Saving Money at the Gas Pump

While the price of gasoline has dropped considerably from its peak in the summer of 2008, filling up the tank is still expensive. Buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle may be the best long-term solution, but many of us are unable to do that. Yet doing just a few simple things can be good for both your budget and the environment. Maintaining your vehicle and changing some of your driving habits not only saves you money at the gas pump, but also reduces your overall consumption of fuel. Your Vehicle Make sure your tires are properly inflated. Underinflated tires not only reduce your gas mileage, they also wear out faster. Check the owner’s manual for your vehicle to find the recommended tire inflation. Next time you buy tires, consider steel-belted radials. They can increase your gas mileage by up to 10%. rnMaintain your vehicle. Schedule regular tune-ups and oil changes based on your vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations. Most recommend an oil change every 3,000 miles. Putting off this chore can increase your vehicle’s fuel consumption by more than 25%. Get rid of extra weight. Having a trunk, back seat, or pickup bed full of stuff can reduce your gas mileage. Take out anything you don’t absolutely need, and keep only basic emergency equipment in your vehicle. Use the lowest octane grade of gasoline. Refer to your owner’s manual for guidance on this, but unless your engine is knocking or pinging, there is really no need to buy the higher-priced premium grade. rnMake sure your gas cap fits securely. A gas cap with a poor seal can allow almost a gallon of gasoline to evaporate over a period of two weeks. rnAvoid long warm-ups. Even on cold mornings it doesn’t take more than a minute to warm up your vehicle’s engine. rnUse your air conditioner wisely. On the highway rolling up the windows and turning on the air conditioning decreases wind resistance, which in turn decreases fuel consumption. But around town it is generally better to roll the windows down and turn the AC off. Your Driving Habits Always accelerate gently. Rapid starts and hard braking can increase fuel consumption by as much as 40%. Paying attention to stoplights and traffic patterns up ahead allows you to take your foot off the gas and brake smoothly. Avoiding fast stops and starts is also easier on your transmission. Maintain a steady speed on the highway. Increasing your speed from 55mph to 75mph can increase your fuel consumption by as much as 20%. On flat stretches cruise control is helpful, but when you are approaching a hill it causes the engine to work harder to keep the designated speed. Turn the cruise control off when traveling on a hilly road. Coast whenever possible. Take your foot off the gas when going downhill. You can also coast when approaching stop signs, or parking lot entrances, just be sure you are paying attention to traffic around you. Avoid rush hour traffic. Starting your commute a few minutes earlier or later helps you to avoid fuel -wasting stopping and starting, or idling in traffic jams. Other Ways to Save Plan your route carefully. Combine several errands into one trip. Going out to the bank, then later to the grocery store uses more gas. Your car’s engine is more fuel efficient when it is already warmed up, so planning your route and your stops ahead of time can save you both time and money. Shop around for gas. Check websites like www.gasbuddy.com to find the cheapest gas in your area. Pay cash at gas stations that charge a fee for using credit or debit cards. If you are really serious about saving money, consider using public transportation or see if there is someone at work that you can carpool with. And consider walking whenever possible; it is the oldest and least expensive form of transportation, and has the added benefit of being good for you.