How to save money on gas
With the price of oil always fluctuating, and the increasing need for transportation, learning how to save money on gas can be very beneficial. Of course there are some ways to save money on gas, just as there are ways to save money on just about anything.
The following is a look at how to save money on gas by how you drive:
The most efficient way to save money on gas is to use less gas in your driving. If you can make your car more fuel efficient, you can go further for less money. There are some basic things you can do to spend less and save more on gas.
Drive less.
This does not make your car more fuel efficient, but it will help you save money on gas. If you do not need to go somewhere, don't. If you can combine errands that is a good idea. When you run your errands, take the most efficient route. For example, do not run one way then the other, then the other. Instead, plan your outings so that you can drive as little as possible, and get your errands done in one trip.
Other ways to drive less include car pooling with others, walking to places that are close by, and taking public transportation. These are not as convenient, but they will be beneficial. For example, car pooling not only saves you money, it also helps you to save the environment a little. Walking is going to help you save gas, but it is also going help you be more fit physically and healthier. Taking public transit is going to help you save money, and help your car last longer.
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Keep your car in good repair.
One of the biggest things you can do for yourself if you want to improve your fuel efficiency of your car is to keep your car in good repair. This means do not run it onto its last leg, but get regular oil changes, and tune ups. Getting a tune up can really help you save money on gas. If your fuel lines are clean, your air filter is clean, and your car is all tuned up, then your car will run more smoothly, and thus require less fuel to get you from point A to point B. Use a synthetic oil instead of mineral oil. This will cause your engine to run better and give you better mileage. Clogged air filters make the car engine work harder, and use more fuel.
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The right tire pressure Having the right tire pressure great affects your ability to get good gas mileage and the most life out of your tires. If your tire pressure is off, your car will not run as efficiently, so you will have to use more fuel, and your car will not distribute weight as it should, causing premature wear to your tires. Your car has a specific tire pressure that will give the best gas mileage, handling and tire life for that car. Each car is different, but it is not difficult to determine what the right PSI is for your car, as it is typically written right on the door of the car, and is also in the owner's manual. If you can't find it in either of these places you can usually type in the make and model as well as the year into the internet to find out the right tire pressure for your car. If you still can not find it, then use the following rule of thumb: Most passenger cars will recommend 32 to 35 psi in the tires when they're cold. You check your tire pressure when the tires are cold because as you drive, friction between them and the road generates heat, and heat creates more pressure. So if you want to make your sure tire pressure is right, try and get a consistent reading. The best way to do this is to let the car sit over night, and check the pressure before you drive it. Of course, if you do not want to wait over night, then let the car sit for a few hours or so, before checking the pressure. When trying to get the right tire pressure, the best thing you can do is take your car to a tire shop, but if you are doing it yourself, just be sure that you do not inflate your tires to the pressure listed on the tire itself. That number is the maximum pressure the tire can hold, not the recommended pressure for the vehicle. If your tires are over inflated the car will be bouncy and harder to handle. |
Drive slower.
If you want to save money on gas, and be more fuel efficient, then you want to drive at a slower pace. The fact is that between 45 and 55 miles per hour is going to be far more fuel efficient then 60-65 miles per hour.
Avoid idling.
If you want to save money on gas, do not pay for gas to go no where. This means zero fuel efficiency. If you are going to be stopped for more than six seconds, even at traffic lights, you actually use less fuel restarting your car then you will leaving it idle.
Clean out your car.
If you want to save money on gas, then get rid of any extra stuff in your car. If you are lugging around heavy items, you are paying for that. Making your car heavier means lost fuel efficiency. So, clean it out regularly. In addition to that, get rid of bike and ski racks because they create drag and reduce your fuel efficiency.
Don't accelerate or decelerate too quickly.
You use gas to accelerate your car. If you punch on the gas to accelerate quickly, it is going to use more gas than if you accelerate gradually. Do not race off the line at stop lights and signs as this is really not very fuel efficient. In addition, do not slam on your breaks. You are paying to go fast by speeding up and using fuel to do so. When you slam on your breaks you are wasting all the money you used to get going that fast in the first place. Let your car naturally slow down so that any fuel you pay for you use.
