Fuel economist Joe Stronsick on saving money on gas this summer

Joe Stronsick on CNN

Joe Stronsick is the author of "How to Get up to $7 worth of Free Gas Every Time You Fill Up." From motor oil to spark plugs, Stronsick offers tips for helping save money at the gas pump. He lives in Los Angeles.

CNN Moderator: Welcome to CNN.com Newsroom, Joe Stronsick. Thanks for joining us today.

Joe Stronsick: Hello, everybody, and I hope that you're able to get some clear ideas on how to save more money at the pump.

CNN Moderator: When and why did you decide to take up your quest to economize fuel?

Joe Stronsick: I'm originally from Cleveland, Ohio, and remember the days when gas was 99 cents and we'd complain when it went to a dollar. I moved to Los Angeles in 1996, and I got hit with the smog, gas prices way higher than what I was used to, and I was driving a Ford Ranger, getting 13 miles per gallon. And here in LA, we have drive on highways to get anywhere.

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Question from chat room: Hi Joe, do you offer advice on how to drive in a way that achieves greater fuel efficiency?

Joe Stronsick: There are steps that everyone has to do already. For example, changing the oil, spark plugs, air filters. But what we need to know, as consumers, is that there are better choices of products that will give us better fuel economy. For example, synthetic oil with the key words "energy-conserving" on the back logo, will give you an increase of fuel economy of five percent, and you do not have to change the oil at 3,000 miles. A synthetic oil can last 10,000 to 15,000 miles before you have to change it.

Question from chat room: Do they sell different grades of gas during the summer?

Joe Stronsick: During the summer, they do. The chemical composition of gas is different. But consumers need to know that oil companies these days use less crude oil and add their own aromatic chemicals to the gas to save money. Often, consumers call it "watered down" gas. Generally speaking, during the summers, they do add a little more aromatics while raising the price of gas, because we travel.

Question from chat room: Is watered down gas harmful to the car engines?

Joe Stronsick: Yes! Cars these days are not able to burn the aromatic properties as efficiently as they should. All cars require a fuel-injection clean out at 30,000 miles. That is because those aromatic properties added by the oil companies give you less fuel economy, clog up fuel injectors, and build up carbon and varnish in the engine. So, if you do look at your gauge in terms of what you're getting in terms of miles per gallon, once you see it drop by any amount, there's a good chance that it's due to the aromatics, or the watered down gas.

Question from chat room: Why are gas prices always high on the west coast?

Joe Stronsick: I think 78 percent of all SUV sales are on the west coast. Knowing that, SUVs are huge over here, and get horrible fuel economy, they take advantage of that.

Question from chat room: I think people got sick and tired of those flimsy cars of the '80s that got great gas mileage but felt like they were made of aluminum foil, and that's why SUVs became the vehicle of the 90s. Can they make fuel-efficient vehicles that also allows the consumer to feel they're in a sturdy and safe vehicle?

Joe Stronsick: The reason SUVs became popular is because the Detroit car manufacturers found a loophole in the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards. This tax break allowed these manufacturers to put out vehicles that got horrible fuel economy, at the same time getting paid by the oil companies to release these vehicles. Yes, the cars they do drive in Europe and Germany that get 70+ miles per gallon still have six cylinders, and they run them on the Autobahn.

Question from chat room: Hey Joe - where does that money go that we are paying extra for gas, since the price of crude hasn't gone up by nearly the same percentage as the price of gasoline? Shouldn't the oil companies have cleaned up enough cash to build 100 refineries by now?

Joe Stronsick: That is correct! I think CNN three or four days ago had profits on the oil companies. They're showing more gains than ever. I don't know how to answer that question, I apologize, but I know they're making a killing.

Question from chat room: How expensive are fuel prices in Europe compared to those of the U.S.?

Joe Stronsick: In Europe, a gallon of gas is approximately six dollars. But, the cars in Europe do get fifty to seventy miles per gallon. So, my fear is that if Americans keep pushing for better fuel-economy cars, we will continually see the gas prices rise.

