With gas prices rising, everyone is looking for ways to improve fuel efficiency. During the spring, fuel efficiency becomes even more important as more people are shaking off the winter blues by traveling by car to scenic or warmer destinations. There are some things that you can do to save a few dollars at the gas pump. You can find simple things to do to lower your gas usage in your home, but it is equally important to find ways to lower your gas usage in your cars.
How Are You Driving These Days?
No matter what magical formula or powerful solution that science can imagine to invent, the easiest way to cut your fuel costs is to simply change your driving habits. One easy way is to drive slower. Driving slower than 60 miles per hour will help you a significant amount of money. Driving slower will also keep you safer and help you avoid speeding tickets if you are driving through the city. If you commute and can use the freeway, you will be able to boost your gas mileage because you will not have to stop and start. The freeway will allow you a way to work that is free from stop signs, stoplights, and railroad crossings. You should also keep your idle time to a minimum. When you are idling, you are wasting fuel. If you are stopped at a railroad crossing, turn off your engine. If you have a late model car, you do not need to warm up your car. The engine will warm as you drive the car.
General Car Maintenance is the Ounce of Prevention and Saving is the Pound of Cure
Make sure that you adhere to a regular general car maintenance program. Regular maintenance should include a tire inspection, tune-up, fluid checks, and a general inspection of the entire car. A tire inspection will make sure that your tires are inflated at the proper air pressure level. If you do not know what pressure you should be using, you can find it on a sticker that is posted on the doorjamb of the driver’s side door or in the owner’s manual. A tune-up would include inspection, cleaning, and changing of the spark plugs and wires and changing the gas filter. When you perform your oil changes, you should make sure that you are using the correct grade of engine oil. Your owner’s manual should list the grade of oil you should be using. Remember the change the oil and air filters when you change your oil. Dirty filters will keep air from freely flowing through the engine and cause you to burn more fuel.
Miscellaneous Money Saving Ideas
Since a heavier car requires more energy to move, one thing you can do the help you save money on fuel costs is to remove all unnecessary heavy items from your car. A heavier car will consume more fuel because you need more energy to move a heavier object. Avoid putting large items on the roof because the bulk makes the car less aerodynamic. The added wind resistance will cause you to use more fuel to propel the car forward through the air. You can combine your trips. If you have more than one place to go, you should try to plan your trip so that you can complete all of your stops in a complete circuit rather than traversing the city several times.
