TIPS FOR SAVING GAS

Between maintenance, insurance, monthly payments, and fuel, vehicles today can run into big bucks over their lifespan. But, a little due diligence can go a long way toward preventing the car of your dreams from becoming a nightmare. A little money every quarter for regular maintenance will almost certainly help you to avoid major repairs. Insurance costs can be kept under control by shopping around. Monthly loan or lease payments can be lowered by getting a good deal on your initial purchase. And, while no one can do much about the price of fuel, there are several steps that you may take to use less gas and save money along the way. Here are a few tips that will help you save on gas.

Develop Good Driving Habits

More speed means more drag, and more drag means lower MPG. Maintaining a speed at or below the limit can improve your gas mileage, considerably.

  • Accelerate and decelerate slowly
    • . There’s no point in rushing to a red light or stop sign.
  • Be gentle on your engine until it warms up
    • . Your car’s engine burns more fuel when it’s cold than warm. It also wears faster. So go slow and easy for the first few miles or until the engine gets warm.
  • Use cruise control whenever possible
    • . Cruise control does more than just maintain your speed, it also improves your car engine’s fuel efficiency.

Inflate Your Tires to the Correct Pressure

Mechanic in Tempe, AZ checking the tire pressure

Studies show that vehicles with tires under-inflated by twenty-five percent will consume as much as five percent more fuel. Don't go by how a tire looks or wait until the tire pressure warning light comes on. Tire pressure changes a lot depending on the ambient air temperature. So, check your car’s tire pressure on a regular schedule, and at least quarterly.

Never Sit With Your Engine Idling

Depending on your engine’s horsepower and size, letting the engine idle could burn as much as one gallon of fuel each hour. In a five-day workweek, by starting your vehicle just fifteen minutes ahead of leaving the house every day, you will use five extra gallons a month. That’s five gallons just warming up (or cooling down) your vehicle. Also, nowadays, many localities issue summonses to drivers who let their vehicles idle for extended periods.

Buy a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle

Depending on how many miles you drive each year, swapping a traditional gas-powered vehicle for a hybrid or EV could make sense, especially if you get a good price for your trade-in. Also, give some thought to just how large a vehicle you actually need. It makes no sense to be knocking around town, in an eight-passenger SUV, if the kids have moved out and the days of chauffeuring their baseball team to and from games have long passed.

Take the Most Fuel-Efficient Route When Running Errands

Plan out your route so that you are not repeatedly doubling back when running Saturday morning errands. Also, try to get everything done in one trip and layout the shortest route with the fewest traffic signals and stop signs. And, always take the highway, when possible, even if it adds a few miles. For stops close to home, consider taking the bike, or even going on foot.

2024 Cadillac CT4 for sale in Tempe, AZ

Shed Any Extra Weight

The lighter a vehicle, the better its fuel efficiency. Don't drive around for weeks with a trunk full of items that should be at home in the basement or closet. Stow the cases of soda, golf clubs, and bags of cement for next weekend's project in the house as soon as you get home with them.

So, while there’s not much you can do about the price of gas, with a little due diligence, you can do something about the amount of gas that you burn.