Gas is probably your least favorite cost to factor into that weekly budgets. After all, who likes paying money to get to work?
You might be surprised that a full tank goes further than you think. By taking up a few easy practices, you could trim down those gas expenses by stretching the efficiency of your daily commutes!
Check out some ways you can improve your fuel mileage and save yourself trips to the pump.
1. Maintain Your Tires
Picking up a good tire pressure gauge for $20 at your local auto store is an investment that could save you a lot of gas (and hours stuck with a flat) in the long run.
Tires filled below their optimal air pressures are sub-optimal tires. Flat tires mean more work for your engine, translating to significant increases in your fuel consumption the lower that pressure falls.
2. Maintain Your Engine
Everyone knows that regular engine checkups save you money on future repairs, but not many know that replacing a few cheap, worn-down parts under the hood can improve your engine's combustion efficiency.
Changing your oil and replacing dirty air filters are quick, easy procedures that can go far in preserving a healthy engine and a healthy wallet. Those $40 every few months can potentially save you hundreds of dollars.
3. Use The Right Gas and Oil
We mentioned changing oil, but that doesn't mean to grab any bottle off the shelf and pour it down the oil filler. Likewise, getting gas at the pump doesn't mean just pressing the cheapest option to save yourself a few dollars in the moment.
Every car has its own specifications. Before you get gas or replace your oil, be sure to read the owner's manual for your vehicle. Using the recommended fuel and oil keeps your engine running smoothly and efficiently, adding MPG to your fuel economy.
4. Empty Out That Trunk
We all like to keep more stuff in our cars than we're willing to admit. Keeping a heavy load in your car makes you burn through gas more quickly by throwing off the balance and efficiency of your vehicle.
Putting stress on one half of your suspension can make your tires lose traction and, of course, a heavier car needs more work from the engine.
Removing all that beach gear sitting in your trunk after the end of summer can save you money.
Keep your tire iron and donut in the trunk, not random junk!
5. Keep Decorations Off of Your Car
Yes, those plushie reindeer antlers are cute, but certainly not aerodynamic.
Flags, decals, and other decorations can increase the air resistance of your car, making it drag as your cruise down the highway. Your car will move slower and require a harder press on the gas pedal to bring itself up to 40 mph.
6. Keep Your Speed Under Control
When you're packing a new turbo max diesel, you may feel tempted to floor the accelerator just to hear that nice engine roar.
Problem is: engines have an optimal speed where they have maximum efficiency. That speed is usually around 45-50 mph, and never exceeds 60 mph. So despite it feeling like less time on the road equals more gas saved, it's only true to a certain point.
7. Cruise When You Can
If your car comes with cruise control, that's perfect. Whenever you have long stretches of road in front of you, flip that switch at a good speed and you'll save yourself the wasteful practices of constantly accelerating and braking that can eat into your gas tank.
Of course, not every car has cruise control. In that case, try to imitate it: bring yourself up to speed and try to accelerate and brake as little as possible. Save yourself the gas and the stress of twitchy driving.
8. Plan Your Route
Since braking and accelerating are drains on your fuel efficiency, something you can do to minimize that is planning your route for a smooth ride. Avoiding stop signs and roads with many traffic lights can have you cruising for longer distances, keeping your foot off the gas pedal and brake alike.
Although the highway might force you above 50 mph just to avoid a speeding ticket, it might be the better choice because of its capacity for cruising. That extra 10 mph might be negligible when compared to waiting at several dozen red lights and stop signs.
So What Should You Do?
In short: whatever you can. You don't need to take advantage of all 8 methods shown here to stretch your fuel economy, but every one that you can use squeezes a few more MPG out of your new vehicle.
When you roll that shiny, new V-8 Sequoia off our lot, go ahead and ask our friendly sales staff how you can maximize your fuel economy.
Do what you can. Your bank account will thank you for it.
