Five Tips to Saving at the Pump

With gas prices going higher and no end in sight, I thought you all would like to hear some more tips to save on gas. An article from CNNMoney offers five suggestions for saving as follows:

1. Forget customer loyalty. While you might be a regular at Buddy's Self-Serve, Buddy could be taking advantage of his loyal patrons by charging 20 cents more a gallon than other stations in the area. So shop around: To find the best deals on gas in your area, check out www.GasBuddy.com or www.GasPriceWatch.com.

2. Be a better driver. According to the Department of Energy, aggressive driving -- rapid acceleration and excessive braking -- wastes gas. You can increase your gas mileage by as much as a third or save yourself more than 80 cents a gallon simply by driving safely. Also, stick to the speed limit, not just for your safety but also for fuel-efficiency. The Department of Energy says that your gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. And use your cruise control: it helps you maintain a constant speed, which can also save gas.

3. Time for a tune-up? Fixing certain parts of the car can dramatically improve your gas mileage. Fixing a faulty oxygen sensor can make an improvement of as much as 40 percent. Replacing clogged air filters, making sure tires are properly inflated, and using the recommended grade of motor oil can also improve gas mileage by as much as 15 percent.

4. Get the right grade. AAA says the average gallon of premium-unleaded gas cost $2.65 on August 12, about 10 percent more than a gallon of regular. The Federal Trade Commission is advising drivers to check their owner's guide because most cars don't need premium gasoline. Justin McNaull, AAA Public Affairs Manager, says less than 10 percent of cars sold in the U.S. need premium.

5. Pack light. If you're hitting the road for a vacation, consider lightening your load. The FTC advises you to take all unnecessary weight out of the car. For those of you who call your car a closet, keep this in mind: an extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by 2 percent. Don't place anything on top of the car. A luggage or a loaded roof rack creates wind resistance and can reduce your gas mileage by 5 percent. If you can, keep items inside the car.

There were some really good ones here especially #1 and #5. I think this will save me a bit at the pump, how about you?

Comments

[Dan]

"...save yourself more than 80 cents a gallon simply by driving safely."

This is incorrect. A gallon of gas will cost the same no matter how I drive.

[FMF]

Dan --

You can't take just one sentence out of context. It said the following right before the driving safely comment:

"According to the Department of Energy, aggressive driving -- rapid acceleration and excessive braking -- wastes gas."

FMF

[Dan]

That part is true, but it doesn't change the context. Driving safely may reduce the amount of gas I consume. It will not reduce the price of each gallon. Where does the "80 cents" figure come from, in any context?

In other words: Gas costs $2.60 per gallon where I live. If it cost 80 cents less, it would cost $1.80 per gallon. What in the world does this figure mean?

[FMF]

The way I understand it (as I'm sure they meant it) is that you will get more mileage out of your car if you follow this advice -- enough to equate to a savings of $.80 per gallon. If you need me to do an example, I could, but it's getting late here, so I'll pass unless otherwise noted.

Yes, it's confusing, but I think you can agree with the main point: rapid acceleration and excessive braking wastes gas.