How to Save on Fuel
When gas prices started going up, all we were told to do (over and over, on all the AAA billboards) was to keep our tires inflated properly. Which, yes, does save a lot of fuel. But is that all we can do? Of course not. There are several other simple changes we can make to our cars which, combined, will make larger changes to your bill at the pump and your carbon footprint.
First, go through everything in your trunk. Make sure you're not lugging around anything that is heavy that you don't need. Some people go as far as to take out their spare tire, though this is not recommended. Even if you are part of an auto club, having to get them to find your type of tire to bring you if you get a flat can take extra time, which could be dangerous in emergency situations.
Moving forward to the front of the car, check and change your oil often. If you're confident enough to do this yourself, don't forget that you can recycle the used oil. And check your exhaust every so often. If it's running dirty, that may mean your car isn't using fuel as efficiently as it could be. Also make sure your cooling fluid in your radiator is topped off, and that your air filters get changed often.
Carpooling is an obvious choice, but sometimes it doesn't occur to people when working plans out. Even if picking someone up is a bit out of your way, it's worth it to keep extra cars off the road. And be mindful when you're running errands. Planning out routes ahead of time will save you time and gas.
Another simple hint is to never get gas unless you're at less than a quarter of a tank. A gallon of gas weighs six pounds, so there's no reason to constantly have the tank full. You'll just burn what's in there faster.
When driving, if you have an tachometer (the meter that tells you your RPMs) try and keep it below three (3,000 Revolutions Per Minute). There's no need to push it farther than that except when accelerating onto a freeway. A lot of people have started changing their driving habits from fast and furious to slow and steady in an effort to save on fuel.
There is a persistent rumor that says that starting and stopping a car is less fuel efficient than just letting it idle. This is only true if your car is going to idle for more than twenty seconds. Otherwise, turn it off. This is similar that rumor that if you are only going to be out of a room for a few minutes, you may as well leave the light on, since the energy spike of turning it back on would waste more. This is also not true. Only if you're leaving for a fraction of a second does this hold.
Lastly, if you really want to go that extra mile (no pun intended) you can shift your car into neutral at all stoplights. It may get old fast, but it helps save gas.
Of course, taking alternative methods of transport is the ideal solution but, unfortunately, that is not always an option. Even so, be sure to explore that possibility before you find your keys.
