As gasoline prices continue to rise there is more and more focus on how to save money on gasoline with your car. We have not even hit the summer months yet and already gas prices are pretty high and the expectation is for the price per gallon to go even higher. We decided to do a series on how to save money on gasoline since it hits the consumer’s pocket-book so hard and it is also related to the tires that you have on your car.
Over the spring, the price has risen continually and while this is really what has prompted us to write this series of posts. However regardless of what the price is, anytime you can save some money why not, so if even if the price decreases, why not try to continue saving some money.
Save Money on Gasoline Usage
In this post we are going to list many of the common sense things that you should be doing. Focus on making sure that you are getting the maximum mileage you can from the vehicle you drive. If you want to improve even further, then you probably need to change vehicles. Purchase one designed to provide a higher mileage per gallon rating.
Here is our list, let us know if we have missed anything:
- Follow your car’s maintenance schedule
- Use approved gasoline
- Keep tires at recommended tire pressure at all times
- Avoid jack rabbit starts and stops
- Drive at the speed limit
- Maintain a clean engine air filter
- Change the engine oil regularly
- Plan your trips
- Combine errands
There are a number of myths that we have recently read about that we wanted to include as part of this post about how to save money on gasoline.
- Over inflate your tires to improve gas mileage
- Fill your tires with nitrogen
- Fill your car’s gas tank in the morning when the fluid is cool and more dense
- Open windows are more of a drag than running your air conditioning
- Shift into neutral when going downhill
- Change your air filter regularly
More Details
Over inflate your tires to improve gas mileage: Tests have proven that there is virtually no difference in fuel economy. There is a loss of control and maneuverability with over inflated tires as well as the tires may overheat and explode
Fill your tires with nitrogen: Also no savings on gas mileage. Nitrogen is more inert and will maintain proper tire pressure better than regular air.
Fill your car’s gas tank in the morning when the fluid is cool and more dense: Gasoline is stored below ground in tanks which is at pretty much the same temperature all day long so no savings here.
Open windows are more of a drag than running your air conditioning: They both cause about the same drag on gas mileage, so you may as well be comfortable.
Shift into neutral when going downhill; Has no impact since the engine is still running and still burning gasoline.
Change your air filter regularly: Regular checks by your mechanic will be sufficient to let you know when it should be changed. If it is dirty he will tell you it needs changing.
Hopefully these ideas will assist readers regarding how to save money on gasoline. Please leave comments on any additional ideas that you may have.
For more ideas about reducing your gas consumption, click here.
December 11th, 2012 on 5:45 pm
What a great article about saving money on gas with your car, thanks
November 5th, 2012 on 10:15 pm
as i write this gas is dropping in price all over the US, 20 cents in the past month a gallon. this will be good for the winter and travel by car
June 18th, 2012 on 2:20 pm
these are things about getting good gas mileage that no one ever told me about. Thanks. I will save a lot of money now while driving my car and improve the gas mileage a great deal