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15 Tips To Save Money On Gasoline

by: sahil | last updated: August 21, 2009
Category: Saving on Everything | Tags: save on gas, save fuel, fuel efficient driving.

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15 Tips To Save Money On Gasoline

The price of gasoline has increased sharply since its inception thus eating up more and more of our financial or household budget. To make sure that this problem of increasing price of gas does not get out of control, it has become essential to save the amount of money spent on this depleting source of energy. There are various steps that can be easily adjusted in our lifestyle to ensure a more economical usage of this commodity.

Obey speed limits. One of the best ways to save gas is to follow traffic rules. This may sound uncomplicated, however if a car is driven above the legal limits, it faces more air resistance which in turn results in consumption of even more fuel than required.

Tire Pressure and oil changes. Make sure the car is well maintained and there are no problems in the engine. Having the right amount of air pressure in your tires definitely helps save gas. Regular oil changes will make sure that the car consumes lesser amounts of gas. This is because oil gets thicker as time passes and hinders in the smooth running of mechanics thus making the vehicle inefficient.

Drive smoothly. Well-organized driving is also one of the best methods to ensure savings on your gas budget. Driving calmly and avoiding accelerating on busy roads should help in saving on excessive consumption of gas. Accelerating and braking hard when driving on busy city streets will only waste fuel and it’s not good for the car as well.

High octane fuel. Avoid using high octane gas except if the car is pinging and knocking or if it has a high-performance engine and the manufacturer advocates the use of premium gas. This will save money as high octane gas is expensive.

Be aware of the latest prices. Gas prices have been volatile in the recent times and making sure that we keep in touch with the up-to-date crude oil prices will definitely help in knowing whether it’s the right time to fill up our tank or be a little thrifty. Applying for credit cards that offer discount on gas prices or any such scheme is another step to tighten the gas budget.

Avoid driving with a cold engine. Avoid driving too much with a cold engine. Cold engines do not run competently. Using a block heater to pre-heat your engine if you are making numerous short trips will keep the engine warmer and fuel efficient.

Engine tuning and air filters. Engine tuning is very important since a good engine will always give better mileage . It has been proven that a badly tuned engine can augment fuel expenditure. Checking and replacing air filters on a regular basis will ensure better fuel economy. Blocked filters may cause an increase in fuel utilization. A car's air filter keeps dirt in the air from proving detrimental to engine machinery.

Do not idle. This is one of the effective methods of ensuring saving on fuel. Idling the car unnecessarily or while stopping at traffic signals will consume more fuel. Killing the engine on traffic stops and avoiding idling the car is beneficial in the long run. Also adjusting the idling speed will definitely help since a high idling speed has negative financial repercussions.

Avoid clutch and brake riding. Ensure that your foot is not resting on the clutch pedal when you are driving. This will cause damage to the clutch as well as reduce the mileage. Similarly avoid unknowingly putting pressure on your brake pedal as this will obviously bring down the mileage.

Buy a Fuel efficient vehicle. Experts around the world agree that gas prices are bound to increase continually and it’s a better option to buy a fuel efficient vehicle if planning to purchase one in the future. We have to realize that this is a non renewable resource and saving it is important not only for our financial needs but also for the well being of our environment and economy.

Air conditioners. An active air conditioner causes more consumption of fuel, however it is not recommended to drive with the windows rolled down since this will the increase of drag on the vehicle. When driving slowly then it’s economical to leave your windows open, if at all possible. For driving on highways, it’s advisable to roll up the windows and turn the air conditioning on.

Excess weight. Drop the excess baggage that is in the trunk of the car since this will result in more consumption of fuel. Heavy objects that are not required in the car can be removed and stored elsewhere. Also ensure that you do not fill the tank completely as this also increases the weight of the car and reduces fuel economy.

The correct type of oil. You can improve your car's mileage using the manufacturer's recommended type of motor oil. Choose a motor oil which is energy conserving since this oil contains friction-reducing additives. It is usually mentioned if the oil is energy conserving or not on the label of the American petroleum institute or API performance label

Reduce the drag. Waxing the car and keeping it clean and waxed will reduce the drag (resistance because of air) thus increasing fuel economy. A better mileage can be achieved if the car is kept clean and waxed so that the aerodynamics works in your favor. The moon roof should be closed and the luggage rack removed in order to decrease resistance.

Cruise control. Using cruise control whenever possible is a nice way to reduce fuel consumption. The car’s capability to retain a steady pace is superior to your skill to do the same. Minute, accurate, and constant adjustments that are made by the car’s cruise control system will economize fuel consumption.