Paying Too Much for Gas? These 10 Tips Will Help You Save Money
He pays about $3.60 a gallon for gasoline, a 21% jump since the start of the Iran war in Feb. 28. As the battle progresses, you will probably pay more.
The US national average price for a gallon of premium gasoline was $2.98 on February 27, the day before the United States and Israel attacked Iran. Now the price of oil has reached $100 a barrel and the cost of gas is rising.
Read more: Gas and fuel rewards apps can help.
After an international collision, there are some practical, common sense things you can do to ease your financial pain at the gas pump.
In addition to using fuel apps and paying cash, simply making sure your car is in good condition and driving sensibly can help you save money. Here are some recommendations.
1. Keep your car in good condition: Maintain the vehicle and keep it in good working order. Use the grade of engine oil recommended by the manufacturer.
2. Make sure the tires are properly inflated: Check your car’s tires to make sure they are inflated to the correct PSI, or pounds per square inch. Underpowered tires can reduce miles per gallon. You will find the PSI in your owner’s manual and on the sticker on the inside of the driver’s side door. Check your tires regularly when it’s cold.
3. Use the correct octane fuel: Most cars don’t need high-octane gas, which costs more than low-octane. Use the octane level recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Avoid running the engine for long periods of time: For modern vehicles, the Department of Energy recommends that you let the engine idle for 30 seconds to warm it up. Older cars with carburetors may need two to three minutes in cold weather. If you are stopped for 10 seconds or more, turn off the engine, except in the air, say the door, and start again when you are ready to go.
5. Lower the mood: In hot weather, running an air conditioner can reduce your engine’s MPG by as much as 25%, according to the Department of Energy. Keep the windows down while driving at low speeds, but use the air conditioner while on the highway. Do not use the cooler more than necessary and do not set the temperature lower than necessary.
However, Consumer Reports found that the air conditioner “reduces humidity inside the vehicle, which can help keep the driver alert and safe,” and calls it a beneficial trade-off.
6. Clean your car: Throwing things you don’t need out of the car reduces weight. Heavy vehicles make the engine work harder, especially in smaller vehicles. Keep the essential tools, but remove the unnecessary items.
7. Remove the outer racks: Unless you are using them, remove the roof racks and roof racks to reduce draft. Sedan owners in particular “suffer a significant impact on fuel economy as soon as the roof rack is installed,” Consumer Reports said.
8. Plan your trip: It’s more efficient to combine your work into one long drive instead of doing many. A short first trip can use almost twice as much fuel as a single, long one.
9. Use cruise control: On highways, cruise control “helps maintain a consistent speed and, in many cases, will save gas,” the Department of Energy said. The new cars have Adaptive Cruise Control, an advanced control that helps drivers maintain a proper distance from other vehicles.
10. Drive smoothly and sensibly: Jackrabbit starts, hard braking and hard driving can increase fuel consumption by 10% to 40%, according to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Maintaining a steady speed and adjusting speed to keep up with traffic lights helps improve gas mileage, as it takes more energy to move a car from a standstill than to keep a car moving, says the New York Department of Transportation.
SOURCE USA TODAY Network reporting and research; Reuters; US Department of Energy; aaa.com; Consumer Reports; fueleconomy.gov
This article first appeared in USA TODAY: Paying too much for gas? These 10 tips will help you save money.
Reporting by George Petras and Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY / USA TODAY
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
