Tips for Saving Gasfuel
Do to rising gas prices, we are all seeking ways to save money on fuel. After loads of research and brainstorming, I've compiled a list of 116 ways to save gas.
FILLING UP:
1. Keep an eye out! Keep an eye out for the best gas prices on your way to work or school.
2. Don't drive out of your way to fill up! With the amount of gas you're going to save, you're probably going to be spending more getting there and back.
3. Don't fill up until your tank is full! Keep in mind that the more fuel your tank has in it, the heavier your vehicle becomes. Also, running a vehicle with less than a quarter tank can shorten the life of the electric fuel pump, and running on empty will often destroy the pump because it is forced to run constantly trying to pressurize fuel since it often has access to only air.
4. Don't top off gas! When buying gas, stop when the pump shuts off automatically. Don't overfill it! When you top off, some gas will spill out of your tank as it warms up.
5. Pay with cash! Some stations charge extra for using credit cards.
6. Join a club! Some gas stations, department stores and grocery stores offer lower prices when you present their membership card.
7. Get a gas card! Gas cards often offer a rebate or discount on their pumps. Sometimes up to $0.50 per gallon; you'll be surprised!
8. Save your receipts! Record all gas purchases for tax deduction purposes!
9. Fill up before the holidays! It's recommended that you fill up your tank at least three days before a holiday so you can avoid the price increases.
10. Fill up when it's cool! Cooler temperatures in the early morning or late evening create fewer vapors.
11. Tighten your gas cap! Your tank needs both fuel and fumes. In the US every year 147 Million Gallons of Fuel are lost due to evaporation. Make sure it works properly and tighten it up!
12. Use the correct fuel grade! Use the fuel grade recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.
13. Don't be "brand-conscious!" Buy where you can get the best deal. There isn't any significant difference between any of the brands. In fact, all the brands fill their tanker trucks at whatever refinery is closest and the only difference between "brands" is a few gallons of a proprietary additive that gets mixed with the fuel loaded to the truck. All additives must meet OEM and EPA performance standards so the only real difference between brands is the audacity of the superior performance claims.
14. Avoid tanker trucks! If you see a tanker truck at the gas station, wait a few days before you decide to get gas there, or just go to a different one for the time being. When the tanker dumps its thousands of gallons of gas into the containers below the station, the sediment and condensation get stirred up and this then gets pumped into next cars that fill-up. This can shorten the life or even plug your fuel filter.
15. Avoid busy gas stations! - Refuel your vehicle during off-peak times to avoid lines and excessive idling.
MAINTENANCE:
16. Maintain tire pressure! The less pressure you have in your tires, the harder your vehicle has to work.
17. Buy large radial tires! The larger they are, the less turns your tires have to make to get to the same destination. Radial tires use less friction between the tire and the road.
18. Maintain your air filter! Replace if necessary. Reduced airflow increases gas waste.
19. Use the correct grade of motor oil! If you use the wrong grade of oil, you may increase the friction in your engine. It gets hotter and uses more gas.
20. Use synthetic oil instead of mineral oil! This will cause your engine to run better and give you better mileage.
21. Use a fuel injector cleaner! Crappy injectors vaporize fuel poorly, affecting how completely the fuel is burned.
22. Inspect suspension and chassis parts for occasional misalignment! Bent wheels and axles, bad shocks, broken springs, etc. all create engine drag.
23. Remove snow tires during good weather seasons! Traveling on deep tire tread wastes fuel tremendously.
24. Get tuned! You can actually get replacement chips for your engine computer that increases the power and saves gas at the same time. But make sure you use manufacturer-approved tuners if you don't want to lose your warranty.
25. Reduce electricity! Whether it's driving with your lights on during the day, running the radio full blast, or messing with your power windows, every piece of electrical equipment in your vehicle is powered from the alternator, which will increase its load on the engine to produce more power. The more load on your engine, the worse it is for you!
26. Reduce horsepower! The lower your horsepower, the higher your fuel economy.
27. Check for leaks! Gasoline evaporates pretty quick, so may not realize you have a fuel leak. Check underneath right after getting out of your vehicle.
28. Avoid rooftop carriers! Approximately 1/4 of each gallon of gas is needed to overcome wind resistance, so avoid carrying things on your roof. Though, if you need to, use an aerodynamic carrier to help minimize the drag.
