With some small changes, did you know that you can save gas while you are driving to and from work?
Gas is one of those things that no one likes buying. It’s not fun and there is nothing to really show for it (other than your car working of course!).
The truth is, we can’t control gas prices and they always seem to be rising.
We are now seeing gas prices higher than we could have ever imagined and we are all feeling the pain at the pump.
Even if you don’t consider yourself a “hypermiler” (someone who drives to maximize fuel efficiency), right now we could all use a little help.
Making an effort to save money on gasoline makes sense regardless of the cost.
We all know that petroleum is a finite resource so the more we can save, the better for everyone, not least our wallets!
As the average person, you might not be able to do much about the price, but you can use several methods to save gas while driving.
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Below are several strategies to help defer some of the cost at the pump. It’s nice when your gas tank and wallet are both full at the same time.
If you want to offset the costs of running your vehicle, don’t forget that you could also make money with your car. Own a larger vehicle? There are so many ways to make money with a pickup truck.
10 Ways To Save Gas While Driving
It goes without saying that you should be making the most of credit card reward points and rebates when you do have to spring for gas for your car. After all every little helps!
1. Shop Around
There are numerous websites and phone apps available that will provide you with the gas prices in your area.
The most popular site and app is gasbuddy.com. The website and app are both free and very easy to use. It’s not unusual to save $0.20/gallon or more with just a quick glance.
If you register with Gasbuddy, you can even win free gas!
2. Avoid heavy traffic
Always easier said than done, but if you’re not using all the tools that are available, you’re sitting in traffic more than necessary.
Between the radio, GPS systems, and phone apps (my personal favorite is Waze) , there’s plenty of information out there to help. If possible, drive during times of the day likely to have less traffic.
Your car is much more fuel-efficient when it can travel at a constant speed instead of being in stop and go traffic.
That’s why cars last longer with more highway miles than city driving because of the constant stops and starts.
3. Check your tires
Tires with the proper air pressure and a decent alignment give your car as much as 3.5% better gas mileage. Look around for a gas station with free air.
There are also inexpensive air pumps that plug into your car and can inflate a tire in a couple of minutes. Check your tires once a week.
You can find out the optimal tire pressure for your car by checking the inside driver door.
4. Slow down!
The faster you go, the faster your gas will go too.
So, What is the most fuel efficient speed to drive at?
According to the Energy trust, most cars provide the best fuel efficiency around 55 mph. For sleek, sporty cars, the number is a little higher. For big trucks and SUVs, the number is lower.
In general, driving 80 mph will use quite a bit more fuel per mile than one cruising down the road at 65 mph.
Bottom line? Slow down and save money.
5. Check your oil, transmission, and differential fluids
Keeping your lubricants at the proper level not only minimizes wear and tear, it also allows your car to operate with less friction.
Less friction means more miles per gallon.
Make sure to get regular oil changes and check your fluid levels at least every 4-6 months (more for winter driving).
6. Buy your gas away from the city
Large cities frequently have additional taxes on gasoline.
When you happen to find yourself away from the bright lights, fill up your tank. I’ve noticed a 5 cent/per liter difference just 10 minutes out of my town.
7. Don’t buy premium gasoline
A few cars are designed to run on higher-octane gasoline; their higher compression engines require it.
However, 99% of cars on the road don’t need it and will not run any better or more efficiently because of it. Save your money and buy the regular stuff.
8. Drive Less
It sounds obvious but drive as little as you can. Use your bike, hitch a ride with a friend, or look into public transportation. Consider purchasing a more fuel-efficient vehicle. like a hybrid.
Anytime you can get someone else to drive you can also get some work done. Try to leave the car at home or join a car pool if you have no option.
Plan your trips. When you’re planning out your errands and trips, try to group them together so that you’re not driving all over town and wasting gas.
Do everything you can within reason to save money at the pump.
It’s a necessary expense for many of us, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take steps to minimize that expense. With a little attention, you can save a significant amount of money
9. Coast
Coasting has saved me a lot of money and it is kind of fun too. When you see a red light up ahead, don’t waste gas racing to get there.
Simply take your foot off the pedal and let your car coast and save you some cash!
10. Avoid the Drive Thru
Yes it is convenient to not have to get out of the car but all that time idling is simply wasting gas! Turn off your car instead of keeping it running and your wallet and gas tank will thank you.
That goes for idling at the car pool or when you are waiting for someone too!
11. Lighten the Load
The lighter your car, the less fuel it will use. Remove your roof rack when not in use and keep your car as empty as possible to save money during your drives.
Even fuel itself weighs your car down so waiting until it is almost empty to fill up can be a good thing (that’s as long as gas doesn’t go up 10 cents overnight!)
Save Money On Gas – Final Thoughts
Saving money on gas doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, there are a lot of simple things you can do to make a big difference in your budget.
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