With the summer months upon us, the average driver tends to put more miles on his or her vehicle…which in turn results in more money spent on gas. So whether you drive an incredibly fuel efficient new car, or an old clunker that’s seen better days, here are a few quick tips to eek every last mile out of your gas tank.
1. Slow it Down.
Slowing down your driving habits will take you a long way in terms of achieving better gas mileage. While it might not sound like the most ideal solution for the lead footed driver buried inside us all, you’d be surprised at what you can achieve by driving a little more conservatively. Test it out for a week. Accelerate a little slower, start to break a little sooner, and drive the speed limit (in reality, driving 5-10 miles over the speed limit doesn’t really save that much time.) After a week, you’ll be surprised at how much you start to save on gas. As a bonus, your more “responsible” method of driving will help to make the roads safer for everyone. We’re not saying to drive 15mph under the speed limit, or to accelerate at a snails pace…just tone it down a little.
2. Check Your Tires.
This one should be a no-brainer, yet is the most often overlooked item when it comes to maintaining better fuel economy. Under inflated tires have a higher resistance to rolling, causing your vehicle to require more gas to keep moving. That 50 cent trip to the air compressor at a gas station could save you tons down the road. The added bonus here? Properly inflated tires will also wear more evenly, helping them to last longer.
3. Fill Your Tank at Night.
Well, it doesn’t have to be at night, but you should fill your tank at the coolest time of the day. Gas is denser at cooler temperatures. Keeping in mind that gas pumps measure by volume of gasoline and not by density of fuel concentration, you can save a extra few bucks just by switching up what time of the day you fill up. If you are filling up at night, be sure to bring a flashlight, so you can still easily check your tires as mentioned above.
4. Turn Off Your A/C.
Having the air conditioning constantly running increases your gas consumption. In the summer months, you’re actually better off with the windows down (note: having the windows down decreases gas mileage as well, but it’s still better than running your A/C.) If you can’t live with the windows down, you can at least help to reduce the load of your A/C by parking in the shade when available, or leaving the windows slightly cracked when you’re not in the vehicle.
5. Clean Out Your Car.
If it’s been a while, take a look around and see if there’s anything you can clean out of your car. You would be surprised at how quickly the items you leave in your vehicle add up in weight. Removing 40-50lbs out of the car will go a long way. This one is doubly important for anyone playing in a bowling league.
6. When Possible, Avoid Idling.
Whenever your car is idling, you’re burning gas and achieving 0MPG. If you’re conscious of it, you’ll find a lot of times when you can shut the car off. Stuck in line at a drive-thru? Waiting for the kids to come out of school? Turn the engine off.
7. Been awhile? Get a tune-up.
A well maintained vehicle will always get the best gas mileage. Replacing your spark plugs/wires or replacing your air filter will help your vehicle to stay in optimal operating condition, which in turn will help you to obtain the best gas mileage you possibly can.
8. Plan Your Trips.
If you’ve got the time, have your trips well planned out. Whether you can figure out how to avoid traffic, or figure out how to make as few trips as possible, having a well planned out drive will help to eliminate wasted miles and gas consumption.
9. Cruise Control is Your Friend.
If you’re anything like us, you tend to vary your speed quite a bit while driving. This isn’t exactly the best way to drive. Maintaining a constant, steady pace will help you to get the most out of your tank. Cruise Control can be perfect for this, but do be mindful of the terrain your driving on. If you’ll be traversing a lot of upward and downward slopes, you’ll be better off without the cruise control. But if you’re going 60mph on a flat surface? Take a load off.
10. Use The Highest Gear Possible.
Cars are designed to start in the lowest gear because that’s where they have the most power. Unfortunately, that’s also where they use the most fuel. Whether you have a manual transmission, or a shift option on your automatic, try to stay in the highest gear you can in order to achieve the best gas mileage.
I’m sure we missed a few here, but following these easy tips will help you to get the most bang for your buck. If you’ve got any suggestions of your own, tell us about them in the comments!
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