28 Ways to Save Money on Gas
Smart saving
Best ways to save money on gas
1) Buy a more fuel-efficient car
Miles per gallon should be among your top considerations when planning to acquire a new vehicle. Both hybrid and electric cars are getting better & cheaper by the day. And they come with unbelievable mpg ratings, for instance, the Carmy Hybrid that can cover 52 miles with one gallon.
2) Use apps to track gas prices
Some of the most raved over gas-saving apps include Gas Buddy, Waze, Cash Guru, FuelFrog, etc. These apps keep you in the loop about gas prices at stations in your town or city. What’s more, you can get directions to the best pump that will save you the most cash.
3) Car maintenance tips
Consult your owner’s manual about service times and when to change the oil, filter, spark plugs, etc.
Opt for the manufacturer’s recommended oil. The wrong oil choice makes your engine inefficient and may result in oil leaks. Also, buy Energy Conserving Oils that improve fuel efficiency by up 1.5%.
4) Rack up gas station reward points
If your station offers a loyalty program in an attempt to make you stick with them, take advantage of it. You might end up saving up to 10 cents on each gallon. Two of the most well-known programs include the Exxon Mobil Rewards & Shell Fuel Rewards®.
5) Coast to stoplights
Consider this scenario:
You’re driving at 45 miles per hour approaching a red stoplight.
What do you do?
Well, stop accelerating and let your car coast, such that by the time the signal changes your car has not come to a complete stop, and you have not lost momentum.
6) Drive at slightly reduced speeds
Why do people rush? Duh, they are late for something. And driving at high speeds increases the drag on your vehicle, requiring more energy for propulsion. Fuel consumption increases by 20% when you drive at 75 mph instead of 55 mph.
7) Keep the Eco Light On & use the Eco Button
Your car’s instrument panel may have an ECO Light that alerts you when the engine is at its best fuel utilization. Play around with different driving styles, and learn when the ECO Light comes on.
Your car might also have an ECO button that modifies the performance to increase fuel efficiency. For instance, it allows the car to accelerate gradually.
8) Tackle slopes and small hills with kinetic energy
Build up momentum when approaching a small inclination. As soon as you start climbing, let go of the throttle. After you have lost speed, you can accelerate again.
During the decent, utilize gravity to your advantage. When descending a hill, take advantage of engine breaking
9) Keep your RPM at 2000
Wondering how to save gas while driving automatic? Keep your RPM as low as you can. When driving a stick shift, change gears at 2500 RPM. Not only will you be saving gas, but you’ll prevent engine problems caused by over-revving.
10) Turn off your Aircon for a 15% fuel-efficiency boost
Some sources say that you could be losing 3 miles per gallon with the AC on because it uses about 3KW of the engine’s power. That’s a lot!
A surprising way to save gas is to park your car in the shade. The cabin will not get too hot.
11) When “Premium” is recommended, use regular
High-octane fuel is more pricey because it gives more horsepower by a few points. That’s why it’s often a must to use it in performance cars. For your sedan, regular fuel is fine and less expensive.
12) Pay with cash instead of your credit card
The gas station will not incur costs processing your credit card. You’re in turn rewarded with lower gas costs that are 10-15 cents cheaper per gallon. Cash-back credit cards like debit cards can buy fuel at the same prices as cash. But it’s better to check first.
13) Optimize your routes
Sit down and list 5 to 10 places you frequent. For instance, the park, the office, Papa’s place, etc. Then, try and find the shortest routes to these places. Fortunately, there are apps like Google Maps that can help.
14) Idling is bad for fuel consumption
You might be operating on the premise that idling conserves more fuel than starting the car. It’s not true as the same amount of fuel is used on startup as 10 seconds of idling.
15) Get a Costco, Sam’s, Bj’s membership
These warehouse chains sell gas to their members at cheaper rates than local gas stations.
16) Put miles in your activity tracker
Sometimes, it’s better to walk.
17) Shop at outlets offering fuel rewards
Many retail chains reward their customers with fuel points that can be redeemed at their in-store gas pumps or participating gas stations.
All stores publish weekly sales ads & brochures. You might get 10X fuel points when you purchase certain items on offer.
Rabato brings you all the latest weekly ads from stores like Kroger, Safeway, etc. Buy your groceries on discount, and at the same time, earn fuel reward points & coupons.
How to save gas in the winter
Winters are tricky when it comes to fuel consumption. Your car burns fuel with cold air. The engine oil gets thicker, requiring more energy for pumping. Battery power is impacted by cold weather. Roads are clogged with snow.
With all these impediments, it might seem like an impossible task to implement fuel-saving practices. Well, here are ways to save gas while driving in winter conditions:
18) Don’t warm up your car for 20 minutes on cold mornings
That advice has been made obsolete with engine improvements. You can just start your car, warm up the engine for 30 seconds, and plow through the icy roads.
19) Keep your tires properly inflated
Cold temperatures decrease your tire pressure. Therefore, it’s important to keep them at the right level as it may impact your fuel consumption by up to 2%.
20) Limit the number of times you lose traction
Modern cars now have traction control. But every time your tires spin, you’ll be losing energy as you’re not getting propelled forward. Consider options like getting winter tires, using tire socks, driving in tracks other vehicles have left, etc.
How to save gas on long road trips?
Nothing is more American than taking a long road trip. And here are the tips to optimize your fuel consumption.
21) Choose a fuel-efficient car
Unless you’re going off-road, taking your sedan instead of an SUV might be a better fuel choice. Don’t even let the car rental company tempt you by upgrading you to a bigger car than you need.
22) Use cruise control only on flat terrains
Inclined surfaces and curved roads are not ideal places to engage cruise control.
23) Avoid driving when it’s raining
Wet conditions are not only dangerous but your car requires more fuel because wet roads increase rolling resistance. Other components such as the transmission oil and axles operate less efficiently in the rain.
24) Don’t carry extra weight
Conserve gas by trimming unnecessary items from your road-trip packing list. Vehicles use more energy when lugging the extra weight around.
25) Best time to get gas
Fuel prices steadily rise approaching the weekend or big holidays like the Fourth of July. Nationwide, gas prices peak on Fridays. In about 16 states, it’s still expensive to buy gas on Saturday. Consider filling up on Thursday in anticipation of your long trip.
26) Stay at hotels offering fuel rebates
Take advantage of travel deals at hotels that offer fuel incentives. Some places give out fuel gift cards worth $25, $50 or $100. Others have rebate programs offering 20¢ back per gallon.
27) Keep your windows closed
Not to be a killjoy but open windows increase drag.
But what if it is hot inside? Well, up to speeds of 75 mph, it’s better to open the windows than using the AC. Beyond that, just turn on the AC.
28) Drive easy
Avoid driving aggressively. Minimize the number of stops and starts. Maintain a safe distance such that you don’t have to break unnecessarily.
It’s going to be a long drive. So relax. Crank up “Here I Go Again” on the stereo, and let the rubber chew the tarmac.
Conclusion
There is no best way to save gas while driving. You get the best saving by combining all these techniques. Other fuel-saving tips include carpooling and opting for public transportation (only when it’s cheaper).
