Tips To Help You Save Money On Gas
While we can't do anything about the actual price of gas, we can do something about how often we need to buy it. Here are some tips for saving money on gasoline:
Drive at Steady Speeds
Driving steadily at the speed limit can really help cut down on your vehicle's gas consumption. Stops and starts take more gas, so try to anticipate stops and traffic flow ahead of you as much as possible. Also, try to coast when possible, as revving and rapid acceleration use more gas. Driving your car too fast can really cost you, both with regard to gas and the speeding ticket you might receive! Experts say that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like adding an additional ten to twenty cents to each gallon of gas you buy.
Keep Your Engine Tuned
Not only do regular tune-ups prevent unwanted breakdowns; they also help you save money on gas. Some mechanics estimate that a poorly tuned engine can use up to 50% more gas than one that is running well. This includes remembering to change your oil and air filters every 3,000 miles, or as often as recommended in your vehicle's owner's manual. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you can save up to 10% in gas mileage by replacing a faulty air filter.
Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
The proper inflation for your tires should be specified in your owner's manual. If your tires are under-inflated, your vehicle will consume more gas when you drive. The U.S. Department of Energy says that drivers can save an average of 3.3 percent by keeping their tires properly inflated.
Try to Minimize Your Driving
Try to plan one long trip instead of several short trips (this includes combining errands when possible). If you can, try to carpool, use alternate forms of transportation (buses, trains, subways) or ride your bike or walk if your destination is nearby and you can spare the time. These are obvious ways to save gas, and they have the additional benefit of helping to spare the environment. You can also try to stagger your work hours so that you are not driving in prime traffic times.
Consider Buying a Smaller, More Fuel Efficient Car
Smaller cars are not only often less expensive to purchase and cheaper to insure, but they also use less gas (because they are lighter). Also, cars with automatic transmissions get an average of 5 miles per gallon less than manual transmissions, and six-cylinder engines get about 4-5 miles per gallon less than four-cylinder engines.
Cut Down on the A/C and Extra Baggage
While on the highway, closed windows decrease air resistance, but when you are driving on city streets and in stop-and-go traffic, it might be a good idea to open the windows rather than run the air conditioner (air conditioners run on gas). Also, cut down on the amount of junk you keep in your car (and in roof racks). Extra weight equals extra gas.
With these tips, you can save money on gasoline, and reduce your out of pocket expenses.
Drive at Steady Speeds
Driving steadily at the speed limit can really help cut down on your vehicle's gas consumption. Stops and starts take more gas, so try to anticipate stops and traffic flow ahead of you as much as possible. Also, try to coast when possible, as revving and rapid acceleration use more gas. Driving your car too fast can really cost you, both with regard to gas and the speeding ticket you might receive! Experts say that each 5 mph you drive over 60 mph is like adding an additional ten to twenty cents to each gallon of gas you buy.
Keep Your Engine Tuned
Not only do regular tune-ups prevent unwanted breakdowns; they also help you save money on gas. Some mechanics estimate that a poorly tuned engine can use up to 50% more gas than one that is running well. This includes remembering to change your oil and air filters every 3,000 miles, or as often as recommended in your vehicle's owner's manual. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that you can save up to 10% in gas mileage by replacing a faulty air filter.
Keep Your Tires Properly Inflated
The proper inflation for your tires should be specified in your owner's manual. If your tires are under-inflated, your vehicle will consume more gas when you drive. The U.S. Department of Energy says that drivers can save an average of 3.3 percent by keeping their tires properly inflated.
Try to Minimize Your Driving
Try to plan one long trip instead of several short trips (this includes combining errands when possible). If you can, try to carpool, use alternate forms of transportation (buses, trains, subways) or ride your bike or walk if your destination is nearby and you can spare the time. These are obvious ways to save gas, and they have the additional benefit of helping to spare the environment. You can also try to stagger your work hours so that you are not driving in prime traffic times.
Consider Buying a Smaller, More Fuel Efficient Car
Smaller cars are not only often less expensive to purchase and cheaper to insure, but they also use less gas (because they are lighter). Also, cars with automatic transmissions get an average of 5 miles per gallon less than manual transmissions, and six-cylinder engines get about 4-5 miles per gallon less than four-cylinder engines.
Cut Down on the A/C and Extra Baggage
While on the highway, closed windows decrease air resistance, but when you are driving on city streets and in stop-and-go traffic, it might be a good idea to open the windows rather than run the air conditioner (air conditioners run on gas). Also, cut down on the amount of junk you keep in your car (and in roof racks). Extra weight equals extra gas.
With these tips, you can save money on gasoline, and reduce your out of pocket expenses.
posted by Ottawa Gas Prices | 7:14 PM
1 Comments:
These tips are great and if you want to save money while you save space visit my blog at http://www.summerdrivesave.blogspot.com
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