Tips to Save More Money on Gas
- Keep your tires in good shape and inflated to the proper
pressure. Consult your owner's manual for the correct tire pressure, and check
your tires for excessive or uneven wear on the treads every time you check
their pressure. Properly inflated tires can save up to $0.07 per gallon.(1)
- Observe the speed limit - and remember that fuel economy decreases
quickly at speeds above 60 miles per hour. Each 5 mph faster than 60 mph that
you drive is like paying an additional 15 cents per gallon of gasoline.(1)
- Don't keep unnecessary items in your car or truck. Each extra
100 pounds in your vehicle could reduce your fuel economy by as much as 1-2%(1).
This affects smaller vehicles more than larger ones.
- Driving sensibly saves gas. Aggressive maneuvers such as rapid
acceleration and braking and speeding can lower your gas mileage considerably.(1)
- Follow the manufacturer's recommended maintenance procedures
for your vehicle.(2)
- If your air filter is clogged, replacing it should increase your
engine's efficiency.(1)
- Use the manufacturer's recommended grade of motor oil, and change
your oil as the manufacturer recommends.(1)
Your vehicle owner's manual will list the lowest grade of gas
the manufacturer recommends. Premium grade of gasoline is more expensive and
may not be necessary for your vehicle.(3)
- Idling your engine unnecessarily wastes gas.(2)
- Plan your trips and combine errands. This not only eliminates
retracing your route, saving miles, but should also result in better gas mileage,
since your car's engine uses gas more efficiently when it has warmed up to
a certain temperature.(2)
- Make sure you gas cap fits tightly - gas can be lost to evaporation.
- Minimize your use of air-conditioning, because air-conditioning
uses more fuel. To keep cool on the highway, use your car's flow-through settings
on the ventilation system. Rolling the windows down is a good idea when driving
slowly in the city, but it can increase air drag when you are on the highway
which results is lower gas mileage.(2)
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Sources:
(1) FuelEconomy.gov
(2) The Environmental Protection Agency: www.epa.gov.
(3) The Federal Trade Commission: www.ftc.gov.
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