Gas prices are sky high and they’re probably going to remain that way through the summer (if not longer). You need to do all that you can to reduce fuel waste when driving so that your savings account doesn’t get sucked up at the gas station. Here are ten tricks used by hypermilers to get more out of each stop at the pump:
- Always keep your tires at the proper pressure. This is one of the best ways to get top fuel economy out of your vehicle. Make it a habit to check your tire pressure every single time you stop for gas. Check your car’s owner’s manual to find out what the proper tire pressure is for your vehicle.
- Put your car on a diet. Actually what this means is to remove all of the junk from your car that adds any weight to it. Not taking the baby out? Then you don’t need the car seat. Never use your roof rack? Take it off. The lighter the car, the better its fuel efficiency.
- Challenge yourself never to touch the brake pedal. Okay, that would be safe if you took it to the extreme but the point here is to avoid frequent and hard braking. Leave room between your car and the car in front of you so that you can anticipate the need to brake and do so slowly.
- Crack the windows when driving through residential areas. You want to keep your air conditioner off as much as possible this summer because it eats up gas. However, you reduce fuel efficiency when windows are open at high speeds. Use the AC on low on the freeway and crack your windows only a bit when driving in slow speed areas.
- Don’t be a speed demon. Stick to the speed limit if you want to get the best fuel efficiency out of your vehicle. The only place you’re getting faster if you speed is the gas station!
- Get your car serviced regularly. You want your car to be in the best shape possible. Replace the air filter when the mechanic recommends it. Keep on top of your oil changes. A well-maintained car is one that’s kind to you at the gas pump.
- Invest in oil, not in gas. Get a better grade of engine oil but don’t bother getting the premium gas at the pump.
- Review your regular route. Does the route that you take most often have lots of hills or always require you to idle in traffic? Look for a different route that is comparable in terms of distance but doesn’t have these gas-eating problems along the way.
- Park away from the front of stores. If you park near the doors then you will have to idle for a long time and brake for the pedestrians coming out of the door. Park far away and you’ll waste less gas.
10. Park facing outwards. This means that if there are two spots then you should pull forward to the second spot. If there’s not then you should back in. This saves you gas when pulling out of the parking lot.
This is a post by Kathryn Vercillo of Discount Coder blog. She writes about frugal living, saving money and dealing with debt.