17 Ways to Save Money on Gas

With the ever-increasing volatility in both the fuel industry and economy, it is profoundly important to tighten up our wallets when it comes to shelling out money for gas. Buying a hybrid or alternative fuel source vehicle is one way to get away from the pump, but if you are not ready or able for that step, here are a few simple ways to get the most out of the gas you put in your vehicle.

Tighten Gas Cap

Tightening the gas cap prevents the gas in the tank from evaporating. A car’s fuel tank uses fumes as well as fuel. Some people think that the gas cap should be tightened to the second click at least in order to prevent gas and fumes from leaking; most modern cars will have a note on the near the cap if there are special instructions for the car.

Replace Air Filter

 Depending on the type of vehicle, a clogged air filter can increase fuel usage. Replacing clogged air filters will help the engine work more efficiently, therefore providing better gas mileage. Clogged air filters can also damage a car’s engine if not replaced.

Properly Inflate Tires

Tires that are insufficiently inflated can increase the amount of fuel a car uses by causing the engine to compensate for miss-timed tire rotations. Properly inflated tires reduce how much the car’s engine has to work. The engine works less because properly inflated tires can help reduce the amount of resistance to the turning, or rolling, of the tires and the movement of the vehicle.

Check Tire Alignment

Wheel alignments can help conserve fuel just as much as regulating the air pressure. Tires that are pulling to one side can, in a sense, travel longer distances than the actual distance the driver has travelled. Moreso, the unregular wearing of the tire will produce excess strain on the engine.

Regular Tune Ups

Keeping a car tuned up properly can do wonders for your gas mileage. During a tune up, things such as the fuel, ignition systems, and the starting system are checked. Those things, as well as some others, can effect the fuel usage.

Let Gas Tank Approach Empty

Another way to maximize fuel efficiency is to allow the gas tank to approach empty. Allowing a gas tank to approach empty will lighten the vehicle, requiring less energy to accelerate. This is one reason why the “bottom half” of your tank seems to last just a little bit longer than the top half. Don’t let it get too low however, as you don’t want to be stranded on the side of the road.

Fuel When Its Cool

Gas is more dense in cooler temperatures. Filling up a car’s fuel tank during the cooler part of the day can help increase the amount of gas that goes into the tank because gas is pumped by volume, not density. You can save money by getting every last drop out of the hose, and there is scientifically more fuel there when it’s cooler.

Accelerate Slowly

Slow and steady wins the race, especially when it comes to fuel economy. Acceleration can have a major effect on fuel usage. Fast acceleration forces a car’s engine to work harder. As a result, the engine uses more fuel and you wind up spending more money at the pump.

Maintain Constant Speed

Since we know accelerating increases the amount of fuel a vehicle uses, it is also useful to maintain a constant speed. Constant stopping and starting will increase fuel use. Driving at a constant speed can help keep fuel usage low by avoiding unnecessary periods of acceleration.

Cruise Control

Cruise control regulates how fast the car goes, and, as a result, it can dictate how much gas the car uses. When a car changes speed, it can affect how quickly the car uses gas so using Cruise Control to monitor a constant speed can really help you save on gas. This can backfire if you are driving though a hilly area as some devices will accelerate quickly to make up for sudden slowdowns from traveling uphill.

Avoid Excessive Braking

Braking means that your car will need to accelerate again at some point. By driving too close and needing to brake more frequently, you are forced to speed back up. Unnecessary braking can cause higher gas usage.

Don’t Idle

Unnecessary idling is usually considered to be a waste of fuel. When possible, and when reasonable, it is probably best to turn the vehicle off instead of letting it sit and guzzle gas. It may take less gas to start a vehicle up again, than to idle unnecessarily for a prolonged period of time. General rule of thumb: if you are going to be idling for more than five minutes in the same spot, turn her off.

Reduce Drag

Having too many objects attached to your vehicle could make the engine work harder. When an engine works harder, it uses more gas. Less wind resistance can result in less fuel usage so avoid using luggage racks and flying window flags. Your antenna ball probably isn’t doing any harm.

Lighten Your Load

The heavier a car is, the more the engine has to work. The more the engine works, the more gas the vehicle uses; logical right? So ensure that your car is not loaded down with unnecessary weight: in other words, limit the number of “clean up” jobs you do for the mob.

Avoid Peak Traffic Times

When traffic is high, a car tends to spend more time idling. If possible, schedule your day around peak traffic hours, and do your running around when there are fewer drivers on the road.

Combine Trips

Instead of making numerous trips, it may be helpful to combine them into one trip. It could cut down on the amount of stopping and starting the vehicle is forced to endure as well as the number of miles driven, especially if your stops are located near each other. Also, a car’s engine uses less gas when it is warmed up. By letting your car stay primed during your short stops, it will be ready faster for your next leg than if you were starting it for the first time that day.

Turn Off Devices Before Shutting Off Car

Some devices make a car’s alternator do more work when the car starts. When the alternator works hard, fuel usage increases. Turning off unnecessary devices before turning off a car can possibly help increase gas mileage. This is especially true of the air-conditioner whose generator is run by the engine itself. When you start your car, ensure it has as little resistance as possible.