As the presidential election cycle ramped up a month ago, Republican John McCain poked fun at Democrat Barak Obama for suggesting that proper tire inflation and regular engine tune-ups are key components to reducing the impact of the current fuel crisis.
Precisely, Obama suggested that if Americans maintained the optimum tire pressure and followed regular engine maintenance, the fuel savings would equal the amount of oil that could be derived from further offshore drilling being touted by McCain. Sensing an opportunity to gain control over the hot button issue of the year, McCain distilled Obama's energy plan to handing out pressure gauges to the electorate.
Now, I'm not dumb enough to get involved in a political debate here in the pages of EQ. But I also happen to think that many drivers - maybe even a few construction contractors - ignore recommendations to check tire inflation regularly and keep their vehicles properly tuned.
DO YOU FLOSS?
In fact, I'll bet tire pressure checking is a lot like flossing teeth for most people. You know you should do it regularly, but you only think about it the day before your next dental appointment or when you notice the truck riding a little low, whichever applies.
If my hunch is true, Obama might actually be onto something here. While his argument seems simplistic (and an easy target for jokes), Time magazine tested his theory and found some interesting numbers.
According to Time, the Bush Administration says expanded offshore oil drilling could increase oil production by 200,000 barrels per day, or about a 1 percent increase over current usage, by 2030. According to its efficiency sources, Time reports that proper tire inflation raises mileage by 3 percent and regular tune-ups add another 4 percent. If everyone would pay more attention to maintenance, the result would be an immediate reduction in demand for oil by several percentage points.
When it comes to the tires, I speak from personal experience. While I am a stickler for engine maintenance on my vehicles, I'll admit that I've been lazy on checking tire inflation over the years. I'd check the pressure before leaving on a big vacation or if I hauled a trailer, but that would be about the extent of it. Once in a while I'd check the tires during the first real cold days of winter, thinking they'd be low.
But recently, the fuel mileage on my car has been poorer than usual. So I had my mechanic look it over and I got more serious about checking tire inflation. With a tweak here or there and properly inflated tires, my mileage went back to close to where it should be.
And pressure-checking more regularly has provided a side benefit. I've become more aware of the condition of my tires.
I never thought I was one of those lacksidasical drivers who doesn't notice spent tires until the treads are gone and the steel belts are starting to poke through the rubber. But on my most recent pressure check, I noticed my front tires were down to the wear bars and President Lincoln's haircut was in full view when I did the penny check on the rears.
BUY A BETTER GAUGE
Previously I used a handful of the old-fashioned pencil-type gauges with stick indicators that pop out when you apply the gauge to a tire's valve stem. But these gauges are notoriously inaccurate. Don't believe me? Try using several pencil gauges on the same tire and you may get markedly different results. Or simply use the same gauge on the same tire several times. Sometimes the stick doesn't pop out and it's difficult to get a good, consistent air seal when applying these gauges to a valve.
You'll spend a few more dollars, but you can get a much better gauge today for less than $10, whether it's a better mechanical dial-style gauge or a digital gauge. Typically, sturdier gauges preferred by professional drivers cost $30 to $50 and up. It stands to reason that better gauges give more consistent results and help you keep tires inflated to the optimum range for fuel economy.
MORE BENEFITS
It's clear checking the tires pays off in better fuel economy, but there are other reasons to make sure you and your drivers include the task in daily or weekly truck inspections.
Longer tire life is another financial incentive. Just like your fuel, tires are made from petroleum products. If you've bought a set for one of your trucks recently, you know tire prices are never dropping. Conservative driving habits and proper tire inflation are the two most important things you can do to make sure your tires reach manufacturer's specs for tread wear and that they wear evenly.
Perhaps the most important payoff of proper tire inflation is the continued safety, both of your drivers and drivers and pedestrians they encounter on the road. Well-inflated tires keep the meat of the tire on the road at all times, and ensure firm, predictable handling in corners and while braking. This is especially critical for contractors who are often pulling a heavy payload in the bed or an equipment trailer. You can't afford to ride on mushy tires.
BONUS COMMON SENSE FUEL SAVING REMINDERS
Reduce idling
A caller to National Public Radio's Car Talk recently asked hosts Tom and Ray Magliozzi if it used less gas to leave a vehicle idling or turn it off and restart it when they duck into a store to run an errand. When I learned to drive, my dad told me it's better just to leave the car running when I stopped for a minute or two. He said the car used more gas starting up again than it would idling. Of course, this was in the Stone Age - or pre-fuel injection - when excess gasoline flooded the engine with every start.
Today, the Car Guys said, vehicles use far less gas starting up, and that it's always a good idea to turn the car off rather than idle. And if you think of all the time you spend idling - taking a cell call or reading a map or job order, for instance - you realize you can probably put a pretty good dent in your daily fuel consumption by turning the ignition key.
Find the speed sweet spot for fuel economy
I used to hover just above the 65 mph speed limit on the highway, high enough that I could get where I was going quickly without risking a speeding ticket. But when gas inched its way toward $4 a gallon, I let up on the accelerator ... And it made a difference. By dropping down to 59, 60 mph, I added as much as 3-4 miles per gallon.
Each vehicle is geared to get the best fuel economy at a certain speed - typically around 55 mph - and even slight increases can burn a lot more fuel. But I think there is another contributing factor to my own improvement. I find that when I drive at 60 or less, I seldom come up to slightly slower vehicles that I have to accelerate to get around. And fuel-wasting merging traffic usually sneaks in ahead of me, so I don't have to pull into the left lane, then accelerate to find my spot in the slow lane again.
Shed some pounds
No, I'm not talking about joining Weight Watchers, although dropping a few pounds would help many of us lead healthier lives. What I'm suggesting is that there's probably an excess 50 or 100 pounds of equipment you really don't need to carry to every job. As an example, I carry a bulky hitch receiver on one of my cars for when I haul a trailer. Of course, I only haul a trailer several times a year, so I should probably stow the chunk of steel I won't be needing for a while.
Have you used the jumper cables in the last few years? Do you carry heavy chains around all the time? What's in your toolbox that you really don't need? Do a toolbox inventory when you have a few minutes, and transfer to your workshop toolbox anything you haven't used in the field over the past year.