29. Remove your luggage rack! It's said that if you remove your luggage rack, you can save as much as $0.02 per gallon by reducing the little drag that it creates.
ENGINE WARM UP:
30. Avoid prolonged warming up of engine! You're burning up to a gallon of fuel per hour while idling.
31. Be sure the automatic choke is disengaged after engine warm up! Chokes often get stuck, resulting in bad gas/air mixture.
32. Don't start and stop engine needlessly! Starting your vehicle consumes as much fuel as idling for one minute.
33. Avoid "revving" the engine! This wastes fuel needlessly, especially just before you switch the engine off.
34. Don't turn on your heater yet! Wait until your engine is at normal operating temperature before turning the heater on. By turning it on too early, you're increasing the time it takes to warm up, as well as your fuel consumption.
35. During cold weather, watch for icicles frozen to the car frame! Up to 100 lbs. can be quickly accumulated underneath.
DRIVING:
36. Remove added weight! Added weight in your vehicle will help reduce your mileage.
37. Drive alone! Try to avoid taking the whole family to the grocery store if you can. The added weight will cost you.
38. Avoid idling while waiting in your car! Excessive idling can cost you up to 19%.
39. Shift into neutral when stopped! If you're only going to idle for about 30-60 seconds (i.e. at the stoplight), shift into neutral while you're waiting. Remaining in drive wastes fuel as the engine continues to try to creep the car forward while being held back by the brakes.
40. Don't start up until you're adjusted! Buckle up, adjust the seat and the mirrors, and make sure your passengers are too. THEN start your vehicle when you're ready to go.
41. Avoid drive-thrus! Instead of waiting in a drive-thru line for 5-10 minutes (i.e. restaurants and banks), just park and go in!
42. Drop the tailgate on your truck! If you own a pickup without a tunnel cover, drive around with the tailgate down to reduce drag.
43. Avoid accelerating fast! (A.k.a. "Jack-rabbit starts") The faster you get going, the more fuel you'll burn! Don't push the pedal down more than 1/4 of the total foot travel.
44. Open your windows at slow speeds! Turn your air conditioning off and roll down the windows when you're driving around town. It burns fuel to have it on!
45. Close your sunroof at high speeds! When you're driving on the highway, open sunroofs create drag at speeds of 40 mph or more, reducing your mileage by 10%.
46. Go the speed limit! Aside from safety reasons, you can get up to 20% more mileage by traveling 55 mph than 70 mph. Also, stoplights are usually timed to your advantage; by traveling steadily at the legal speed limit you boost your chances of having the "green light all the way."
47. Have patience! Are you one of those people who can't stand it when other people pass you? Swallow your pride, buddy! Have some patience!
48. Choose the lane of least resistance! In multi-lane traffic, choose the lane in which there is the least amount of unpredictable braking and changes in speed.
49. Wait for the right moment to move! Don't start the engine until there's actually an opportunity to start driving.
50. Stop speeding through yellow lights! Aside from safety concerns, stepping on the gas when the light turns yellow so you can make it across in time is a bad habit for your fuel economy.
51. Don't tailgate! Tailgating requires extra attention, and you're constantly breaking and accelerating over and over again, wasting fuel. I guess it would be considered one of your punishments though for being such an idiot!
52. Listen to calm music! Fast and loud music can make you more impatient and want to forget about these gas saving tips. Calm down!
53. Avoid blind spots at high speeds! It's not a huge factor, but driving in someone's blind spot at high speeds isn't only unsafe; the wind that the other vehicle is pushing aside is actually creating more resistance for you. If anything, drive behind larger vehicles so that the wind resistance is hitting them instead. Just like Nascar drivers. Just don't follow too close!
54. Avoid traveling in low gears at high speeds! This can consume up to 45% more fuel than is needed.
55. Avoid rough roads! Dirt and gravel reduces your gas mileage by up to 30%.
56. Avoid bad weather! Rain and snow create slippery roads, making it more difficult for your vehicle to maintain speed and traction. It also increases rolling resistance. Heavy winds obviously create more resistance than normal.
57. Find crosswind barriers! When heavy winds do occur and you can't avoid them, you may be able to limit the amount of resistance you get by driving alongside a wall that's blocking the wind from hitting you.
58. Use the wind to your advantage! If you notice that the wind is blowing in a certain direction that you need to go, drive with it and let it take away your resistance.