Keep your tires at the right pressure.
Having your car tires properly inflated is going to help your car drive more smoothly, and thus, be more fuel efficient. Basically think of your car like a body. The closer it is to perfect, the more efficiently it runs. You need less fuel to run a car that is driving on appropriately filled tires. Check your air pressure regularly and rotate your tires as needed.
Keep windows up when driving at high speeds.
If you are driving on the freeway you want to keep your windows up. If they are down and you are going at speeds above 40 miles per hour or so, then you are going to have drag that slows you down, and thus requires more fuel to go faster. This is a great way to kill your fuel efficiency. So, if you are hot, run the AC if you are driving at high speeds. It is going to be less fuel efficient, but not as bad as if you were to roll down your windows.
Do not use your AC when driving around town.
If you are driving around town, you are going to find that you lose fuel efficiency if your air conditioner is on. So, as long as your speed is not exceeding forty, it is more fuel efficient to simply keep your windows down and let air flow cool down your car.
The following is a look at how to save money on gas at the pump:
Use the fuel with the lowest octane that your car can take.
Low-octane "regular" gas is usually all that is required, but you will want to check your owner manual to see what your car requires. Octane is only a rating of the fuel's resistance to engine-damaging pre-ignition in high-performance engines. If you do not have a high performance engine, you really do not need high octane fuel. If you buy higher octane fuel than you need, you are wasting money. However, if you do not buy the right amount, you could damage your car by creating carbon deposits on your engine. This is because it is not being burned as completely as lower octane fuel would be.
Also remember that engines need less octane at higher altitudes. If your engine does not "knock" on regular, paying more for a higher octane rating is a waste since the increased octane makes no significant improvement to gas mileage and it is no better for your engine. All available fuels have detergent and additive packages. So, while you can buy more expensive fuel if you wish, or buy fuel with even extra cleaning powers, but it is a waste of money.
Use websites like GasBuddy.com to find the cheapest gas at nearby stations.
If you want to save money at the pump, then make sure you are picky about which pump you go to. You can use the Internet to find the cheapest gas near you. Some sites offer text messaging capabilities, where they will send you the a text message with the location of the cheapest gas in your area. This is really useful if you are going to be out and about when you need gas. If you can use the following three sites, MapQuest, GasBuddy.com, and GasPricesRelief.com you will save at the pump because you will be able to find the cheapest stations, get the fastest and best directions to get there, and you will have a free gas card to help you get discounts at almost any gas station. Just remember, if you have to drive way out of the way, or wait in long lines, the savings may not be worth it.
Use rewards gas cards that offer you a cash back percentage.
There are some great credit cards out there that offer rewards for gas purchases. For example, you might be able to get a higher percentage, sometimes 2-3% if you use the card at the pump. Using your card every time you buy gas means that you will save 2-3% each time you buy gas. Of course, this is not a huge savings, but compared to no percentage, it is a big savings.
Use a club or membership gas card.
Many times gas is cheaper in clubs or memberships. You can save money by joining the clubs, or getting memberships. For example, Costco often offers gas pumps at their warehouses, and you can save 5-10 cents a gallon over a nearby gas station. Of course, this is going to cost you money upfront to get the membership, but if you want to save on groceries as well, it will be worth it. If you do not want to buy a membership you can always get the free memberships from places like Maverick, etc. and still get a discount. Other places offer discounts if you pay with cash instead of a card, etc. So, make sure that you know how to get a discount at the station of your choice.
Buy gas with your groceries.
Many grocery stores now offer gas pumps as well, and you get discounts on your gas based on how much you spend on your groceries. For example, if you spend more than thirty dollars you get 5 cents off per gallon. If you spend more than seventy-five dollars you get 10 cents off per gallon, etc. So, save your grocery shopping for when you have a lot of groceries to buy, and thus can get bigger discounts on your gas. When you qualify for the discounts, then fill up your car.
There are other ways to save on gas, but these are some of the best basics, and ones you can employ no matter where you are or who you are.
