Don’t Break the Bank: Gas Mileage Tips to Save at the Pump

September 2011

All car and truck owners want better gas mileage. Prices at the pump remain very high and there is little sign of relief for consumers.

Buying a more fuel efficient car isn’t the only solution. There are a variety of simple ways to improve a car’s gas mileage and get a more value from a single tank of gas.

High speeds and aggressive driving have a big impact on how quickly a car uses its fuel. Speeding, rapid acceleration and braking burns through gas. For every five miles per hour over 60, fuel consumption increases significantly.

Drive Carefully

According to a study done by the federal government, the fuel benefit to driving slower is between 5 and 33 percent. Depending on the type of vehicle, driving with caution and not speeding can equal savings between 18 cents and $1.18 per gallon, based on the current national gas average of $3.60 per gallon (for regular gasoline.)

Limiting excess weight can also improve a vehicle’s fuel economy. Smaller cars are more adversely effected by this, but taking out golf clubs or camping equipment that aren’t being used is simple way to improve gas mileage by around 2% for every 100 pounds.

Consumer Reports recently did a study on fuel economy and it found that tires should not be ignored when it comes to improving gas mileage.

Tires are responsible for up to 25 percent of fuel consumption. The key factors are what kind of tires a vehicle has and if they are properly inflated.

Don’t Get “Tired…”

In the Consumer Reports study, they found their test vehicle lost nearly a mile and a half per gallon when the tires were underinflated by 10 psi. They also found that a tire's rolling resistance can make the different of up to two miles per gallon. The key for car owners is looking for tires with low rolling resistance. Tires that get high ratings in that category get the best gas mileage.

A well-maintained vehicle is generally a vehicle that gets the most miles per gallon. Keeping up with oil changes, cleaning the air filter, checking the engine and regularly scheduling tune-ups are cost effective ways to save on gas over the long run.

Simple Maintenance, Simply Solution

Car owners will see savings just by keeping up on oil changes. When oil gets older, it breaks down and disturbs the efficiency of a car’s engine. The engine can heat up and there is more friction between the moving parts. More energy and fueled used when the engine’s performance decreases.

Proactive steps like following a vehicle's maintenance schedule and changing gas-guzzling driving habits can be taken to improve fuel efficiency. Improved gas mileage is good for your car, your wallet and the environment.

Better Resale Value

What are some ways you try to improve your car's gas mileage?

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