Given that gas prices won’t be falling any time soon, you may consider the following tips to save money on soaring gas prices (without having to give up driving) helpful:
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Change your driving behavior: 1) Accelerate more gradually (the harder you press the gas pedal, the more fuel gets consumed) 2) Anticipate stops (coasting then braking saves a lot of fuel instead of slamming on the brakes at the last second) 3) Drive slower on the highway (the more you push your car to the limit, the more gas it burns) 4) If you drive a manual, shift gears earlier (the higher your engine revs the more gas it burns so try shifting gears at a lower RPM). NOTE! I totally understand that changing your driving behavior isn’t much fun, but just keep your mind fixed on all the money you’ll save doing so (the above 4 tips, on average, increases fuel efficiency by about 10-15%!).
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Ensure your tires are properly inflated: Tires that are under- or over-inflated can change how your car handles (by adding drag and accelerating wear) and ultimately consumes fuel. According to the Alliance to Save Energy, tires improperly inflated reduce fuel efficiency by 3.3%. Thus, check out your owner’s manual or your driver’s side door panel to find out the proper inflation for your tires and check your tire pressure once every 3-4 weeks.
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Clean out your trunk: You can save quite a bit of gas if you just shed some of the weight from your car. Now I’m not suggesting you go out to your garage and rip the back seats out. But check out what’s in your trunk. Most of the supplies you needed during the winter are likely not needed during the spring/summer/fall. So clean it out!
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Change your air filter: A clogged and dirty air filter can significantly reduce your gas mileage, not to mention lower your car’s performance. It usually costs less than $20 and takes less than 10 minutes to install, but too many car owners forget to check the lungs of their car when trying to find ways to improve mileage.
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Forget the premium stuff: If you really want to save on gas prices, buy only regular unleaded gas, not the pricey premium stuff. Just because your Honda Civic is tricked out with high performance parts doesn’t mean it needs high performance fuel. NOTE! If you do drive a high performance vehicle (like a high-end Porsche, BMW, Ferrari etc) that requires you to pump only premium fuels, than by all means, disregard this tip.
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Drive with your windows closed: Driving with your windows open reduces fuel efficiency by 5-10% (depending on how fast you are traveling) because it creates excessive drag. Thus, close your windows, especially if you’re heading for high-speed roads.
