If driving your car is giving you a pain in the gas, you’re not alone. So, how can you save money on gas?
The three basics to saving money on gas are planning ahead (find the best gas price, combine errands, know your route), proper auto maintenance (regular tuneups, synthetic oil, correct tire pressure), and driving more economically (smoother, slower, less aggressively).
You can’t control gas prices; but you can spend less on gas by careful management of your driving habits in a way that gets more days and mileage out of every fill up. Read on, and I’ll bet you find tips here that you’ve never seen before.
Is There a Cheaper Day of the Week for Gas?
Wednesday is the best day, or just get there early in the week. Thursday is generally the day when gas stations raise their prices, so they can gouge the weekend travelers.
Some gas stations have a day of the week when they offer a regular discount. They often let you know by posting a sign with a cute name like Super Tuesday, Wacky Wednesday, etc..
What’s an Easy Way to Make my Car More Energy Efficient?
Removing extra weight from your car will cause less drag, and thus, better gas mileage. Start by cleaning out your trunk. Then, see if you have any extra stuff in your bag seat. If your car is like mine, there are a bunch of pouches and compartments to go through, as well.
AARP cautions you not to go too crazy with unburdening your car, though, with this tip:
Don’t take weight cutting to an extreme. If you live in a snowy area, for example, then it’s still good to carry your traction-ready kitty litter in the winter. Just don’t forget to take it out in the summer.”
AARP
Know Where You’re Going Before you Leave
Never start your car without knowing where you plan to go, and the route you will take. Even better, fully plan your entire outing before you leave. This will cut down wasting miles on wandering around, or having to double back to complete errands.
How Much Gas is Wasted by Idling your Car?
Most of the time you need to wait somewhere in your car, you will waste gas by failing to shut it off. Of course, you don’t want to shut it off for little stops, such as red lights or the line at a drive-through! For those grey areras, Geico gives you a good rule-of-thumb:
Turn off the engine if your wait is longer than 10 seconds. Idling drains your tank by a quarter- to a half-gallon of fuel per hour, whereas restarting only sips 10 seconds worth of gas”
Geico
55 Saves Lives AND Gas
If you have one of those economy guages in your car, you’ll notice it’s often in the green area when you’re travelling at 55 MPH.
Many older people recall when roads across the USA boasted a 55 MPH speed limit. This was enacted in the mid-70’s, during the big gas crunch, as a sure way to economize on fuel. These days, many roads are faster; so use good judgement if you wish to save money this way. If the posted speed limit is faster than 55 MPH, stay in the right lane. If you see that traffic is bogging down because of you, drive closer to the posted limit, until you are in the clear again.
Smooth Driving Uses Less Gas
Punchy, aggressive driving technique wastes an awful lot of gas; not to mention that it’s unwelcome road behavior.
A better plan is smooth driving technique. While you keep an eye on the car in front of you, stay aware of the general state of the traffic conditions further ahead. That way, you can slow down gradually, in response to what’s coming next.
A rule of thumb I learned in Drivers’ Ed, way back when, was to leave a space between you and the car in front of you of one car-length for every 10 MPH of your speed. This gives you a great margin of safety, plenty of time to react, and really cuts down on those fender-benders!
Shut Down your *Whole* Car for Gas Savings
Before you turn off your engine, be sure to shut off all the other functions you have going – Your radio, heat/AC, defrosters, wipers, etc.. By doing so, your car won’t pull as much gas the next time you start it.
Open Windows are a Real Drag
…on your car, that is. The resistance created when the windows are open makes your engine work harder, using more gas to go the same speed.
Use your Air Conditioner Only as Needed
Your car’s air conditioning system draws a lot of gas to keep you cool, so use it judiciously.
This not only means to run it sparingly; it also means to keep tabs on your car’s automatic comfort settings, making sure that the air conditioner is not running indiscriminately.
For example, if it is 75° outside, and your comfort setting happens to be at 72°, your air conditioner will be running… but do you really need it?
In temperate weather, the best thing you can do is to turn your comfort setting as low as possible, and shut off the AC button, but run the fan. Make sure your vents are open, and this will bring fresh air into your car.
Note: do not push this tip to the point of discomfort. Also, seasonal allergy sufferers may need closed windows and AC to lessen pollen exposure.
Be Careful When you Fill the Gas Tank
When filling your gas tank, don’t bother trying to top-off. Doing so can cause you to spill gas. One helpful thing you can do when you fill up is make sure to secure the gas cap. As you’re placing it back on, be sure it’s threaded correctly. Then, tighten it down good, so it’s not loose and leaking fuel or even vapor.
Correct Tire Pressure Saves Gas and More
There are several advantages to proper tire pressure. The first thing you will notice is that your car rides and handles better, especially in bad weather. Then, you’ll realize that you’re getting further on a tank of gas.
In the long run, your tires will last longer; so there is another way you will save money. Be sure not to overcompensate by putting too much air in the tires – An over-inflated tire is more likely to blow out.
Scheduled Auto Maintenance: TLC pays off
Faithfully adhering to your car’s maintenance schedule is the best thing you can do for your car. This will save you money in so many ways.
It all boils down to resistance – When there is less resistance from dirty oil, clogged filters and injectors, and fouled plugs, your engine won’t have to work so hard, and it is certain to use less gas.
Synthetic Oil Costs More, Pays for Itself
If you live in an area with extreme temperatures, or your car has a lot of miles on it (80,000+), synthetic oil will make your car last longer and improve gas efficiency. It provides superior engine protection, and comes in a high-mileage version, which helps seal gaps between worn parts.
The website In Charge agrees:
When pressed for a decision by the mechanic at the oil change shop, pick synthetic oil because it makes a dramatic difference in the amount of friction on your engine and its efficiency. Sure, a fully synthetic oil change is often twice as much as a normal oil change, but it will ultimately pay off in the life of your engine and the efficiency with which it runs.”
In Charge
