In good times or bad, it is always recommended to think of how to save money on gas. Doing so also brings environmental benefits and helps lessen the demand for foreign oil. While the following tips on how to save gas involve relatively minor car maintenance as well as driving and lifestyle changes, their benefits will go beyond the wallet and have added side benefits.
Gas savings from regular maintenance
After purchasing a fuel efficient vehicle, regular maintenance is perhaps the best way to save money on gasoline. Insuring tires are properly inflated has a significant impact on fuel economy and can be performed by the car owner free of charge. Since the maximum recommended pressure offers the best fuel economy, check the manual and tires to find and keep the tires near that pressure with regular checks.
Making sure the oil is clean with regular changes helps the engine run smoother, more efficiently and last longer. At the same time, making sure the air filter is also clean will enhance performance and economy.
Another important maintenance tip is to make sure the tires are in alignment so that they pulling against each other on the road.
Tips on how to save gas while driving
Keep in mind that any extra weight on the vehicle will force the engine to work harder and burn more fuel for the same distance covered. Unload anything from the vehicle that is not needed for the trip.
Running the air conditioning also makes a significant difference in fuel consumption. Therefore, keep its use to a minimum whenever possible. However, it is not as simple as just opening a window. Since opening windows creates air turbulence, doing so will reduce fuel economy when driving down a highway.
Accelerate and brake as slowly as possible. Sudden acceleration burns a lot of fuel and energy is lost every time the brakes are applied. Also, air turbulence increases and fuel economy decreases exponentially at higher speeds, so keeping within the speed limit will increase economy as well as safety. Using cruise control wherever a steady speed can be maintained will also increase efficiency.
Save money on gas with lifestyle changes
Simple planning and lifestyle changes can greatly reduce time wasted driving while saving money on gas. Many car trips can be combined or eliminated with basic planning. Keep of running list of things needed around the house and errands to be performed. Then, combine as many of them as possible into a single trip. Finally, plan the trip to incorporate all necessary stops into the shortest possible route. Use online shopping and money saving websites to find the best deals and do more shopping from home.
Carpooling is something most people do not give nearly enough consideration when thinking of how to save money on gas. Apart from fuel savings, carpooling can significantly reduce the wear put on a car and free up those who are not taking their turn to drive to do other things during the commute. Carpooling websites make finding other fellow carpoolers much easier.
In some cases, moving to a closer job or house may be worth it. If this is an option, consider the monetary and time savings of a shorter commute when making the decision.
Whatever steps are taken to save money on fuel, keep in mind that the maintenance and lifestyle changes these steps entail are very minor and will be rewarded in ways that go beyond the pocketbook.
