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7 Ways to Improve Gas Mileage – How to Save Money at the Pump
Everybody’s trying to save on expenses today, whether it’s large or small, anything helps. No matter what kind of car you drive, we all wouldn’t mind saving some money at the pump right? It’s not uncommon to feed that pump $100 a week, but what if we could cut that expense to $75? That would be an extra $600 a year! Let’s get cracking.
1. Slow down. I know, it’s tough, but that’s where most of the waste is coming from. The fuel economy of a car decreases by 20% when we cruise at 75mph vs. 55mph. You might have to drag yourself out of bed 5 minutes earlier, but it might be worth the $20 savings per week.
2. Go easy on the A/C. This one is almost impossible for me – I live in south Florida! But, the winter season is coming and I’m looking forward to opening the sun-roof rather than running that A/C. If you live in a northern state, it might be a little easier to do without the air conditioning. Find a shady spot to park, or use a windshield cover to block the sun.
3. Don’t buy that cheap oil. If you are anything like me, I used to go to Auto Zone and find the absolute cheapest oil I could find. It’s all the same isn’t it? I was wrong. Oil is very important to the life-blood of your vehicle. A high-grade synthetic oil is said to improve gas mileage by 12% (due to a more efficiently running car). I guess an extra $5 would be worth the $50-$100 is savings.
4. Use your cruise control. This one is a no-brainer. The stop-and-go and speed-up-slow-down driving burns more fuel than keeping a constant speed. Stick to your lane, go an average speed, and you could save some money.
5. Check your tire pressure. If your tires are a little low on pressure, this puts a drag on your car. Check your manual and make sure they are at their optimal pressure.
6. Buy some Fuel Injector Cleaner. I always wondered if this stuff really worked, or if those car guys were just out for my money! Well, after some extensive research, Fuel additives do help clean, and even help restore, those fuel injectors. By doing so, it can certainly reduce fuel emissions, therefore saving you money!
7. Combine trips. My wife and I are experimenting with this right now. We share a vehicle and since she often times works later, I would drive all the way home and wait for about an hour, and then drive all the way back to pick her up, and then drive home again. This was an extra 15-20 miles every day! Well now I start work a little later to mesh with her schedule and our savings per month is nearly $100!
I hope this gives you a better idea on how to save money at the pump. Make sure to visit my website for other tips and personal stories at www.lifeandmyfinances.com .