59. Avoid driving at night! Low light equals low visibility. When it's difficult to see the signs, we start breaking and slowing down to see them clearly. Then we accelerate when we realize it's not the one we were hoping for. Also, things may seem to jump out at us more at night, causing us to break suddenly and reaccelerate. Every time we do this, we waste fuel.
60. Use cruise control on flat roads! Maintaining your speed helps at an average of 7% savings, all the way up to 14%.
61. Don't accelerate up hill! Build up your speed before an incline, and then maintain it on the way up.
62. Coast when going down hill! Try not to touch your gas pedal when going down hill. If it's for a prolonged period of time, you may even think about shifting into Neutral.
63. Don't use cruise control on hills! Keep in mind the last two ways of saving gas and you'll understand why.
64. Hang with the big trucks! Ever notice how, in bad traffic jams, cars seem to constantly speed up and slow down, while trucks tend to roll along at the same leisurely pace? A constant speed keeps shifting to a minimum and aids fuel economy. Rolling with the big rigs saves fuel.
65. Keep your steering wheel still! The more you weave back and forth, the farther your car has to travel and the more gas is consumed.
66. Use right foot only! To avoid riding the brake and wasting gas, use your right foot to control both pedals.
67. Get out of traffic jams! Remember, you're burning fuel while idling, so if you're caught dead in a traffic jam, you have no choice. Get out of it immediately!
68. Avoid hard stops! While accelerating fast burns gas, hard stops also affect you. Take your foot off the accelerator and coast a bit before stopping for a traffic light or a stop sign. Keep an eye well down the road for potential slowdowns.
69. Conserve your momentum! Have you ever traveled down a busy one-lane road with no turning lanes and the car in front of you needs to turn left all the sudden? Instead of slamming on your breaks and idling until they get out of your way, safely go around them. Try cutting corners to avoid stop signs or use side streets with less speed bumps too.
70. Stop flirting! Quite a large crowd of younger folks have been known to drive around at night with one purpose: to meet hot girls or guys. Try meeting people elsewhere.
71. Don't be a "lookie-lu!" When there's an accident, keep driving! Don't slow down to see what's going on. Besides being unsafe, you're wasting fuel to slow down and accelerate.
72. Push it! If you have a driveway with a decline, try pushing your vehicle down instead of starting it up and driving it down.
73. Avoid needing to reverse! Park your car so that you can later begin to travel in forward gear to save gas.
74. Reverse in if you have to! If you have no pull-through spots to choose from, reverse in when you arrive instead of when you leave. Your fuel economy is at its worst when your engine is cold, so make more work for your vehicle while it's still warm.
75. Park in the shade! This is less of an issue with modern vehicles, but by avoiding direct sunlight you also reduce the amount of fuel that evaporates. Parking in the shade also keeps it cooler inside, and you will need less A/C to cool off when you get back in. If there is no shade available, park so that your gas tank (the actual tank under the car, not the valve to fill it) is facing away from the direct sun.
76. Park closer to the entrance of the parking lot! In larger parking lots such as shopping malls, theme parks, large department stores, or apartment complexes, park your vehicle as close to the entrance as possible so you don't burn fuel in the parking lot.
77. Modify your shutdown procedure! It's not a big deal, but you can save a few drops of fuel by getting in the habit of shutting off your engine before you put it in park.
78. Avoid steep driveways! Do you park your car in a steep driveway at home? You may not think about it, but how much gas do you give it trying to get up the slope? Especially when you start rolling down.
79. Don't take an hour to park! Stop driving around the parking lot for an hour in hopes that you'll get a closer spot. Duh!
80. Avoid parallel parking! For on-street parking, choose a spot with enough room to pull in and out rather than multiple reverse/forward maneuvering.81. Park where it's warm! The colder your vehicle stays when it's parked, the longer it takes for your engine to warm up, hurting your fuel economy. Park in the garage if it's going to be a cold winter night.
PLANNING AHEAD:
82. Buy a fuel-efficient car or motorcycle! Aside from high miles-per-gallon, factor in long-term fuel costs. Less horsepower equals increased fuel economy. Motorcycles and lower profile vehicles, more aerodynamic vehicles, and vehicles without sunroofs help prevent wind resistance. Lighter colored vehicles don't absorb as much heat, which means you won't have to turn on the A/C as high.
83. Rent a better vehicle! If you're planning on renting a vehicle on your next vacation, or are renting because you're current vehicle is in the shop, look for a smaller vehicle that's more aerodynamic and has less horsepower.
