9 Valuable Tips to Save Money on Gas

Saving Money on Gas is easier than what you expected (image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/)

1.)    DO Take your time. Being to speedy can cost you big bucks. The faster you drive on the highway, the worse your mileage will be.

2.) DO Map out your trip. Plan your drives in advance, even if you’re just running errands. An efficient route saves gas, and combining several stops into one trip helps minimize the miles. It also saves gas because your engine is more efficient when it’s warmed up. Starting up a cold engine burns more gas.

3.) DO Drive smoothly. Hard acceleration and braking can reduce fuel economy by about 20 per cent. Drive smoothly and try to anticipate the movement of traffic. Maintain a steady pace one the highway. Using cruise control can help. Slow down gradually when you can; the more time your foot is off the gas, the less you’ll use.

4.)    DO Lose the roof rack. More than 50 percent of engine power goes to overcoming aerodynamic drag on the highway. Even empty, a bike or ski rack can shave about 6 mpg off your gas mileage.

5.)    DO Keep up tire pressure. Underinflated tires can cost you 1 mpg. Tires lose pressure over time, so check the pressure at least once a month. Another good reason to check: Underinflated tires wear out a lot faster.

6.)    DON’T  Pay unnecessary premium. Many people think premium fuel makes their car run better. That’s not true unless you have an old car with engine knock or your owner’s manual says premium is “recommended,” you can use regular with no damage and little or no loss of performance.

To save money on gas, don't burn gas when you're not moving (image courtesy of http://www.flickr.com/photos/)

7.)    DON’T Burn gas when you’re not moving. When your car is idling, you’re getting zero miles per gallon. As a rule of  thumb, shut off your engine if you expect to be sitting for more than about 30 seconds.

8.)    DON’T Go for gimmicks. We’ve tested several  devices over the years that claim to improve fuel economy, but none provided a significant improvement in gas mileage or acceleration. In one case, performance got worse.

9.)    DON’T Ignore your engine. A poorly, maintained engine can cut gas mileage 10 to 20 per cent. So get a tune-up!

Source: Shopsmart magazine;) (the quick and easy guide from "Consumer Reports"