Trifter

It doesn’t matter if you drive a gas guzzling machine or a car that gets great gas mileage, you can always improve it. I have compiled a list of tips that will help save you money at the pump.

The first tip I have checked on is you tire pressure. First of all your tire pressure should be according to the car manufacturer not what the tire says. Not sure if you know or not, an under inflated tire even as little as three or four pounds can reduce the fuel economy by ten percent. So go fill those tires.

The second bit of information I have for you is unloading all that extra weight. Sometimes we pack up for certain events and such well, nine times out of ten, we forget to unpack it. All that weight we packed in increases the amount of fuel used every time you accelerate, so go clean it out.

Next and I think pretty important, is choosing your car according to your needs not preference. Here is a really good example of what I mean. You’re a two car family, person A takes the car that gets the better gas mileage because person A drives the farthest throughout the week. So, on the weekend person A and B swap cars depending on who is running which errands.

Here is the one my husband and I argue over, how far you should drive to save a few pennies per gallon. Well, after having had completed my research, I have the answer. If you can’t save at least ten cents per gallon it’s not worth your “gas” to drive extra to get it. However, if you are already out and about and you see some extra cheap gas then by all means stop and fill up even if you are only half way down.

As tempting as drive-thrus are don’t do it. I don’t mean just for food, this also includes banks, and dry cleaners, etc. Even if you only idle your car for only ten minutes you’re actually wasting five or six miles’ worth of gas.

Here’s some news for you, if your car was made in the last ten to fifteen years, it is fuel injected. What I am trying to tell you, there is no need (except to waste gas) for putting your foot on the gas peddle to start your engine. I promise your engine will engage.

Something you may not want to here, although I promise it’s the truth, speeding. If traffic allows you should always try driving fifty-five miles per hour, as slow as it seems, it will save you money (in gas). It is more fuel efficient to drive fifty-five. Also, if you have cruise control, I can’t stress this enough, use it!

Never buy premium gas unless it is absolutely necessary. The added cost up to twenty cents or more will not increase the efficiency of your car or even add to your cars mileage.

I would never and recommend that you don’t either buy gas at a car wash. They charge a ridiculous amount even when gas prices are low.

Even those people that don’t like to get in and out of their vehicles, if you do it will also save you money. Instead of having someone pump your gas, pump your own, it will save you as much as twenty-five percent.