84. On short trips, try walking or bicycling!
85. Use public transportation! If your work is too far to walk or ride a bicycle, look into other means such as a train or bus that is on your route.
86. Make your kids walk to school! If it's close enough, let them get the exercise!
87. Carpool! If you work near a family member or neighbor, or live near a coworker, then take turns carpooling whenever possible. And don't forget this when you're going to dinner with multiple people or a family outing, etc.
88. Let the most efficient driver do the driving! Some people can't help it, so get the driver who is most willing to drive efficiently behind the wheel.
89. Choose the most fuel-efficient vehicle! If you have multiple vehicles to choose from, use the most fuel-efficient one.
90. Before getting into your car, ask yourself "Is this trip necessary?"!
91. Do they deliver? Let them pay for the gas!
92. Get directions! Use a GPS, Google Maps, MapQuest, or call the place you're going to get good directions so you don't drive the wrong way.
93. Avoid traffic! Listen to traffic reports on the radio or television before you leave.
94. Before you leave, make a plan, period! We often drive around aimlessly trying to decide on where to shop, bargain hunt, or eat for dinner. Check the yellow pages, Internet, or newspaper ads, and call around first!
95. Combine your errands! No point in wasting money on gas driving to two different stores if you can find the same stuff at one of them, right?!
96. Route multiple destinations accurately! Once you know where you're going, route them according to their location. Don't drive back and forth three times across town if they're right next to each other.
97. Make the farthest trip first! When routing your trips, go to your farthest destination first, and work your way back. This ensures the vehicle is warmed up as much as possible before having to do multiple starts and stops.
98. Walk between stops! If your destinations are close enough, park in between them and walk to them.
99. Choose a closer location! Is it worth burning $4 of gas just to save $0.50 on milk at the grocery store across town? Choose a closer location!
100. Take fewer trips! I've seen people go to the grocery store every single day. Try getting everything you need for the whole week and you'll save a bundle on gas.
101. Re-Route everyday trips! Compare traveling distance differences; corners, curves, and lane jumping requires extra gas. The shortest distance is always straight.
102. Get compensated! If you travel a lot as a part of your job, you may be able to convince your employer to pay for your gas expenses.
103. Work less if you can! Try convincing your employer to let you work four 10-hour days instead of five 8-hour days.
104. Work from home! If you are self-employed, maybe you can turn your home into your office as well.
105. Move closer to your job or school! This may be a bit of a big move, but for some, it's well worth it. Let's say that your vehicle gets 15 mpg, and you have to pay $4 per gallon at the pump. If you save 40 miles of driving a day, 5 times a week, that's a total savings of $10.66 a day, $53.33 a week, or $2,773.33 a year. And to think that some people are traveling even more than that with less mileage and have to pay more per gallon on gas. What a waste!
106. Find a job closer to you! Same thing. If you can't move homes, maybe you can think about getting a closer job.
107. Take online courses! Instead of going to a school campus for all your courses, you may be able to take courses online.
108. Cook at home! Reduce the amount of times you go out to eat every week and stay at home.
109. Avoid driving on lunch breaks! Instead of driving from work or the school campus every day to get lunch, try bringing your lunch or walk to a place nearby.
110. Avoid promotional sales on food! Sometimes we rush out to get a great deal on food, not realizing that we just spent the same amount on gas.
111. Avoid going to the gym! Unless it's within walking distance (which is exercise in itself), maybe you'd be better off getting some home equipment! In the long run, you'll be saving on monthly or yearly fees as well.
112. Save money in other areas! If you've done everything you want to do on this list and still want to save more money, remember that cutting back on your other bills will free up some money for fuel as well!
113. et feedback! Feedback is absolutely critical to improving driving habits. Tracking your fuel consumption in a logbook and using fuel consumption displays can help give you the feedback you need. Tank-to-tank monitoring of your consumption is not good enough. You need instrumentation that lets you reset the readout at will so you can track individual trips, or even portions of trips you regularly travel.
114. Attend a defensive driving class! They're motivating, might help you save on insurance, and you might get some more ideas on saving gas that aren't listed here.
115. Make fuel economy a game! Competing against yourself or others to get the best possible fuel economy is a great way to get motivated to try harder.
116. Don't forget about gas saving tips! Print this list out and put it in your vehicle so that passengers can remind you of them.
