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Sip Your Gas

I grew up in the Flintstones' car. Actually, my father put a piece of wood over the rusted-out bottom-no need to propel the car with my feet. On rainy days, the wood plank had the added benefit of keeping splashes off my clothes. In winter, huge, plaid wool blankets kept out freezing cold wind. You could smell the fumes we were riding on.

To this day, I buy inexpensive cars and make a game of trying to get as close to 300,000 miles as possible. While my ride isn't always glamorous, it looks and smells better than some of the transportation I've had the privilege of trying in various parts of the world.

I got stuck on the top of a sandy mountain in China's Gobi Desert when my camel driver decided he wouldn't coerce my camel into descending unless I traded my armful of bracelets for a return ride home. "No way," I said, and began kicking old Camelus-38 years old she was-in the ribs, with legs that needed at least another two feet to even reach near her belly. My Uygur friend had a change of heart and convinced his ungulate to make tracks. Her jerking motions had me holding tight to her flopping, fuzzy hump, which needed several gallons of water to fill it. I tried holding it upright so I could lean back for the steep descent. Back on level ground, I heard the driver repeating over and over, "No way" with my intonation and accent. I guess he felt compensated with the free language lesson.

In China, it took me weeks to get up the courage to swing onto the outside of a moving bus and writhe my way inside to the masses. Once I rode to the end of the line because I couldn't figure out how to get off.

To this day I ask myself if the crawling body lice that decided to take up residence on me while riding the rails was worth the picturesque views of the River Li. With all seats on the 20-hour train ride taken, I sat on the floor with masses of other people, and it turned out, little vermin along for a free ride. I decide, "Yes."

My daily commute in Japan included being "pushed" into an already crowded train by white-gloved hands attached to serious, but ultra polite, men. "Surely, I must be the last person that can possibly fit into this car," I used to think. But, no, another 50 people were respectfully pushed in behind me to fill every crevice, like rice in a canister. Then, the train sped off to the next station, where more gloved hands waited to push in even more passengers.

When I can, I use public transportation, sans lice, but most of the time I have to drive. My most recently purchased vehicle, however, gets just okay gas mileage. I've queried my mechanic and friends, and read numerous articles on how to save money on the ever-increasing gas prices. I found a lot of contradictory information and some opinions backed by scientific studies. Here's how to sip and not guzzle.

• Driving slower seems to lead the top of the suggestions, along with braking correctly. Aggressive driving and a lead foot results in slamming on the brakes. Think, "Apply the brakes," just like your Driver's Ed teacher used to say.

• Reduce idling, which combines saving on gasoline and preserving the environment. Some suggest using neutral while waiting at stop lights. For long lines at drive-thrus, park and walk. Hey, you're getting exercise while you fill up on donuts and burgers!

• Watch where and when you drive. Change your route and avoid driving in traffic, and combine trips to drive less. Now you're sipping!

• When you take a trip to buy gas, don't get sucked into purchasing gas on a weekend, when prices go up. When filling up, use a gas card that offers incentives.

• I read conflicting reports on overinflating your tires, and buying gas early in the morning to reduce evaporation. I did get advice to keep the correct pressure in my tires and to make sure I have a gas cap. With today's emission requirements, it seems that evaporation isn't the problem it used to be-you can't really ride around on fumes. But I will take the advice about parking in the shade just so I don't sear off the back of my legs on a hot day.

• While cheap gas is not recommended, premium gas is not useful for all cars. Additives in cleaner gasoline can help engines run smoothly, as does doing regular maintenance, like changing the air filter. But, you can buy cheaper gas. Use your computer or phone to find the least-expensive gas in your neighborhood at GasBuddy. To find gas prices, use AAA's Fuel Gauge Report at fuelgaugereport.aaa.com.

• Extra weight is not fuel efficient, so take excess stuff out of your trunk and back seat. However, this does not mean you shouldn't carpool. That extra weight can translate into some real savings.

And, if all else fails and I run out of gas, at least I know I can ride a camel.

Naomi Migliacci is an international consultant who enjoys traveling and adventure. She collects friends and bracelets wherever she goes. She lives in Guilford.