If you’ve been to the gas station in the past few days you’ve noticed that prices are on the rise again. Is there anything you can do to combat the higher prices? Thanks to several different sources such as opentravelinfo.com, bankrate.com and treehugger.com, I have compiled a list of the most common ways to stop wasting fuel for the car and help put money back into drivers’ pockets.
- Using the wrong fuel in your car: Information on the correct fuel can be found in the owner’s manual. Using the kind of gas the car was meant for, will help the car run more efficiently.
- Overlooking the tires: Make sure your tires have the right amount of air pressure. Proper inflation creates less friction and more efficiency. This information can be found on the inside of the driver’s side door. If you are curious about whether it’s worth putting nitrogen in your tires instead of oxygen, read a blog on this topic that Grow wrote a few weeks ago by clicking here.
- Parking out in direct sunlight: We all know the feeling of stepping into a car that seems hot enough to melt the dials off the dashboard. No one likes it and parking your car in the shade reduces the amount of gas the air conditioning system needs to make the car comfortable again. Also, parking in the shade doesn’t evaporate as much gas from the fuel tank.
- Skimping on the proper oil: Use the recommended grade of oil to help the car run smooth and efficient. It is money well spent and you’ll make up for it from the money you save not wasting gas. The correct grade of oil can be found in the owner’s manual.
- Overpaying for gas: This one seems obvious but it’s crucial. Find the cheapest gas station available, you’ll have more luck in an area with a bunch of gas stations competing for your business. Try GasBuddy.com which has a smart phone app to go with its website which helps you find cheap gas prices near you. It doesn’t matter where the gas is from, as long as you don’t over fill your gas tank which makes the extra fuel unusable.
- Taking Multiple Trips: Another popular tip I found was combining the trips you take. Don’t be out on the road longer than you need to be. Making an extra trip wastes fuel so plan your route in advance and make your dollar stretch further.
- Slamming on the Breaks: And finally, slower, more gradual stops are far more fuel-efficient than racing to a stop.
Thank you to all of the environmentally-conscious people who choose to carpool. Not only does it help save money for gas on an individual basis, but it helps the Earth as well. Spending less fuel is a win-win situation. The environment is happy and so is your wallet. The next time you plan to travel, try some of these easy tips and look forward to the positive result.
