By Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter
As gasoline prices across the Triangle approach $ 5 a gallon, drivers are more reluctant to fill up, leaving some stranded with empty tanks and others simply deciding to stay closer to home.
“I’m thinking I should stop driving so much,” Robert Rouse told WRAL News as he finished his tank.
Phillip Locke said he has been budgeting for money and gas, only buying a few gallons at a time.
“Just enough to spend a couple of days and then do it again,” he said.
With the price fluctuating (but mostly rising) daily, Locke takes a risk. And drivers who let their tank get too close to the void risk an even higher cost, according to Joey Menditto, with Benchmark Auto in Raleigh.
“Try to keep it above a quarter [tank] in most cars, “Menditto said.
Anything less can cause structural problems.
“Fuel actually keeps the fuel pump cool, and with the outside temperature and everything else, you’ll burn the pump, fail, and be on the side of the road waiting for the crane. To pick you up,” Menditto said. .
A new fuel pump, he says, could cost more than a thousand dollars.
Rouse has traded driving or cycling in much of his hometown.
“Once gas prices hit $ 4.20, that’s when it significantly affected my life and my lifestyle,” he said. “I’m using my bike more often than ever.”
The North Carolina average ($ 4.66 per gallon according to AAA) is 52 cents more than just a month ago and $ 1.78 more than we were paying a year ago. The price of diesel is even more painful: $ 5.76 a gallon, up from $ 3.07 a year ago.
Menditto reminded drivers that the way they drive can affect the fuel efficiency that a car can be.
“Try to lower the throttle and use the brakes less,” he said. “Every time you touch the gas pedal you also have to use the brakes.”
Read how to save gas and check out these other AAA tips:
- Combine orders to limit driving time.
- Buy the best gasoline prices in your community.
- Pay in cash. Some retailers charge more per gallon to customers who pay by credit card.
- Remove excess weight from your vehicle. Every 100 pound shots of the vehicle improves fuel economy by 1-2 percent.
- Drive conservatively. Aggressive acceleration and speed reduce fuel economy.
Patrick De Haan, head of oil analysis at GasBuddy, said he hoped prices would continue to rise until enough drivers change their habits to reduce demand.
Some experts believe the national average of a gallon of gasoline could reach $ 6 in August.