With gas prices still at an all time high, commuters are looking for ways to stretch their gas dollars. I drive a full size van that costs over $100 to fill it up. It has been a while since my van has had a full tank. None the less, I still have to find other ways to help save money and get the best gas mileage possible. There are a lot of large vehicles on the road and whatever the reason, people may not be able to trade in their larger vehicles for a smaller, more gas efficient car. Here are some great tips to help save you money at the gas pump and to get the best fuel mileage out of your van, SUV, pick-up truck, or car.
- Make sure your vehicle is in top running condition. Change the oil regularly; get your scheduled tune-ups. A poorly running engine will burn more gas. Just changing the air filter made a noticable difference on my van’s gas consumption.
- Check the air pressure in your tires, periodically. Low tires can cause poor gas mileage. Use the recommended specifications from your owner’s manual.
- It seems everybody is in a hurry to get somewhere (some are in a hurry to get nowhere). You need to slow down, especially driving highway miles. If you drive the minimum speed limit, you can get up to 20% more gas mileage.
- Added weight to your car can diminish your fuel efficiency. You don’t need to throw all your passengers out, just clean the junk out of the trunk.
- If at all possible, try to avoid rush hour traffic. You will consume gas just sitting in traffic with your engine idling. It could save you money just by leaving work a little later or going in a little earlier.
- Car pooling has always been an efficient way to save gas.
- Buying the lower grade gas will not necessarily save you money. To get the best gas mileage, you need to purchase the recommended grade of gas, from your owners manual, for your car.
- Fast starts from a traffic light or stop sign burns a lot more gas than starting out slowly and gradually picking up speed. If you are one of those people who want to race everybody to the next light, you are probably making more stops at the gas pump.
- Plan your daily or weekly errands. Make your stops that are in the same area at the same time. Instead of going to an area three times a week, make it a one day a week.
These are just some of the tips that will help you save money and stretch your gas dollars. Whether you are driving a large van (like me) or a small fuel efficient car, applying these gas saving tips will help you get the best gas mileage out of your vehicle. You can download a free fuel efficiency guide at www.fueleconomy.gov that shows the fuel efficiency comparisons on different vehicles.
