Best Buy