Subscribe
Gas Saving Tips
Submitted by admin on Sun, 03/23/2008 - 20:23.
Here are some gas saving tips that I have found. Hopefully you find these useful and improves your fuel mileage a bit. With gas prices the way they are, I am willing to try just about anything. Next, I will look at buying a mopad – not good.
1. Lighten your load - If you have a trunk full of stuff, you are getting fewer miles per gallon. Empty your trunk and save. Consider filling your tank just half way-each gallon of gas adds 8 pounds to your vehicle. You'll have to visit the pump more frequently, but you will get better gas mileage.
2. Keep cool - On hot days, set your air conditioner to recirculate after reaching the desired temperature. Park in a shady spot and use a sun-shade in your front window.
3. Don't speed - Driving the speed limit reduces gas consumption. Use your cruise control; avoid quick starts from traffic lights and stop signs.
4. Filling tips - Fill your tank at the coolest time of the day, usually first thing in the morning. Don't wait until your tank is empty-fill when you reach half a tank. Be patient-don't put the nozzle on full blast. A slower, steady flow will put less air and more gas in your tank.
5. Look for discounted gas or rebate options - Some retailers offer discounts on gas for shopping in their stores. Wal-Mart offers 3 cents off per gallon discount if you use a pre-paid Wal-Mart card. Other big box clubs, such as Costco, offer membership options that include a 2 percent rebate on all purchases, including gas. Grocery stores with gas pumps may offer other deals.
6. Pay cash for gas - If you don't know how much you are spending in gas, or if you are struggling to pay off gas purchases made on a credit card each month, use cash to pay for gas.
7. Check Your Air Pressure - If you aren't driving at the right pressure it can cause poor gas mileage.
8. Don't space hunt - Park in the first space you see and take a walk. It may cost you an extra two minutes, but you could use the exercise anyway.
9. Drive like Grandpa - Grandpa may tick you off for going the speed limit and keeping it steady, but he is saving more money then you are. Acceleration burns gas faster and once you start going over 40 m.p.h. you are battling wind resistance.
10. Stop idling - Anyone ever tell you that turning your car off and on costs fuel because your engine is starting back up each time? What about letting your car warm up in the morning? They are wrong. The Sierra Club has a rule, if you are going to be idling for more then 10 seconds, shut it down. Also, never let your car warm up for more than 30 seconds. Idling burns fuel and causes engine damage. If you need to get take out, park the car and walk inside. It may take an extra two minutes, but the money you save could pay for your next cup of coffee.
11. Keep a gas budget - You can't save money unless you have a budget and you can't cut fuel costs if you don't know what you are putting in and putting out. Your car may not be getting the MPG that the dealer put on your window all of those years ago. My Mile Marker is an excellent resource for helping you calculate how much you use.
12. Plot out how much you will be using - Going on a trip? Mapquest now has a "gas calculator" that let's you see the prices at gas stations on your route and calculate how much you will be spending.
13. Don't be the lead dog - You may find it annoying to be behind a truck, but by breaking up that wind resistance on the highway you are saving fuel as you edge above 55 mph. You don't need to tailgate in order to use this trick, but it is also best utilized if you know how to maintain speed without jack rabbit accelerating.
14. Manual versus Automatic - An automatic dictates how you use your engine and no one likes a dictator. If you have a manual you need to shift up early and shift down late in order to reap the benefits.
15. Have cruise control - Use it. Not only does it stop you from keeping your foot on the pedal and inconsistently applying pressure, it also makes you a safer driver because you can focus on what is ahead of you in case you need to turn it off.
16. Check madisongasprices.com for the lowest prices in town - But if you live on the East Side and you see gas is two cents cheaper on the far west side, it isn't worth making a special trip just to save a few pennies.
17. When to fill up - One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount. Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.
18. Do not drive solo - Instead, car pool and split the gas bill or choose public transportation.
19. Use muscle power - walk, jog, or bike for local trips. It is good for you body, your pocket book, and your planet.
20. Plan first - Organize your activities/events and then group as many errands into one trip as possible. This requires that you take the most efficient route.
21 Avoid "jackrabbit" starts and sudden stops - When starting your car, press the accelerator slowly. When breaking, apply force slower so the car come to a more gradual stop.
22. Driver slower and more steadily - Cars get much better mileage (sometimes 20% more) at 55 mph then at 70 mph. Remember: driving at a constant rate is best as slowing down and speeding up wastes fuel.
23. Time shift - When possible, avoid driving during rush-hour or other peak traffic periods.
24. Replace air filters - A dirty air filter is a problem as it causes an engine to work harder and burn more fuel. New engine air filters will improve your gas mileage. It's a good idea to check your air filter when your change your oil.
25. Clean your engine – Use a engine flush to remove sludge and varnish from your engine. This will reduce friction and engine operating temperatures.
26. Use a 100% synthetic motor oil – Synthetic motor oils have detergent additives to help keep your engine clean, they don’t break down as easy as conventional motor oils and they will reduce friction in your engine.
27. Reduce demand – AMSOIL is a 100% synthetic motor oil made in theUS
1. Lighten your load - If you have a trunk full of stuff, you are getting fewer miles per gallon. Empty your trunk and save. Consider filling your tank just half way-each gallon of gas adds 8 pounds to your vehicle. You'll have to visit the pump more frequently, but you will get better gas mileage.
