I know what your thinking, "another blog about gas and mpg numbers?". My answer is yes, yet another blog about fuel consumption and such. Many of you have been calculating this figure for years, while to others it's a whole new concept. This post is more so for those not "in the know".

The reason I wanted to talk a little more about mpg is this; I am meeting people that still don't know what kind of mileage they get per gallon. I think this knowledge will make many think twice about two trips to the store, or letting the car run with the A/C on while waiting for the kids.

It's simple to do if you follow these steps;

1. When filling up your car , reset your odometer
2. Save your receipt from your fill up.
3. Own a calculator or use the one you didn't know you had on your cell phone.

Take the mileage from your vehicles and divide the amount of gallons you just put in your tank.

Some cars do the math for you in the OBC (On Board Computer)

Example; My last mileage prior to fill up was 293 miles. I added a total of 16.5 gallons of fuel to the tank. Simply divide the mileage by the gallons and poof...my mpg was 17.75.

getting near 18mpg out of a mid-sized truck isn't bad. Also unlike many Toyota trucks, I don't need to use 91 octane. With prices today the difference between 87 octane and 91 octane can mean $5 per tank! I trend even better on road trips coming in at about 20mpg.

The things I did to get the best possible mileage out of my little 5 cylinder was; add a high-flow air filter, open up the exhaust a little and keep the tires at proper inflation. Those little things make a difference in the long run.

Take a minute next time your at the pump and do the math. You may find that your mileage is considerably lower than expected. Feel free to send any questions you may have in reference to improving your mpg.

Happy motoring,

Lance

Well, I'm getting 40+ mpg today! I felt so inclined to ride the street bike and do my part on shrinking my carbon footprint just a bit more. Besides riding the bike a few days a week, I also now commute with my respective print reps to see clients at least twice a week. Every little bit helps not only the environment, but my wallet as well.

To some the high gas prices is a lifestyle change. I have a friend that now uses the metro to commute to/from work. The fuel savings is fair but he says the time savings is what made the case. Instead of pulling his hair out sitting behind the wheel, he now spend his commute time to read a book or surf the net.

I truly feel that mass transit is the wave of the future. Companies like Amtrak and Greyhound have struggled ever since the "me" era of the 80's. Thankfully they haven't gone away all together. These forms of mass transit may not find the full glory days they new yesteryear, but a second wind is definitely plausible.

You know I love to do math and give a specific example of justification, so here goes. I often go back to San Luis Obispo to see friends. Anytime possible I have always taken the train. One reason is the awesome scenary, the other was time to relax. It's about 240 miles round trip from my home in Camarillo to downtown SLO. At $4.50 p/gal for gas and an average mile-per-gallon of 20, It cost approximately $54. The actual fair for the trip is $64. Now, I know what your thinking; "Lance that doesn't sound like a better deal?!". If I factor in the wear and tear on my car, I think the additional $10 is well worth it.

Stop and think of what you can do to make a change. Give your car a tune up, take the train, ride a bike. Remember that traveling wisely makes a difference for everyone.

Happy commuting,

Lance

Sites:

www.Metrolinktrains.com

The season of shows is among us people. Rather your into a loud, obnoxious HD fatboy or a Mastercraft ski boat, this is the season for you. Who would think this country is on hard times what with all the toys and shows that come with them in California.

Why are we so seasonal with our hot rod shows and alike? After all, we are blessed with perfect weather over 10 months out of the year. Either way, I'm finding myself having to decide between a boat show in Ventura or a car show in old town Camarillo this weekend. These decisions definitely help keep me from expensive road trips and getaways.

Like most, I also feel the squeeze of a tough economy and feel the need to watch my spending. If you're in the same boat, take in a local show. Entries to events are often free or very inexpensive. We have a list of all current events in our Wheels section of the paper every Saturday. They can also be found on our Star cars site at: http://cars.venturacountystar.com simply look under the Car Club News link at the lower left.

I will be assisting in hosting the 1st Annual Ventura Motorsports Gathering this Sunday (July 20th). Instead of the classic hot rod show , This show is focusing on the "driver's car". Come out and say hello and enjoy entertainment and fine autos.

Events for this weekend include:

The Boat Show is at Channel Islands Harbor
Show times are Fri. noon-7p. Sat. 10a-7p. Sun 10a-5p
Visit www.ci-boatshow.com

Events set for July 20th include:

Jalopy Joe's monthly Car Show
Noon-3p at the shop in Ventura
1419 E. Santa Clara St., Ventura

Cheers,

Lance