Preserving Gas: Tips for Low Consumption Driving
One of the biggest debates in the realm of disaster survival is whether to bug out or hunker down when chaos ensues. If you choose the former, you’re arguably in for a bit more difficulty. Disasters around the world have demonstrated that people will head for the hills upon hearing about the coming of a dire situation. Traffic on interstates, highways, and local roads will all turn to a standstill. People pack up their cars and flee their homes for the nearest area of safety.
Couple that with the fact that most of us live in areas considered urban and suburban. This will make both short-range and long-distance travel particularly dangerous, given the masses of unprepared individuals en route at the same time.
To some, the solution comes as a fully equipped bug out vehicle. This could be a 4×4 SUV, a pickup truck, ATV, motorcycle, camper van, or something much bigger and capable.
Depending on the vehicle you choose, you could reach a destination hundreds of miles away within a few hours. Meanwhile, attempting to do this on foot could take days, or longer.
Most preppers agree that less time you spend on the road, less da
nger you’ll face along the way. For that reason, you will need a vehicle that is not only fast, protective, and off-road capable, but gas-efficient as well.
Whether you go with the family’s sedan or opt for a terrain vehicle, your main goal when bugging out is to get far away as quickly as possible. With that in mind, larger and heavier vehicles are bound to come with a drawback in the fuel department. More, these types of vehicles stand out like a sore thumb when compared to your everyday cars, trucks, and vans. The ability to remain unnoticeable and safe when navigating through heavily populated and hostile areas, is just as important as your vehicle’s fuel economy.
Still, your vehicle of choice will be largely dependent upon your environment and the disaster you’re preparing for. The choice remains yours whether to purchase a designated bug out vehicle or update your daily commuter car for a SHTF contingency.
But regardless of choice, the biggest concern for any bug out vehicle is fuel range. Above all other aspects, a bug out vehicle should be prepared and maintained to provide the best possible fuel economy.
Weight Control
For starters, weight is one of the biggest factors deciding a vehicle’s fuel range. Removing any unnecessary equipment, supplies, or people from your car will inevitably translate to lower fuel consumption. That also means stripping the vehicle itself down of any unneeded aftermarket parts. These things reduce the vehicle’s aerodynamics and add weight, which translates to fewer miles.
Some preppers advocate that a bug out vehicle should contain as much food, water, and gear as you can carry. However, your chances of consuming everything on route are quite slim. So is your possibility of taking what’s left with you upon reaching your destination. For that reason, a 72-hour bug out bag for each family member is all the gear you’ll need in the car. Everything else can be found along the way or upon finding safety.
Acceleration Control
You can also save on fuel by easing your pressure on the accelerator. Slamming the pedal to the floor every time you accelerate consumes significantly more fuel than applying less and gradual pressure.
Most vehicles are also at their most efficient when cruising in their highest gear at a moderately low speed (40-50 mph).
Though your goal will be to get out of dodge as quickly as possible, you should still pay attention to your rate of acceleration and cruising speed. Driving fast may serve to get you out of dodge quickly, but doing so could stop you short of safety if your pedal’s to the metal.
Tires Pressure & Maintenance
Despite seeming trivial, underinflated tires can significantly lower a vehicle’s fuel economy by miles per gallon. Keeping them properly inflated will improve your vehicle’s fuel performance. It will also make for much safer travel across on and off-road terrain.
You should always strive to stay current with preventative maintenance on your car. This means the normal fuel, fluid, and filter changes in addition to addressing any engine problems indicated by the light on your dashboard. What may seem like nothing could be a dead oxygen sensor or related emissions problems that keeps your vehicle from performing.
Fuel and Engine
In today’s economy, most drivers opt for whatever gas is cheapest at the pump. Though some modern cars suggest using higher-octane fuel, most can still run on regular without any consequential long-term effects. Cars with superchargers and modified intake systems usually mandate the use of premium gas. But if your car is rated for regular gasoline there’s reason to pay more at the pump.
Diesel engines are something to be considered, as they have much greater lifespan than typical engines and can be run using homemade bio-diesel fuel. In a long-term survival situation, gas could become a scare commodity and mandate the use of alternate sources of fuel. However, it’s still advised that bug out vehicles running on regular gas carry one or two jerry cans of extra fuel that gets rotated into use regularly.
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the perfect bug out vehicle. Deciding to brave the roads after a disaster, will confront you with challenges along the way, making it necessary to choose a vehicle capable to handle a variety of contingencies. Compromise has to be made, as no bug out vehicle can have it all.
But decide on a bug out vehicle comes second: you have to establish a bug out plan first. Obviously, you’ll need to know where you intend to go before choosing a vehicle and route to get your there. Always have a backup plan and alternate route, as roads are bound to be closed, blocked, or jammed when SHTF.
Find out more about long term survival on Prepper’s Blueprint.
Photo sources: Dreamstime.
12,764 total views, 93 views today
Source: http://www.survivopedia.com/preserving-gas-bugging-tips-consumption-driving/
