Published on : 29 August 20194 min reading time
All of us were worried about finances when the prices on gas went high. The majority of people use their autos every day to go to different places: to work, to visit relatives, to get groceries, to meet friends or even to have a nice time at a park. Lately the prices on fuel became really low and people stopped being so anxious about them.
The most concerned drivers decided to give up their SUVs and pick-up trucks, bough hybrids or fuel efficient autos and let them deal with gas mileage. But this is not a way out. Just by following simple rules and remembering tips on fuel saving a person can do better and not worry about much spending.
Our fuel-saving tips are the following:
- Buy the cheapest gas for your auto. Before paying for the lowest price at a gas station, check the owner’s manual to be sure the vehicle can accept it.
- Carry cash in your wallet. At some places a driver can get a discount for paying with cash while the credit-card customers are charged extra.
- Turn off the engine if you have to wait. You might have never thought when you are waiting at a drive-through the gas-mileage is zero miles per gallon! And it takes only seven seconds to start a vehicle! So, if you think it will take a while to wait (for example, at Sonic drive-through), shut down the car. It is not recommended though to stop the engine at red light: it causes dangerous situation on the road.
- Watch the tire inflation. It is unbelievable, but the tire pressure influences on fuel usage. Consult the manual to figure out what is the appropriate pressure for the tires on your car because the inflation should be as close to the number as possible: neither higher nor lower.
- Drive slowly. Many experienced drivers say it helps to save gas when they drive 55-60 mph. If you have to use the Interstate a lot, move to the right lane, where it is allowed to go slower and follow the flow. Careful and slow driving is proved to save about 2 mpg.
- Don’t fill the gas tank completely. The more fuel there is in a car, the heavier it becomes, so it requires more effort (i.e. gasoline) to carry all this weight.
- Get rid of junk in the trunk. This point is basically the same as the previous one: it is not necessary to have all that weight with you everywhere you go.
- Avoid quick stops and accelerations. It is really easy to do so when you are driving on a highway and turn on cruise control. Combine this with slow speed and move to the right-hand lane and you won’t be bothered by the drivers who are in a hurry.
- Combine several trips. Before you have to go, try to sit down, think everything over and make a plan of the trip: for example, set a schedule by which you get groceries and pay the bills in one trip. This will save both: gas and your time.
- Give your car regular maintenance. This is the fact that is required by the car owner’s manual anyway, plus regular oil and air filter change, tire balancing and aligning help to keep the auto in a good condition with lower gas usage.
- Increase aerodynamic drag. The bicycle rack should be on the roof of the car when it is in use, other way take it off. The convertible auto roofs and sun-roofs should be closed on high speeds. Avoid following other vehicle too closely – let your car be surrounded by an air-pocket.
- Turn off air conditioning when it is possible. A person should not be too crazy about it, but when the open windows help to cool off the auto as well as the air conditioner, he/she should use this option.