10 Tips for Saving Gas

Many people think that the only way to save on gas is to invest in a vehicle with better gas mileage, or just not drive. While investing in a more efficient, hybrid or electric vehicle is a great way to save on gas, it’s not an option for everyone. For those looking to get more out of the gallons that they put in the vehicle they own now, there are many tips and tricks. Read on and learn how to save on gas and get the most out of every gallon you buy!

• Keep your tires inflated: If your tires are underinflated, it’s harder for them to roll, and this can cost you in gas. Even an under-inflation of as little as seven or eight pounds (which is fairly common) can cause a loss of 5% of your fuel efficiency.

• Check your alignment: Just as flat tires are harder to roll, tires that have worn unevenly can cause a loss in fuel efficiency because they just don’t roll as smoothly as a perfectly round tire. Professionals with Robert’s Chrysler Dodge Ram tell us that poor alignment causes tires to wear down unevenly, so keeping your tires aligned can save you fuel.

• Replace your old air filter: Air filters are one of those things that many car owners forget or put off replacing. If your air filter is dirty, air can’t flow freely to the engine and all kinds of performance, including gas mileage, will go down.

• Get regular tune-ups: Much as a dirty air filter can affect gas mileage, anything that’s preventing your engine from working will result in you getting worse fuel economy. Bringing your car in for a regular tune-up could end up paying for itself and then some of the savings you’ll make on gas.

• Check your gas cap: A loose or unscrewed fuel cap can actually lead to the evaporation of gas. Some reports say that you can lose up to 30 gallons of gas in a year if your cap isn’t on snugly, so make sure yours fits tight!

• Watch your speed: Driving slower can save you, especially on the highway. Especially in the case of large vehicles like vans and SUVs, reducing highway speeds by 5 miles per hour or so can save your fuel efficiency.

• Smooth driving is key: Unnecessarily fast accelerations and heavy use of the gas pedal is one of the biggest wasters of fuel. Easing smoothly onto the gas, especially after stop signs and traffic lights, can save you some gas.

• Avoid idling: Idling is bad for your wallet and the environment. Obviously, it would be unrealistic to turn off your car at every red light, but if you’re waiting in a parking lot or driveway, you should turn off the engine until you’re ready to go again.

• Get the right gas: Buying higher octane gas than your engine requires doesn’t do much, if anything, to improve your engine performance, and ends up being a waste of money. If you have a high compression engine that needs the “super” or “premium” fuel, you should buy it, but most daily driving cars work just fine with the regular octane rating.

• Drive less: This is no-brainer. If you can travel via public transportation, carpool, bicycle, or walking, you’ll save money on gas. If you’re interested in changing up your means of transportation though, you can still try to drive less by combining trips out. For example, instead of going to the pharmacy now and then picking your kids up from school in two hours, why not hold off on the pharmacy run until just before school gets out, and then head right there?

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