You’ve heard the suggestions: drive less, carpool, get a credit card with gas rewards… But aside from that, is there anything you can do to save money on gas? The truth is that keeping your car in top condition will not only extend its life but also end up saving you hundreds of dollars in gas.
- Keep the vehicle in top shape. Underinflated tires lower a car’s gas mileage. The same is true of engines that are out of tune or cars that have failed their emissions test. Dirty air filters cause the engine to overwork, wasting gas in the process.
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Switch to high-quality oil. This alone will increase your gas mileage by two percent. If you have your car’s manual, check to see what the recommended brand and grade is for your vehicle. Or buy oil that sports the words “energy conserving” on the label.
- Protect your car from the elements. Parking in the shade or inside a garage will reduce evaporative emissions considerably and conserve gas. In the winter, keeping your car warm means that you will waste less gas trying to warm it up in the morning.
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Drive consistently. Speeding up, abrupt stops and high speed in general all waste gas. Instead, use cruise control when on the highway and maintain a steady pace when driving within city limits.
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Get rid of excess weight. This means clearing out the trunk of the car, removing the roof rack when not in use and not using your vehicle as storage space.