Get more Miles from your Gasoline Dollar
Although the price of gasoline has been getting a lot of attention lately since it's soared, there are those of us living on tight budgets who have been trying to make every one of our hard earned dollars stretch for years. For us, two dollars a gallon was expensive, so we've had a lot of practice avoiding a visit to the gas station. Combining as many errands in one run, eliminating unnecessary trips, rediscovering the joys of a good walk with a purpose and avoiding sudden stops and starts at traffic lights have become second nature to us.
Besides the obvious of finding a conveniently located gas station that sells the cheapest gas, there are a other things that you can do to increase your vehicle's mpg while you're at the pump.
The first is to visit the gas station early in the morning when it's still relatively cool outside. Gasoline, like other liquids, expands in the heat. Hence, a gallon of cool gasoline is denser than a warm one. You might find yourself surrounded by people whose job it is to drive, but it's worth the wait if all the pumps are in use.
When you're pumping your gas, squeeze the handle as lightly as possible. It takes longer, but the gasoline doesn't splash into your tank and you don't get a false reading of how much is actually in there. It's rather like pouring a beer or a soda straight into a glass as opposed to letting it slide down the side.
Next, when the pump clicks off, you're finished paying for the gasoline. Your tank is full. Adding extra gasoline to make the dollar amount of your purchase even is a waste to time, money and fuel. If the pump you are using has a lever that you can push down to end your re-fueling, push it down while the nozzle is still in the tank. Then, squeeze the handle again, lift the hose, and shake out the remaining gasoline into your tank. If there is no such lever, just lift up the hose while you shake the pump. You've paid for that gasoline that sitting in there so you might as well get the very last drop you can out of it.
Finally, don't wait until your gauge reads empty to refuel. Filling up when you're a quarter, or better still, a half a tank empty is much better for your gas mileage. Again, it has to do with the pumped gasoline sloshing around inside your gas tank. Plus, it's less of an immediate dent in your wallet to buy a smaller amount.
Admittedly, these simple steps aren't going to transform your gas guzzler into a fuel sipper. However, since following all these suggestions, I've managed to gain about an extra mile per gallon. It hasn't made me rich, but I still can eat and keep a roof over my head without having to take out a loan.
