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CNN Live At Daybreak
Some Things Drivers Can Do to Get Better Mileage
Aired August 29, 2003 - 05:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well, today does kick off that long Labor Day weekend, the last chance for summer fun for many of us. AAA expects more than 33 million people to travel more than 50 miles from home this weekend. It is expected to be the busiest travel weekend for a Labor Day since 1995. And gas prices may put a damper on your holiday travel. Pump prices remain near record levels across the country.
But as CNN's Julie Vallese reports, there are some things drivers can do to get better mileage.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the drivers in California who are digging deepest in their pockets to fill up at the pump, $2.10 a gallon, according to the Energy Information Administration. But they're not alone.
JUSTIN MCNAULL, AAA: Every state in the country is up this year. There are only a couple that aren't up more than a dime. But there are many states that are up $0.20, $0.30 a gallon compared to where they were just three weeks ago.
VALLESE: Gasoline prices are setting records all across the nation.
MCNAULL: The national average was $1.735. That's puts us a penny and a half above the record we hit just before the Iraq war.
VALLESE: And those pennies add up to dollars. But commuters and vacationers can keep a few more of them in their pockets without spinning their wheels.
MCNAULL: If you have an extra 100 pounds of gear in your trunk that you don't need, if you don't plan on golfing, get the golf clubs out of the trunk.
VALLESE: Experts say that can increase fuel economy by one or two percent. A mechanic will tell you cleaning fuel injectors can increase gas mileage by as much as five percent. And maintaining your tires and getting a tune-up can rev up your fuel economy by as much as 10 percent.
(on camera): Our experts say if your car doesn't require premium gasoline, switch to one of the lower grades. It's cheaper and your car could get more miles to the gallon.
(voice-over): No one is willing to predict exactly when gas prices will go down, except to say in the coming months.
In Washington, I'm Julie Vallese.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Connecticut Governor John Rowland has now called for an investigation into these high gas prices. We'll talk with him about that in the next hour of DAYBREAK, around 6:30 Eastern time.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired August 29, 2003 - 05:38 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Well, today does kick off that long Labor Day weekend, the last chance for summer fun for many of us. AAA expects more than 33 million people to travel more than 50 miles from home this weekend. It is expected to be the busiest travel weekend for a Labor Day since 1995. And gas prices may put a damper on your holiday travel. Pump prices remain near record levels across the country.
But as CNN's Julie Vallese reports, there are some things drivers can do to get better mileage.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JULIE VALLESE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It's the drivers in California who are digging deepest in their pockets to fill up at the pump, $2.10 a gallon, according to the Energy Information Administration. But they're not alone.
JUSTIN MCNAULL, AAA: Every state in the country is up this year. There are only a couple that aren't up more than a dime. But there are many states that are up $0.20, $0.30 a gallon compared to where they were just three weeks ago.
VALLESE: Gasoline prices are setting records all across the nation.
MCNAULL: The national average was $1.735. That's puts us a penny and a half above the record we hit just before the Iraq war.
VALLESE: And those pennies add up to dollars. But commuters and vacationers can keep a few more of them in their pockets without spinning their wheels.
MCNAULL: If you have an extra 100 pounds of gear in your trunk that you don't need, if you don't plan on golfing, get the golf clubs out of the trunk.
VALLESE: Experts say that can increase fuel economy by one or two percent. A mechanic will tell you cleaning fuel injectors can increase gas mileage by as much as five percent. And maintaining your tires and getting a tune-up can rev up your fuel economy by as much as 10 percent.
(on camera): Our experts say if your car doesn't require premium gasoline, switch to one of the lower grades. It's cheaper and your car could get more miles to the gallon.
(voice-over): No one is willing to predict exactly when gas prices will go down, except to say in the coming months.
In Washington, I'm Julie Vallese.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: Connecticut Governor John Rowland has now called for an investigation into these high gas prices. We'll talk with him about that in the next hour of DAYBREAK, around 6:30 Eastern time.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
