10 Gas Saving Tips
Even if only one tire is not properly inflated according to the owner's manual, you could be using up to one percent more gas. In addition to saving on gas, having four properly inflated tires helps to lessen the wear and tear on them.
Your trunk may seem like like an ideal storage space but when trying to save on gas, it isn't. The more weight you carry, the more work the car must do to accelerate, which in the end means higher gas consumption.
You can reduce the drain on your fuel tank simply by accelerating and braking more gently and avoiding driving at high speeds for prolonged periods of time.
Many people think that by not using air conditioning and rolling down the windows they are saving on gas, which is partly true. But having the windows rolled down increases the drag forces on the car, resulting in an extra 10 percent use of fuel. That's not bad, compared to the 20 percent of fuel wasted by air conditioning. But the smartest option is to save air conditioning for the highway, when the car will certainly be affected by drag forces, and roll the windows down when driving in a city or town setting.
By making sure your engine is tuned up at all times, you will use less gas. Also it is good for the health and longevity of your car to get routine tune-ups, oil changes, and filter changes.
Even with the car turned off, you can still be wasting fuel if you park in a very hot, sunny area. Gas is a substance that evaporates very easily, and parking in a sunny area will speed up the process.
Either a zip code or a city name on the website Gasbuddy.com, and find the lowest gas prices for your area. The price difference from one station to another can be dramatic, but even if it's just a few cents cheaper than your usual station, those cents add up over time. The website is updated daily to keep you informed on where the cheapest gas is hiding.
By planning even a small trip for errands in advance, you can evaluate which route will be most efficient for all the places you need to go. You can also try and avoid areas of high traffic that result in mainly stop-and-go driving, which is one of the biggest drains on fuel.
The best time to fill up is on a weekday. Specifically, gas prices tend to be lowest on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Also if you fill up on a colder day, you will get more gas for your dollar because gasoline expands its volume when it is warmer and contracts when it is cooler.
By keeping your gas cap as tight as possible, you limit the evaporation of gas into vapors and the escape of those gas vapors, which will keep more gas in your tank and limit your waste.