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Got Gas? How to Save Money at the Pump
Car insurance costs, registration fees, maintenance
expenses… owning a car can be expensive. With Esurance’s great auto
insurance rates, you can save money on your car insurance. Though we
can’t help you save on registration fees, we do know some tips to help
you save on one of the other main vehicle expenses– gas.
Drive Less
Yes, driving less is an obvious solution, but it’s also one of the
easiest and most pleasurable ways to cut your gas expenses. Why not walk, bike,
or even roller blade to make short trips in your neighborhood? It’s
healthier for you, your pocketbook, and the planet.
Tired of being stuck in long commutes to work? All that
idling drives up your gas consumption. Start a carpool with your coworkers to
relieve the expense and stress of long commutes.
If carpooling isn’t the right solution for you, check
out your area’s public transportation system and try taking the bus,
subway, or train to work. In addition to cutting down your gas expenses, taking
public transportation gives you some time to read or catch up on work–
things you can’t do when you’re in the driver’s seat. Public
transportation is also a great way to get to airports and other highly
trafficked areas without the hassle of parking.
Drive Smart
Sometimes, using your car is the only option. When you do have to drive, follow
these pointers to help increase your gas mileage.
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Don’t carry extra weight in your trunk. Do you have things in your trunk
that you’ve been toting around to drop off somewhere? Get rid of them and
increase your fuel efficiency.
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Use your car’s overdrive if your car has an overdrive gear (found on
5-speed manual transmissions and some 4-speed automatic transmissions).
Overdrive increases your engine’s efficiency. Be sure to use overdrive
only when your speed is high enough. Your owner's manual has more details on
how to properly use overdrive for your specific car.
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Don’t accelerate too quickly and don’t slam your brakes. Both
actions are gas wasters.
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Don’t think that turning your ignition on and off uses more gas. It
doesn’t. Long periods of engine idling waste much more gas than
restarting your car. So, if you’re trapped in a long line while
you’re waiting somewhere, turn off your engine.
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Roll up your windows and use your air vents. Driving with your windows up
reduces the amount of drag on your vehicle, increasing engine efficiency.
Drive Slower
You can increase your gas mileage by up to 15 percent if you travel at 55,
rather than 65 miles per hour. In addition, according to The Union of Concerned
Scientists, dropping from 70 to 60 mph improves fuel efficiency by an average
of 17.2 percent, while dropping from 75 to 55 improves fuel efficiency by 30.6
percent!
In other words, in a family sedan you pay 54 cents more per gallon for gas for
every 10 mph you drive over 60. If you drive a big SUV or other less efficient
vehicle, that extra cost is even higher.
And the time you save by going a few miles an hour faster is probably not as
much as you think. On a 300-mile trip, driving 70 instead of 65 mph would only
save you 20 minutes. By easing off the gas pedal just a little, you can save
money and do something nice for the environment at the same time.
Drive a Fuel-Efficient Vehicle
Next time you’re in the market for a new car, make sure you take fuel
efficiency into account. By choosing a more fuel-efficient vehicle, you could
save hundreds of dollars a year on gas.
In addition, every gallon of gas your vehicle burns puts 20 pounds of carbon
dioxide into the air. Just think— a car that gets 25 miles to the gallon will
produce about 15 tons less carbon dioxide in its lifetime than a car that gets
20 miles to the gallon.
If you’re looking to save some green for the environment and your wallet,
consider purchasing a hybrid vehicle. Hybrids now come in all shapes and sizes,
so you don’t have to sacrifice utility or style. To find out which vehicles are the most fuel-efficient,
check out the government's 2009
Fuel Economy Guide.
Drive a Fine-Tuned Machine
In addition to driving smart, be sure to keep your car serviced. Here are some
of the specific things to watch out for in terms of engine performance and gas
mileage.
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Get your car serviced regularly with special attention to your fuel, ignition,
or emission control systems. Problems with these systems affect your
engine’s performance, meaning that your car has to use more gas to get
where you want it to go.
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Change your oil and your oil filters regularly; keep tabs on your transmission
fluid. Oil and transmission fluid help your engine run smoothly. A
smooth-running engine is a more fuel-efficient engine. Check your owner’s
manual for details on how frequently you should be changing your oil, oil
filters, and transmission fluid.
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Replace worn spark plugs and bad brakes. Both can contribute to lower gas
mileage.
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Make sure that your tires are properly inflated and aligned. Check your
owner’s manual for specific tire pressure and rotation recommendations.
By following these tips, you’ll improve your
car’s performance and save money at the gas pump. If you’d also
like to save on your car insurance and haven’t done so already, get your
car insurance quote today. You may find that you save hundreds of dollars a
year on your car insurance with Esurance!
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