Gas prices have increased almost a dollar per gallon in the last 12 months. Most experts predict that drivers will not see any relief at the pump any time soon. Gas prices are expected to reach over $5 per gallon this summer in several of the most populated states in America. Considering today’s tough economy and rising gas prices, it is more important now than ever to look for ways to save on gas costs.
Some people have been able to purchase more fuel efficient vehicles, which is a great idea. For many drivers, this is an excellent solution, but it is also an expensive one. For many drivers, it just isn’t feasible. But the good news is that no matter what kind of car you drive, the biggest opportunity to save money on gas is to change one thing – your driving habits.
By making simple improvements in your driving habits, you can immediately start to burn less gas and save money. If you follow the tips in this article, drivers can save up to 20% on every tank. That’s more than enough to overcome recent gas price hikes.
First of all, the biggest way to conserve fuel is to change the attitude and habits of the person behind the wheel. It seems simple, and it is. Conserving fuel boils down to how efficiently you drive your car. Drivers need to slow down and relax. Speeding, accelerating too quickly and frequently slamming on the brakes all mean you’re driving too aggressively. And aggressive driving wastes gas and money.
Weight is also one of the biggest factors when it comes to maximizing a vehicle’s fuel efficiency. All that extra weight is costing you miles per gallon. The more weight the car has to move, the harder the engine has to work. Drivers should remove any unnecessary weight from their trunks and remove any roof racks or bike racks that aren’t being used regularly.
Often times, when gas prices go up, there are shady entrepreneurs coming out of the wood-work trying to sell you products that will supposedly increase your vehicle’s fuel economy. Most of the times, these are just gimmicks that are marketed well but don’t actually work. For example, I saw someone advertising some type of liquid additive that drivers can add to their fuel tanks. These items simply don’t work. As a general rule, don’t bother with these types of products.
Using a GPS navigation system is an excellent way to help drivers save money on gas. A GPS vehicle tracking system helps drivers to navigate the quickest, most efficient routes and avoids backtracking. Most modern GPS navigation devices provide real-time traffic updates so drivers don’t waste time and money sitting in traffic jams or congested roads.
When planning your next driving journey, remember that combining trips is also a great way to conserve fuel. Instead of running around day after day, try to get most of your driving done in one longer, but more efficient trip.
Fill up at the cheapest gas stations in your area. Websites such as GasBuddy.com are a great way to keep fuel costs low. While you shouldn’t drive across town to save only a few cents per gallon, you absolutely should seek out the most affordable gas stations in your local area.
A popular misconception about fuel economy is many drivers think they should not run the air-conditioning and instead should roll down the windows. Generally speaking, this simply is not true. When you roll down the windows and are driving at high speeds, you mess with the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Rolling down the windows creates a lot of extra drag on the vehicle and will burn more gas. Additionally, the air conditioning can help to make drivers more comfortable and happy. Happy drivers are safer drivers so please keep this in mind as well.
Further, careful drivers should also make sure to get their engine tuned, check their air filters and use the right motor oil. Properly inflated tires will somewhat improve fuel economy, and this maintenance is easily accomplished.