Let’s Save On Gas
It’s summer, time for heatwaves, monsoons, and family trips to escape the valley temps. Gas prices are as high as can be, no matter where you go, here are a few tips to get the shock of the tank a little more reasonable!
1. Check the Air Filter-
Studies have found that nearly one in every 4 cars on the road needs an air filter replacement. Dirty air can decrease gas mileage by 10%!
2. Get a Tune-Up-
When was your last tune-up? A properly maintained engine tuned to the manufactures specifications can improve mileage by up to 8%.
3. Check Tire Alignment –
Poor alignment not only causes tires to wear out rapidly but also forces your engine to work harder. Align the tires and save up to 10%!
4. Tighten the Gas Cap-
Believe it or not, a loose gas cap can cost you money due to the evaporation of the gas in your tank. Keeping it loose, can lose you 30 gallons of gas per year!
5. Keep Those Tires inflated-
More than ¼ of vehicles on the road are driving on low pressured tires; the average under-inflation of 7.5 pounds causes a loss of 3% in fuel effectiveness.
6. Slow Down-
For every 5 miles per hour, you reduce highway speed, you can reduce fuel consumption by 7%. This is especially true for those vehicles that have large, frontal surfaces, i.e. vans and trucks.
7. Drive Smoothly-
Avoid jack-rabbit starts and you will improve the fuel economy. In particular, feathering the gas pedal when you leave stop signs and lights can save you up to 10% mileage.
8. Don’t Idle-
Besides causing air pollution, idling wastes, you guessed it, gas. If stopped more than 30 seconds, turn off the engine and, unless it is very cold out, don’t bother to warm up’ the car before driving.
9. Low Octane-
Don’t use the higher octane gas, than what your car requires. Higher octane is only required for high compression engines. For most, it isn’t necessary.
10. Combine Errands-
It’s amazing how fewer drivers do this, it is possible to save a great deal of money by simply combing errands into a small number of trips. Try it out and earn the savings!
You can also check out this website, and find the lowest-cost gas stations near you!