With gas exceeding $4.00 a gallon in many places and prices projected to rise even more, saving money on gas is again a hot topic. By now you've probably heard many of the common tips, but here's one that is a silent gas-guzzler: letting the engine idle. Sure, we all know that an idling engine uses a little bit of fuel, but did you know that in most cars it burns through about half a gallon per hour? I'm sure you aren't sitting around for an hour at a time with the engine running while you aren't going anywhere, but those little idle breaks add up. Waiting for a friend in the parking lot for 10 minutes here, sitting in line at the bank for five minutes there, and throughout the course of a week you may be unnecessarily idling for an hour without even realizing it. At today's prices that's a few bucks down the drain, or over $100 a year in wasted fuel costs.
So, if you're going to be sitting in one spot for more than a minute or so just turn the engine off. You may not notice a big savings on your next fill-up, but it will add up over time. And of course, here are a few other gas-saving tips.