While we do not have much control over the prices at the pump, we do have some control over efforts to save as much fuel as possible while we drive. Follow these gas saving tips to keep more fuel in your tank, and more money in your wallet.
Keep Your Cool
Aggressive driving tactics such as speeding, rapid acceleration and braking, wastes more gas than we realize. In fact, according to fueleconomy.gov, it can lower your gas mileage by 33% on the highway and by 5% in town.
Maintain your Vehicle
Taking your vehicle in for regular maintenance at the auto repair shop can help you save money at the pump. Old spark plugs, dirty filters, low fluid levels, poor alignment and improperly inflated tires all contribute to poor gas mileage.
Avoid Heavy Loads or Excess Weight
If you have accumulated excess junk in your trunk, clean it out and save money. Your vehicle has to work harder and uses more fuel to carry around all of those unnecessary items.
Keep Your Windows Closed at High Speeds
Open windows create drag, and drag leads to poor fuel economy.
Don’t Idle
Idling wastes gas and money. If you are stopped for more than 30 seconds, simply turn off the engine.
Coast to a Stop
Why hurry to stop? Rushing to red lights never gets anyone anywhere faster and only increases fuel costs. Brakes take the energy of the moving car and change it into heat energy, which is lost to the air. When you coast to a stop, you do not waste money converting that energy and end up at the same place in the long run, except with more fuel in the tank.
Use the right Oil
Simply by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil you can improve gas mileage by at least 1%. Some oils even come in “energy saving” options and contain friction-reducing additives to help increase efficiency.
Avoid Ethanol When Possible
Gasoline cut with ethanol decreases your miles per gallon and increases your fuel costs. Why? Gasoline stores more energy than ethanol so you need more of it to go the same distance.
Plan Your Trips
Save on extra driving and extra trips by planning your errands and your route. Putting in a little extra effort and holding off on extra trips will make the gas you have stretch further and provide more value for your dollar.
Better fuel economy does not happen in one step or result from one dramatic solution. Instead, it takes many small changes all aimed at keeping more change in your pocket.
