10 Great Ways to Save at the Pump

10 Great Ways to Save at the Pump

Follow our advice and squeeze the most mileage out of every gallon of gas you purchase this summer.

Travel is expected to be back on the rise this summer. Spurred by an upbeat economic outlook and lower-than-expected fuel prices, AAA estimates that more than 32.1 million people will take to the road this Memorial Day weekend, the official start of the U.S. summer driving season. That’s more than a 5 percent increase over last year, and the first real uptick since the recession began two years ago.

1. Don’t leave your engine running when the car is not in use

This is contrary to the common myth that restarting your car wastes more gas than leaving the engine running for a few minutes. If you’re going to stop your car for more than a minute, leaving the engine running wastes more gas than restarting the engine.

2. Don’t buy gas during weekends

The best days for buying gas are on Wednesday or Thursday, while the worst are on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, when you can be charged a few more cents per gallon. So don’t purchase gas on Friday, Saturday and Sunday unless you absolutely need to.

Things you should know

Claim:

“This gas-saving product improves fuel economy by 20 percent.”

Truth:

Claims usually tout savings ranging from 12 to 25 percent. However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has evaluated or tested more than 100 alleged gas-saving devices and has not found any product that significantly improves gas mileage. In fact, some “gas-saving” products may damage a car’s engine or cause substantial increases in exhaust emissions.

Find out more at the FTC website

3. Use a rewards credit card that gives you a high percentage cash back or points on gas purchases

This is one of the most important tips to save money on gasoline, as by getting the right card, you will be able to save lots of money. Here are a few of the best credit cards when it comes to saving money on gas:

4. Don’t leave your windows open when driving at high speeds

When driving fast, use your air-conditioning instead of opening the windows if you’re feeling hot, since open windows increase aerodynamic drag which will in turn impact your gas mileage by up to 10%. On the other hand, if you’re feeling hot while driving through the city, you can turn off the aircon and open your windows, since the aircon can use up as much as 5% to 20% of your fuel when driving at a lower speed.

5. Get rid of unnecessary weight in your car

For every 250 pounds of weight you carry in your car, it uses up an additional mile per gallon in gasoline. So get rid of all the things you don’t need in your car and make sure you are not carrying around unnecessary items, because that will only make your trip more expensive.

Highway gas stations are usually a lot more expensive than other gas stations since drivers find it a lot more convenient to stop by gas stations along the highway.

6. Don’t use high octane gasoline unless your car really needs it

You will be able to save hundreds of dollars yearly by filling your tank with normal gasoline instead of high octane gasoline since it is considerably cheaper. If you’re not sure which type of gasoline you should use without damaging your car, you should ask your trusted mechanic.

7. Avoid highway gas stations

Highway gas stations are usually a lot more expensive than other gas stations since drivers find it a lot more convenient to stop by gas stations along the highway. They can end up charging you up to 15 cents more per gallon than the more economic gas stations in the neighborhood, which is a huge difference when you start adding it all up.

8. Get a Gas App for your smartphone

If you own a smartphone, save money by downloading one of the numerous Apps that can help you find the cheapest gas near your current location. See below for a list of highly rated apps.

9. Service your vehicle frequently

Studies have shown that a vehicle that has been properly maintained will consume less gas than a vehicle that hasn’t. By servicing and maintaining your vehicle with frequent oil changes, air filters, etc, it will stay much more fuel-efficient, and thus save you money on gas.

10. Drive smoothly

Braking or accelerating suddenly can decrease your fuel efficiency by 30%, and make your driving a lot more expensive.

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6 COMMENTS

  • James Thomas
    September 6, 2017, 9:37 am REPLY

    Great post! I like to read this post & enjoy it.I shared this on Facebook and my followers really enjoyed it.Keep up the amazing work! ??.

  • Bella watson
    December 19, 2017, 12:37 pm REPLY

    I agree with the above advice. However, something is missing in this article. Tire pressure could also affect the fuel economy of the car and should be checked at a regular interval and should be properly inflated according to the owner’s manual. According to National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, about 600 fatalities and about 33,000 injuries occur in a year for the use of under-inflated tires. And we also waste about one billion gallons of gasoline by using under-inflated tires.

  • Rebecca layman
    December 30, 2017, 10:07 am REPLY

    I agree with the fact that car engine should be turned off if not in use. Some people think that restarting an engine could use more fuel than leaving it idling for same time period. It has been estimated that average cars idle 16 minutes a day. By doing so, we waste a lot of fuel a year. And it has severe negative impacts on the environment. We could save a lot of fuel if we decrease that time period. Car service should not be skipped, because a serviced car has positive effects on it’s fuel economy. And car servicing should be done near a trusted repairing center(e.g.- https://monacomotors.com/auto-repair-services/).

  • Carla Houston
    April 18, 2018, 9:41 am REPLY

    There are several ways to save fuel of our vehicle. We shouldn’t keep the engine at starting mode when the car is not in use. By doing this fuel will be wasted. Keeping the windows open while driving fast also wastes fuel. We can use the air conditioner instead of opening the windows. We shouldn’t keep unnecessary items in the car as these use additional mile per gallon of gasoline. We should service our car frequently. By that way we can increase it’s fuel economy & save gas. The servicing of the car must be performed at a certified servicing center. If you are looking for such a car servicing center please refer to:
    http://www.germanmotorandautocare.com/services/.

  • Edward Gilliam
    May 16, 2018, 12:57 pm REPLY

    Keeping the fuel expenses under control is a great way to keep overall expenditure within the spreadsheet. Since the price of gasoline is increasing day by day, thus without taking the necessary preventives, you can’t save your wallet at the pump. So many fuel saving tactics are there. For example- By taking fewer trips and by maintaining the vehicle properly- https://glenwoodforeigncar.com/car_repair_services/ , you can save money on gas. Likewise, making an efficient planning for the road expedition can help you in saving some dollars at the pump. You can also consult a deft auto professional for procuring more handy recommendations.

 

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