Welcome to Smart Gas Saving Tips. Our goal is present you the consumer with ways to cut you fuel costs, and along the way maybe your total transportation costs. We have assembled a list of tips that we think can add up to significant savings when you apply as many as practical to your driving experience. Even though our main goal is provide you with gas saving tips, we also include tips on maintenance, how to get discounts on gas purchases and other ways to stretch your driving dollar. Smart Gas Saving Tips: Avoid Excessive Idling You get zero miles per gallon when idling, and the larger the engine the more fuel wasted. If the line at the fast food emporium is long, park the car and go inside to order. Sitting in line waiting for that accident to get cleared or the drawbridge to re-open, shut of the engine. Avoid fast starts Aggressive driving ( rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage dramatically, by up to 30% or more. ( or up to the equivalent of 90 cents per gallon*) Smooth driving is also safer. Observe The Speed Limit Yes, you might feel like you are getting run over, especially on the Interstate, but fast driving lowers fuel economy dramatically. You can figure roughly that every 5 MPH over 60 MPH costs you an additional $.20 per gallon*. Keep Your Engine Tuned A engine that is not tuned properly can waste as much as 40% of your gas. Follow the manufacturers directions in your owners manual and if you hear, feel or smell something "funny", have your engine checked right away. Fuel ratios, spark plug timing and condition can all dramatically affect gas mileage. Use a CashBack/Rewards Credit Card You can save a significant amount on your gas purchases by using a credit card that gives you cash back, rebates or even rewards points you can use to buy other things. There are many of these cards on the market, some are for specific brands and some can be used worldwide at any gas station accepting credit cards. We have provided information and links on gas rebate cards on this page. To see more credit cards, Click here (This opens a new web page ) Use the Correct Grade of Fuel Many people think that they need Premium when Regular will do just fine, especially owners of "fast" cars. Again, read the owners manual and use the recommended fuel. Also, be careful in areas of the country selling fuel with Ethanol, be sure your engine is approved to run on E85 fuel or you could cause engine damage - just a little side note here. Don't top off your tank Stop filling when the automatic shut off engages. Filling the tank up to the filler cap can lead to spilling some fuel, thus wasting it and doing a small part to harm the environment. Use Your Cruise Control This will prevent speed creep (maybe saving a costly ticket) and keeps the engine running efficiently. Slowing down and then speeding up repeatedly will waste fuel, the amount is hard to quantify but logic tells us that accelerating burns extra fuel. Check and Replace Filters A clogged air filter can cause damage your engine as well decrease gas mileage by up to 10%, that is like paying and extra $.30 a gallon*. Also have your fuel and oil filters checked and changed at regular intervals. Clean out your vehicle The excess weight can add up. Hauling around an extra 100 pounds can reduce mileage a percent or two depending on the weight of the vehicle, but every little bit adds up. Even a 2% loss in efficiency is like paying $.06 more per gallon* Reduce Trips and Consolidate Errands
A little planning goes a long way. By using you vehicle less, you no only save on gas, but on all the other variable costs of operating it, including tires, oil changes, tune-ups, and even depreciation and insurance. So plan your trips wisely. Buy a smaller car Don't go out and dump the gas hog for a high mileage car just to get better mileage. The payback may take years since buying a new car may cost your sales tax, higher insurance, etc. But if the old buggy is ready for a new home then consider a smaller, more efficient vehicle if it will still fit your needs. Use Public Transportation, Walk, or Ride Your Bike This tip again not only save fuel, but wear and tear on your vehicle, and , you get a little exercise to boot. Take a walk to the store, you may see things in your neighborhood you have missed while driving your 2 ton behemoth that 1/4 mile to the grocery, or put a basket on the old bike and starting peddling, again you may enjoy the scenery a lot more. Sort of goes with the old "Stop and Smell the Roses" thing. Cut Wind Resistance Got that little flag flying from the antenna or back window? Use a decal instead. Tires Check the air pressure often ( this is not only a gas saving tip, but a safety tip) - low air pressure can reduce mileage, and worse, cause the tire to heat up and blow. Watch Your Feet (what is he talking about?) Keep that left foot off the brake, it not only will cause drag thus reducing gas mileage, it also wears your brakes out much faster (costing you money) and it confuses the driver behind you. * Savings are based on $3.00 per gallon for gas.
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