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Recent reports have predicted gas prices to top $5 a gallon, with a much worse scenario not unthinkable. Early in March 2022, Brent Crude prices shot to $140 per barrel, a price not seen since 2008. Forget the impact of these rising gas prices on the US economy; the effects are being felt right down to the average American consumer's pockets. Keeping your car on the road just got more expensive, and there is a need to find ways to save every cent on the dollar whenever possible.
Proponents of climate change encourage public transport and carpooling programs; their main aim is to reduce emissions and save the environment. Saving fuel is a bonus. But how do you save on gas, besides ditching your car and catching a bus or train to work? For starters, manufacturers are currently producing cars that are easy on the gas or use alternative energy sources. Cars are now more efficient and less harmful than ever. But it's a long way until everyone switches to electric vehicles, so here are a few methods that will save you money on fuel.
10 Inflate Your Tires Properly
Have you ever tried riding a bicycle on deflated wheels? It just takes you more effort and pedaling energy to keep going. It is the same with cars. Driving on under-inflated tires comes with an energy tax, and for every one psi drop in pressure, your mileage can reduce by three percent. Most tires should be around 30 to 35 psi, with the user manual specifying the ideal pressure for your car.
Keeping the correct pressure saves fuel, gives a smooth ride, and reduces the chances of catching a flat on the road. Maybe it's time to invest in a tire pressure gauge and a tire inflator if your car doesn't come with a tire sensor?
9 Do A Tune-Up
A simple tune-up for a car in need of service can go miles in fuel savings. It is practically the regular maintenance procedure where your mechanic checks and adjusts all the systems in the vehicle that affect combustion. It can range from replacing the cap, rotor, spark plugs, wires, PCV valves to changing air, oil, and fuel filters. These optimize the engine's performance and fuel economy, with a gas mileage improvement of about four percent. Regular maintenance and use of the right grade of motor oil will save an extra two percent.
That is serious coin saved at the pump; not forgetting, a well-maintained car will save you expensive repairs in the long run.
8 Remove Unnecessary Payload Weight
Lotus's reputation for producing lightweight cars grew from the early days, with Lotus founder Colin Chapman maintaining that weight isn't just the enemy of fuel costs but of all performance. It's basic physics. The more load you subject on your engine, the more work it will have to do, hence more fuel consumed. So if you are not going for that long camping trip, it is advisable always to travel light and leave the unnecessary payload in your garage.
For every 100lbs shed off, your MPG will improve by one percent. It doesn't sound much, but the savings are tangible in the long run, especially after you rack up serious miles on your daily commutes.
7 Use Cruise Control
Advances in modern technology make cars more efficient than the gas guzzlers of the 80s. Cruise control is one such gift that can save between 7-14% on gas because of its ability to maintain continuous speed. KIA recommends deploying cruise control on flat road conditions free from traffic congestion. It, however, isn't effective on highways traversing mountainous terrains.
Cruise control eliminates unnecessary acceleration and deceleration, maintaining a healthy fuel efficiency that a foot on the pedal with a jerky ankle can't sustain.
6 Avoid Aggressive Driving
If you are big on getting the most miles per gallon, avoid driving like a maniac. Don't race to a red light, then peel out when it turns green. If you will stop anyway, why use fuel to close that distance? Quick braking and accelerating overwork the engine and waste gas.
The car's momentum and the engine's idle revs are enough to get you to a red light or get you going once the light changes. Take your foot off the gas and let your car cost whenever possible.
5 Use Apps To Identify Cheap Prices
Different pumping stations charge different prices for the same product, it's capitalism. Like shopping at a store, it's good to know where the best deals are. Besides using fuel reward programs, you can utilize popular apps like GasBuddy or Waze and shop for the cheapest gas possible. Nothing guts you like filling up your tank only to find much lower prices a few meters down the road.
Also, you should resist the urge to buy high octane gas for premium performance if your vehicle's user manual doesn't require it. You can save up to 20 cents per gallon, opting for regular fuel.
4 Remove Roof/Trunk Racks When Not In Use
Sometimes you might need that extra cargo space to carry bulky stuff when hiking, camping, or backpacking safely, but you don't need this much space most of the time. While useful, roof-mounted cargo boxes and other outdoor equipment on the roof add weight and increase the drag of your car.
The Department of Energy estimates a 2% to 8% reduction in fuel economy in the city and up to 17% on the highway when using a large blunt rooftop cargo box. Alternatively, you can use a rear-mounted tray that doesn't significantly impact your gas usage.
3 Ensure Your Gas Cap Is Airtight
Gas evaporates much faster than you might think. About 17% of cars on the road have broken or missing gas caps, losing a lot of fuel in escaping fumes. Thus, it is necessary to check that your gas cap is airtight.
Also, filling up your gas tank when it is half full might help save you on gas. The car's gas tank comes with an internal floating roof that serves as zero clearance between the gasoline and the atmosphere, thus reducing the rate of evaporation. Therefore, with more gas in the tank, there is less air and space, reducing evaporation.
2 Avoid Excessive Idling
Leaving your car for long spells pollutes the environment and burns unnecessary fuel. It is simply a waste of fuel and is bad for your engine. A minute of idling is okay, but beyond that, you are better off shutting the car off until you are ready to move.
Modern engines don't need to be warmed up, even in cold weather. Just hit the road, and the car will warm up faster than if you let it idle on the driveway.
1 Buy A Fuel-Efficient Vehicle
The overall vehicle fuel efficiency has drastically improved in recent times. Even large SUVs that were once the biggest gas guzzlers are now quite easy on the gas, and today, the market is filled with three-row SUVs with great gas mileage. We are also in the age of electrification, and there are plenty of reliable hybrid car options that will significantly save you money at the gas pump.
Alternatively, you can go all-electric and forget about gas fill-ups altogether. But some of us are reluctant to let go of our ICE cars. Luckily, some modern cars are surprisingly fuel-efficient and will save you money on gas.