CNN Moderator: Could the automobile manufacturers do more to build fuel-efficient vehicles?

Joe Stronsick: They have. In Europe, the Volkswagen Lupo gets 90 miles per gallon. General Motors makes a car that gets 80 miles per gallon, called the Precept. But again, when you talk about releasing those kinds of cars, the oil companies take a loss, and they will not allow that. Key note: 90 percent of the world is run off of big oil.

Question from chat room: Where in Los Angeles can you find cheap fuel?

Joe Stronsick: Hmmmm. I can't answer that question, because I have a hard time finding cheap fuel. The non-name gas stations, such as Ultramar, usually are five to ten cents cheaper than the big name gas stations.

Question from chat room: Joe do you think that a nation-wide strike or boycott against prices would help?

Joe Stronsick: Great question! The answer to that is yes and no! I do agree with boycotting, particularly Shell and Mobil, because they are the price leaders, and everyone follows what they set the price for. So, if you can boycott those stations, and go to the cheaper gas stations, maybe something can be done.

Question from chat room: What is the most fuel efficient car in the U.S.? The GM car?

Joe Stronsick: The most fuel-efficient car in the United States is the Toyota Prius, or the Honda Insight.

Question from chat room: Why don't the SUV companies make a gas/electric hybrid car?

Joe Stronsick: They do. 2004, all the Detroit car manufacturers will have an SUV that is half-gas, half-electric. Some will even have two electric motors working on both axles.

Question from chat room: Vehicle fuel consumption has nothing to do with the high price of gas today. Why six months ago gas was at a all-time low and now the oil companies are simply speculators with oil. Why doesn't government investigate?

Joe Stronsick: On CNN last week, the topic was, "Can Bush really make an impact on fuel economy?" The answer that everyone was saying is that when you go up against lobbyists and big oil, it's a dangerous game.

CNN Moderator: What are some of the most surprising things you discovered about saving money on gas?

Joe Stronsick: The most surprising thing I have found is that they do have vehicles that can run on water and hydrogen peroxide. These cars get 100+ miles per gallon, and have zero emissions.

Question from chat room: Joe I heard that some police cars are using battery operated cars that can switch to fuel when necessary; is that true?

Joe Stronsick: The zoo also uses all electric cars, and some police departments, too. Yes, it's true.

Question from chat room: How long do you think the American public put up with this subliminal message of "smoke, drink, burn fuel, be happy" message?

Joe Stronsick: That's good... that's good. [laughing] I don't have an answer, though!

Question from chat room: Hey Joe, do you believe that the government should spend more of it's money on finding an alternate energy source instead of spending money on making fuel cheaper?

Joe Stronsick: They already know ways to run cars more efficiently, and ways of engines using different types of fuels. Again, the problem runs into the "mafia" type oil companies. They will not allow this technology to enter the marketplace, because they will go out of business.

CNN Moderator: Do you have any final thoughts for us today?

Joe Stronsick: Make a better choice in what you use in motor oil. Spark plugs such as a Bosch or a Halo will give you better fuel economy by 10 percent. They last 100,000+ miles. Add four to six extra pounds in each tire... it equals two to three more miles per gallon without any tire degradation. And, to combat the "watered down gasoline," use a quality fuel additive. That will also give you more miles per gallon. And please... in Europe and Germany, consumers constantly complain about the price of gas. So, in America, we need to constantly complain about the price of gas, so that the car manufacturers will start releasing some of their technology, so we can get better fuel economy. My book is "How to get up to seven dollars worth of free gas every time you fill up". It can be ordered at Amazon.com or through www.iwantfreegas.com.

CNN Moderator: Thank you for joining us today, Joe Stronsick. Thanks for your good advice.

Joe Stronsick: Good bye! Thank you for asking the questions!

Joe Stronsick joined the chat from Los Angeles. CNN provided a typist. The above is an edited transcript of the interview on Thursday, May 31, 2001.

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