2. Keep cool - On hot days, set your air conditioner to recirculate after reaching the desired temperature. Park in a shady spot and use a sun-shade in your front window.
3. Don't speed - Driving the speed limit reduces gas consumption. Use your cruise control; avoid quick starts from traffic lights and stop signs.
4. Filling tips - Fill your tank at the coolest time of the day, usually first thing in the morning. Don't wait until your tank is empty-fill when you reach half a tank. Be patient-don't put the nozzle on full blast. A slower, steady flow will put less air and more gas in your tank.
5. Look for discounted gas or rebate options - Some retailers offer discounts on gas for shopping in their stores. Wal-Mart offers 3 cents off per gallon discount if you use a pre-paid Wal-Mart card. Other big box clubs, such as Costco, offer membership options that include a 2 percent rebate on all purchases, including gas. Grocery stores with gas pumps may offer other deals.
6. Pay cash for gas - If you don't know how much you are spending in gas, or if you are struggling to pay off gas purchases made on a credit card each month, use cash to pay for gas.
7. Check Your Air Pressure - If you aren't driving at the right pressure it can cause poor gas mileage.
8. Don't space hunt - Park in the first space you see and take a walk. It may cost you an extra two minutes, but you could use the exercise anyway.
9. Drive like Grandpa - Grandpa may tick you off for going the speed limit and keeping it steady, but he is saving more money then you are. Acceleration burns gas faster and once you start going over 40 m.p.h. you are battling wind resistance.
10. Stop idling - Anyone ever tell you that turning your car off and on costs fuel because your engine is starting back up each time? What about letting your car warm up in the morning? They are wrong. The Sierra Club has a rule, if you are going to be idling for more then 10 seconds, shut it down. Also, never let your car warm up for more than 30 seconds. Idling burns fuel and causes engine damage. If you need to get take out, park the car and walk inside. It may take an extra two minutes, but the money you save could pay for your next cup of coffee.
11. Keep a gas budget - You can't save money unless you have a budget and you can't cut fuel costs if you don't know what you are putting in and putting out. Your car may not be getting the MPG that the dealer put on your window all of those years ago. My Mile Marker is an excellent resource for helping you calculate how much you use.
12. Plot out how much you will be using - Going on a trip? Mapquest now has a "gas calculator" that let's you see the prices at gas stations on your route and calculate how much you will be spending.
13. Don't be the lead dog - You may find it annoying to be behind a truck, but by breaking up that wind resistance on the highway you are saving fuel as you edge above 55 mph. You don't need to tailgate in order to use this trick, but it is also best utilized if you know how to maintain speed without jack rabbit accelerating.
14. Manual versus Automatic - An automatic dictates how you use your engine and no one likes a dictator. If you have a manual you need to shift up early and shift down late in order to reap the benefits.
15. Have cruise control - Use it. Not only does it stop you from keeping your foot on the pedal and inconsistently applying pressure, it also makes you a safer driver because you can focus on what is ahead of you in case you need to turn it off.
16. Check madisongasprices.com for the lowest prices in town - But if you live on the East Side and you see gas is two cents cheaper on the far west side, it isn't worth making a special trip just to save a few pennies.
17. When to fill up - One of the most important tips is to fill up when your gas tank is HALF FULL or HALF EMPTY. The reason for this is, the more gas you have in your tank the less air occupying its empty space. Gasoline evaporates faster than you can imagine. Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating roof. This roof serves as zero clearance between the gas and the atmosphere, so it minimizes the evaporation. Unlike service stations, here where I work, every truck that we load is temperature compensated so that every gallon is actually the exact amount. Another reminder, if there is a gasoline truck pumping into the storage tanks when you stop to buy gas, DO NOT fill up--most likely the gasoline is being stirred up as the gas is being delivered, and you might pick up some of the dirt that normally settles on the bottom. Hope this will help you get the most value for your money.
18. Do not drive solo - Instead, car pool and split the gas bill or choose public transportation.
19. Use muscle power - walk, jog, or bike for local trips. It is good for you body, your pocket book, and your planet.
20. Plan first - Organize your activities/events and then group as many errands into one trip as possible. This requires that you take the most efficient route.
21 Avoid "jackrabbit" starts and sudden stops - When starting your car, press the accelerator slowly. When breaking, apply force slower so the car come to a more gradual stop.
22. Driver slower and more steadily - Cars get much better mileage (sometimes 20% more) at 55 mph then at 70 mph. Remember: driving at a constant rate is best as slowing down and speeding up wastes fuel.
23. Time shift - When possible, avoid driving during rush-hour or other peak traffic periods.
24. Replace air filters - A dirty air filter is a problem as it causes an engine to work harder and burn more fuel. New engine air filters will improve your gas mileage. It's a good idea to check your air filter when your change your oil.
25. Clean your engine – Use a engine flush to remove sludge and varnish from your engine. This will reduce friction and engine operating temperatures.
26. Use a 100% synthetic motor oil – Synthetic motor oils have detergent additives to help keep your engine clean, they don’t break down as easy as conventional motor oils and they will reduce friction in your engine.
27. Reduce demand – AMSOIL is a 100% synthetic motor oil made in the
