If you’ve been breathing oxygen lately, then I don’t have to tell you about the sky-rocketing price of gasoline. So, I thought some gas and money-saving tips were in order.
Guess what? Many of the same techniques that save gas also save lives! It’s a good day, isn’t it?
- Slow Down and Cruise – It may be fun to drive fast. (I know it’s dangerous and illegal.) But your gas gauge will move down faster, too. Keep a constant speed, and use cruise control and/or overdrive if you have them. 55 mph is a lot more fuel-efficient than 65 or 75.
- Easy Does It – Quick starts and stops waste fuel, aren't exactly good for your vehicle in the long term, and cause accidents.
- Lose Weight – No, not you. The car. The more weight you carry in your vehicle, the more gas you use. Is your trunk full of junk? Take it out. If you're not using that luggage rack, take it off.
- Get A Tune Up – Fuel efficiency suffers when a car isn’t running well.
Replace Air Filters – Dirty air filters can reduce gas mileage by up to 10% according to a statistics. - Inflate Tires Properly – Low tire pressure hurts gas mileage. High tire pressure is dangerous. Check your tire pressure regularly and keep it just right. Plus, make sure your wheels are properly aligned.
- Shop Around – Do you really need “name brand” gasoline in your car? Maybe you do. If your engine is knocking you may need better gas or a higher octane. But if not, you might be able to save 10 cents per gallon by doing a little shopping.
- Use a Lower Octane – Like I said, your car may need a high octane fuel. But most cars are fine on regular. Check your owner’s manual if you’re not sure. And pay attention to performance.
Combine Errands – Avoid a lot of short trips by combining errands into one. - Travel During Off Times – The less time you spend in traffic, the better your gas mileage. If you can, try to run errands when the roads are less congested.
- Find a Buddy and Carpool – Leave one of those cars at home and split the cost of gas. Find another buddy and save even more!
Avoid Excessive Idling – What’s the gas mileage while you’re idling? Zero! Yes, starting the engine uses fuel, but if you’re just sitting there shooting the bull with someone, shut off your engine. (You’ll both appreciate the quiet, too.)